When was the last time you tried something you weren’t good at? Maybe you attempted a new recipe that went horribly wrong, signed up for a dance class and discovered you have two left feet, or picked up a paintbrush only to realize your artistic vision far exceeded your abilities.
As children, we constantly learn, experiment, and make mistakes. Somewhere along the way, though, many of us start avoiding activities we aren't naturally good at. We stick with what we know, partly because being a beginner can feel uncomfortable.
As it turns out, there are some pretty good reasons to be a beginner. Learning unfamiliar skills can challenge your brain, help you get comfortable with mistakes, and make everyday life a little more interesting. Here are five reasons to try something new, even if you're pretty sure you'll be awful at it.
It Challenges Your Brain in New Ways
Think about how little concentration it takes to do something you've practiced
hundreds of times. Now compare that with learning guitar chords, practicing a foreign language, or figuring out how to crochet. Suddenly, you pay closer attention, remember instructions, and solve problems you haven't encountered before.
Evidence suggests that this kind of mental challenge can be beneficial. In a 2014 study, older adults who spent three months learning skills such as digital photography and quilting showed improvements in episodic memory compared with those participating in less mentally demanding activities.
Struggling to remember the steps or figure out what comes next may actually be part of the benefit. Even when progress feels slow, you're giving your brain something challenging to work on.
It Helps You Get Comfortable in Making Mistakes
Adults aren't always comfortable being beginners. We're accustomed to knowing what we're doing, so fumbling through something unfamiliar can feel embarrassing or frustrating.
Those awkward early attempts can also teach you a little patience and self-compassion. Maybe your first pottery bowl looks more like an ashtray, or your attempt at salsa dancing involves stepping on someone's toes. These moments give you a chance to laugh, adjust, and keep going.
A 2012 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that participants encouraged to treat themselves with compassion after confronting mistakes or personal shortcomings showed greater motivation to improve.
Being kind to yourself doesn't mean giving up on getting better. In fact, a little self-compassion might be exactly what helps you try again.
It Reminds You That You're Capable of Growing
How often have you told yourself, "I'm just not creative," or "I've never been athletic"? It's easy to decide what we're good at (and what we're not) and carry those assumptions around for years without questioning them.
A new activity can challenge those long-held assumptions. You might struggle through your first yoga class, then discover a few weeks later that you are able to hold a pose that once seemed impossible.
A 2011 study published in Psychological Science found that people with a stronger growth mindset demonstrated greater brain activity associated with paying attention to mistakes. They were also more likely to respond accurately after making an error.
The findings suggest that believing you can improve may influence how you respond to mistakes and learn from them. That first small sign of progress can be enough to make you reconsider what you're capable of.
It Brings Curiosity and Excitement Into Everyday Life
Routines are comforting, but they can also make our days feel predictable. Trying something new introduces a little novelty, giving us something interesting to anticipate, explore, or talk about afterward.
Think about how refreshing it can feel to:
· Take a cooking class featuring a cuisine you've never tried.
· Join a recreational sports league, regardless of your athletic ability.
· Visit an art workshop and experiment with unfamiliar materials.
· Learn a few phrases in a new language before your next vacation.
A 2007 study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that curiosity and a willingness to seek new challenges were positively associated with psychological well-being. While the research doesn't prove that trying new things makes us happier, it suggests that staying curious may be an important part of a fulfilling life.
You don't have to turn every new interest into a lifelong passion, either. Sometimes, an afternoon spent trying something unusual is rewarding simply because you had fun.
It Helps You Become More Adaptable
Learning something new rarely goes exactly as planned. You misunderstand instructions, find that your first approach doesn't work, or run into a problem you have no idea how to solve.
Figuring things out often means changing your approach, asking for help, or accepting that progress will take longer than expected. It's good practice for dealing with situations that don't go according to plan.
In two small studies reported in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, researchers examined older adults learning multiple new skills, including Spanish, drawing, and music composition. The findings suggested improvements in certain cognitive abilities, including working memory and cognitive control.
The findings are promising, although the studies were small. Beyond the potential cognitive benefits, it can also be valuable to become comfortable with uncertainty. The more willing you are to experiment and try again, the less intimidating unfamiliar challenges may begin to feel.
Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner
Is there something you've always wanted to try, but avoided because you assumed you wouldn't be good at it? Maybe it's singing, woodworking, rock climbing, or finally learning to play the piano.
Start small. Sign up for a class, watch a beginner's tutorial, or invite a friend to learn alongside you. You might discover a hidden talent, find a new favorite hobby, or simply collect a funny story.
Whatever happens, the experience can be worthwhile. There's no need to impress anyone or measure your progress against someone else's.
Sometimes, the most rewarding part of trying something new is remembering how much fun it can be to have absolutely no idea what you're doing.