Welcome to the big list of all of things I’ve done through trying fifty-two new things a year since 2018.
From the daft, (wearing a wetsuit to work), to the daring, (camping off the edge of a cliff), to the easy, (made a rubber band ball), and the extreme (did a multi-day solo hike), this list contains all of the experiences I have claimed for Challenge Fifty-Two, in one handy place.
What started out as a new year’s resolution in 2018, has become an ongoing annual personal challenge, and I absolutely love it.
Listed by date order, how many things have you’ve done, and how many are you feeling inspired to try?
2018 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year - The Big List
1. Joined Strava – a brilliant way of keeping track of my regular running.
2. Tried a zumba class – lots of gyrating, spins, turns and a great work out!
3. Had a go at Hot Yoga – a warm environment is great for the stretches
4. Went to a Toastmasters meeting – an opportunity to practice and learn public speaking
5. Used a stand-up desk for a day – experience laptop work without sitting down
6. Went to Banff mountain film festival – and saw some phenomenal adventure films
7. Joined Good Gym – combining fitness with helping the community
8. Walked up Roseberry Topping – a place I’d driven past so many times but never walked
9. Volunteered at the Edinburgh marathon – an incredible way to be a part of the event
10. Went to laughter yoga – slightly odd, then brilliant fun, and surprisingly a full-on workout
11.Was a pacer at parkrun – harder than expected, but great to encourage people
12. Lay in a hammock – something so simple but I’d never tried it before
13. Explored local parks – finding hidden gems right under my nose
14. Did a 2 minute clean-up – inspired by the book, an easy way to make a difference
15. Had a hot stone massage – like a regular massage but with a soothing warmth
16. Ran around the York walls – completing a speedier lap of the city
17. Did stand up comedy – hugely nerve-wracking but an amazing experience
18. Tried burlesque dancing – sultry moves and an attempt at sexy dancing
19. Went to a gong sound bath – would have been relaxing if people hadn’t snored
20. Had a personal shopper – trusting the opinion of a stranger gave me great new outfits
21. Went in a floatation tank – possibly the most relaxing experience I’ve ever had
22. Picked my own fruit – fresh and delicious
23. Tried street dance – I’ll never be cool, but it was a great class to try
24. Had a drumming lesson – finding my rhythm and playing the beats
25. Followed the Great York Ghost trail – living in the city I’d never been part of it before
26. Went to a 5 rhythms class – a fabulously liberating movement session
27. Joined a Fight Fit Combat session – unleashing kicks and punches in a high energy workout
28. Used a potters wheel – to make some unique trinket bowls
29. Had a go at snowboarding – practicing balancing on the slopes
30. Tried pilates – a bit like yoga with some strength work thrown in too
31. Went to bungee fitness – a fantastic workout and great fun jumping about the studio
32. Volunteered for St Nicks – helping to create a nature habitat in the heart of York
33. Made pasta from scratch – it’s easier to buy it, but satisfying to make your own
34. Went to a colour cycle class – a resistance spin class that felt like it was in a club
35. Tried a hopi ear candle treatment – strange at first but a very restful experience
36. Had acupuncture – not at all painful and immensely relaxing
37. Tried a Japanese Wheelcake – a delicious Asian snack
38. Had a go at crochet – a fantastic mindful activity
39. Made bread from scratch – you can’t beat the smell as it bakes!
40. Ate a cricket – I’m squeamish with strange food, and this was very weird
41. Had a spray tan – a strange sensation and an entertaining result
42. Made a pizza from scratch – so much better than any shop bought or take-away
43. Wore spider-arch socks – Nothing to do with spiders thankfully, but for running
44. Tried eyebrow threading – kinder to skin, fairly gentle and neat
45. Had a bra fitting – Embarrassed to say I should have done this years ago!
46. Had a ukulele lesson – learnt to play ‘love cats’ by The Cure on the strings
47. Ran every day of the year – had no idea If I’d be able to do it when I started
48. Joined 52 frames – an awesome way to learn and get creative in photography
49. Went on a submarine – crawling through the space in a dry dock
50. Opened a bottle of fizz – a few failed attempts before the cork shot out
51. Rode in a rickshaw – an entertaining way to see Berlin on New Year’s Eve
52. Celebrated New Year in a different country – welcomed in 2019 in Germany
2019 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Lunch with a VIP – taking time to get to know a senior member of work
2. Went to an ice-hockey match – fast paced, action packed and brilliant fun to watch
3. Rode on an e-bike – great to have a boost on some more challenging sections of a ride
4. Played a harp – such an intricate and beautiful instrument
5. Stayed in a Snow Hotel – a phenomenal experience and not as cold as you might think
6. Rode an e-fat-bike – perfect for exploring snowy terrain
7. Went to a football match – soaking up the atmosphere with the fans
8. Tried bell ringing – going behind the scenes in York Minster
9. Played Goal Ball – an inclusive sport relying on hearing for play
10. Did a charity sleepout – safely experiencing sleeping on the streets
11. Went sailing -an enjoyable way to harness the power of the wind to travel on the water
12. Played softball – a bit like rounders, and the ball is not in the slightest bit soft
13. Made a mosaic – cutting glass tiles to fit them together in a pleasing pattern
14. Went on holiday on my own – planning and enjoying a solo trip
15. Walked across the O2 – climbing over an iconic venue for big London views
16. Tried scuba diving – an awesome experience under water
17. Had a go at Capoeira – a Brazilian inspired movement class
18. Played handball – elements of basketball and rugby combine for a fast game
19. Tried Korfball – A dutch game similar to basketball but with mixed teams
20. Went snorkelling – a great way to see beneath the waves
21. Cut my hairdressers hair – I’ll leave this to the professionals!
22. Went on a hawk walk – an up-close experience with the magnificent birds of prey
23. Went to a chocolate fondant making class – hands on for sweet results
24. Tried virtual reality – strange sensations exploring another world
25. Visited a cat cafe – taking a break with furry friends
26. Took a singing lesson – learning the basics from a professional
27. Made meringues from scratch – a lot of effort, a lot of deliciousness
28. Used a shampoo bar – not quite as smooth as a bottle but better for the planet
29. Played wheelchair basketball – tough, fast and fun
30. Aerial yoga – using material to help get into some deeper stretches
31. Tried eggnog – a festive favourite and an acquired taste
32. Made cranberry sauce – the original turkey accompaniment
33. Made bread sauce – simple to make and better than shop bought
34. Made a bar of soap – a fantastically fragrant craft
35. Used a gold lip mask – inconclusive results from the pampering pack
36. Used sock masks – a supposed treat for the feet
37. Tried hand masks – rehydration pampering for busy hands
38. Made a balloon animal – squeakily contorting the balloons without them popping
39. Made custard from scratch – a satisfyingly comforting delicious dessert dressing
40. Made ice cream – a n-ice and surprisingly easy recipe
41. Tried barefoot running – feeling like my feet were in flames
42. Made a lip balm – a simple craft to soothe and protect the pout
43. Made a body scrub – easy to make and good for the skin
44. Played a smart phone quiz – fastest fingers win in the speedy music quiz
45. Tried microdermabrasion – a relaxing treatment for the ultimate in smooth skin
46. Used a cake in a mug packet – not sure when I’d need a cake that quickly again
47. Bought a domain name – to claim a piece of the internet
48. Made bao buns – an amazing Asian inspired snack
49. Went sea kayaking – feeling the force of the waves
50. Tried some northern chutneys – incredible flavours and tastes
51. Made shortbread – so simple and so satisfying
52. Made vodka jellies – an easy alcoholic addition to a party
2020 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Tried Jazz Dance – a great workout with steps and moves
2. Went to a hula-fit class – brilliant fun and a great workout
3. Tried ballroom dancing – managing not to step on any toes
4. Went to a tap dancing class – finding the rhythm in my feet
5. Tried archery – surprising myself with the results
6. Had a go at axe throwing – missing the mark on multiple occassions
7. Tried air rifle shooting – with more accuracy than I’d expected
8. Made cepelinai – a delicious dish from Lithuania
9. Made a cheese souffle from scratch – lovely, light and savoury
10. Made spring rolls – amazing Asian flavours in the light snack
11. Made lemon curd from scratch – an easy and sweet toast topper
12. Made Polish Perogi – perfect parcels of flavour
13. Tried tie dye – a colourful creative kit to make unique designs on material
14. Held a spider – as an arachnaphobe this was a very big deal
15. Went on the world’s fastest zip line – speeding across an old quarry
16. Ran on the beach – purposefully running across the sand
17. Went solo camping – overnighting in a tiny tent
18. Made pesto from scratch – satisfyingly scrumptious and home made
19. Made crumpets – a more challenging make to bake
20. Made concrete tealight holders – using a crafty creative kit
21. Made mozzarella – creating a home made soft and creamy cheese
22. Had a go at a Dutch Braid – following a YouTube tutorial for a new hair style
23. Made a quiche – perfect for a picnic
24. Made marshmallows from scratch – like a science experiment in the kitchen
25. Made Nepalese Momos from scratch – delicious dumplings
26. Made Pasteis De Nata – perfect Portugese pastries
27. Tried needle felting – a very theraputic, easy to pick up, craft
28. Made pretzels from scratch – doughy although dense delights
29. Made hot cross buns from scratch – ridiculously stodgy and dense
30. Tried a heated eye-mask – a pleasantly relaxing warming sensation
31. Made a rubber band ball – easy and great for fidgets
32. Made marzipan from scratch – a deliciously nutty sweet treat
33. Had a go at a fishtail plait – a new hair-do following a tutorial video
34. Made mayonnaise from scratch – not as difficult as originally thought
35. Made wine caviar – blending science and food to create tasty bubbles
36. Made spaghetto – turning the kitchen into a lab for this unusual food creation
37. Made stollen from scratch – getting into the festive spirit
38. Made a stamp – using a kit to craft a home made unique stamp
39. Had a go at calligraphy – creating decorative writing
40. Made candles – aromatic fragrances and cute results
41. Made tarka dahl – a wonderfully warming Indian dish
42. Made marzipan fruit – getting creative with the nutty treat
43. Held a blind taste test – supermarket brand vs big brand
44. Made a GIF – getting creative
45. Made an airfix model – assembling and painting a scale version of the Cutty Sark
46. Followed a virtual guided meditation – taking a bit of time out
47. Made a wax seal – sticking envelopes with a fancy flourish
48. Made ketchup from scratch – an easy to create favourite condiment
49. Made a chocolate mousse – a delightfully decadent dessert
50. Had a go at embroidery – a mindful crafty activity
51. Made food art – who knew you could make a swan from an apple?!
52. Celebrated a national day each day of the year – recognising the weird and wonderful
2021 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Made a gold foil leaf bag – using a crafty kit to try the foil technique
2. Went on a segway – all about the balance following trails through the forest
3. Tried croquet – having a go at the traditional lawn game
4. Made a carrot cake from scratch – a treat for the Other Half’s birthday
5. Completed a crystal creations kit – a bit like painting by numbers but much fiddlier
6. Completed a solo, multi-day hike to home – covering over 80 miles in 4 days
7. Went rock climbing – trusting in the guide and the ropes
8. Tried abseiling – Swiftly descending the cliff face
9. Went cliff camping – sleeping on the side of a cliff over the sea
10. Played klask – a compact and competitive game a bit like air hockey
11. Tried Pranayama – an online breathing technique good for relaxation
12. Tried Macrame – not the greatest instructions but made a 70s inspired decoration
13. Cooked a dish from every country in the world – 196 different meals
14. Made beer bread – a loaf with an unusual flavour
15. Went on a ghost bus tour – getting scared silly on a fun spook tour of York
16. Played golf at Hole In Wand – a wizarding themed indoor crazy golf course
17. Visited the Potions Cauldron – an interactive alchemists with a hint of magic
18. Interviewed on BBC Radio York – invited to talk about my new year’s resolution
19. Made a cheesecake from scratch – using a tried and tested recipe from a colleague
20. Went to work in a wetsuit – an unusual uniform for delivering learning and development
21. Went to work in a tuxedo – over sized but fun to wear
22. Made a frittata from scratch – a delicious light simple to make meal
23. Went to work in a football kit – definitely not the usual workday attire
24. Made a gingerbread house – which only just about stayed together
25. Made a mango lassi – delicious, sweet and fruity
26. Cycled a lap of York – pedal power for a loop of the city
27. Made a clockwork tiger – concentration required to put it all together
28. Made crisps – baked in the oven golden goodness
29. Made a wooden model of R2D2 – small and fiddly but a cute little make
30. Made sweet chilli sauce from scratch – fantastically flavoursome
31. Made onion rings – good, but probably easier to buy them
32. Made chocolate eclairs from scratch – imperfect shapes but delightful to eat
33. Followed the York Cat Trail – Seeing some different sights around the city
34. Tried squid – not in a hurry to try it again
35. Tried scallops – not a fan of seafood
36. Tried mussels – love the smell, not so keen on the flavour
37. Tried a king prawn – not keen on my food looking at me
38. Made a syllabub – a deliciously light and easier to make than expected dessert
39. Ran the distance of the year – covering 2021km!
40. Had a go at drawing manga – fun but drawing is not my forte
41. Went on an e-scooter – a surprisingly nippy way to get around town
42. Made tortillas – didn’t quite turn out as hoped but still tasty
43. Made a hot chilli sauce – easy to make and packed a heck of a kick
44. Cured a salmon – resulting in deliciously delicate flavours
45. Made apple crisps – an unusual flavour and lacking a bit of crunch
46. Made ricotta cheese – smooth and creamy and fairly straightforward to make
47. Did a blind contour drawing – an artistic challenge
48. Made naan bread from scratch – pleasingly tasty results
49. Used an Ooni – an outdoor pizza oven for perfect results
50. Wrote an invisible ink letter – scraping the barrel to complete 52 new things by midnight
51. Joined Instagram and Pinterest – embracing social media
52. Listened to a song from every country in the world – discovering some amazing music
2022 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Became a keeper for the day – going behind the scenes at a wildlife park
2. Took an online cookery course – Learning from a pro chef in the comfort of my own kitchen
3. Went on a paranormal investigation – spending witching hour in one of York’s old buildings
4. Walked an alpaca – although the rain meant we didn’t do much walking
5. Tried salsa dancing – hot footing it at a fantastic class
6. Had a palm and tarot card reading – I’m still a sceptic but it was surprisingly motivational
7. Fed a giraffe – an amazing way to find out more about the tall creatures
8. Tried blacksmithing – and made a coat hook and poker
9. Went Morris Dancing – one of the oldest traditions in the UK
10. Tried golf – learning the subtleties of the sport
11. Went to a cookery school – and couldn’t believe how good the food I made was
12. Met an Olympian – and held a real life gold medal
13. Tried beekeeping – learning the ropes and managing not to get stung
14. Ran in the Arctic Circle – not as cold in the summer as you might think
15. Saw an Elvis impersonator – which was great fun and didn’t leave me all shook up
16. Tried stand up paddleboarding – great exercise and surprisingly relaxing
17. Canoed over the tallest aqueduct in the world – amazing views in Wales
18. Tried hovercrafting – speeding along the ground on a cushion of air
19. Had a hot seaweed bath – more relaxing than I’d anticipated
20. Went to the compass points of Ireland – a fantastic route for a roadtrip
21. Experienced Africa for the first time – with an amazing tour of Morocco
22. Been on a camel trek – not the most comfortable mode of transport to cross the desert
23. Spent a night in the desert – an incredible overnight experience
24. Played a street fishing game in Marrakech – a bizarre and frustrating sport
25. Played the drums with a Berber group – attempting to keep rhythm
26. Went behind the scenes of a crime drama as an Extra – blink and you’ll miss me!
27. Virtually climbed a mountain – ascending the peaks on my stairs
28. Made a festive wreath – getting creative for Christmas
29. Played at an Open Decks night – pretending to be a DJ and spinning some tunes
30. Made a traditional Yule log – a festive chocolatey treat
31. Cooked with an A-Z of ingredients I’d not cooked with before – a delicious challenge
32. Went to in-person meditation – a great way to recharge and recalibrate
33. Tried decoupage – geting crafty with paper
34. Made essential oil diffusers – a scent-sational little project
35. Tried Cabochon – glass stone art from a kit
36. Went on a live virtual safari in South Africa – a fantastic at-home experience
37. Followed Wim Hof guided breathing for beginners – taking control and relaxing
38. Walked every street within the York walls – more miles than anticipated
39. Drew a caricature – harder than it looks
40. Made traditional York gingerbread from a 1741 recipe – not like modern gingerbread
41. Made Yorkshire puddings from scratch – I’d always let the Other Half make them before
42. Made samosas from scratch – a little doughy but delicious
43. Made onion bhajis from scratch – delicious although a little wonky
44. Made popcorn from scratch – brilliant popping fun and so easy
45. Made a milk jelly – an unusual and retro dessert
46. Tried camel milk – an unusual taste and apparently many benefits
47. Rewired a plug – I can’t believe I’d never learnt how to do this!
48. Tried latch hooking – a lovely mindful craft
49. Tried a tamarind drink – a sweet fruity soft drink
50. Went to a festival in the Arctic Circle – brilliant entertainment in a fantastic place
51. Tried eating snails – I’m not in a hurry to do this again
52. Tried a negroni – the cocktail originating from Florence
2023 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Took an on-line K-Pop dance class – with a very patient instructor in South Korea
2. Tried spray painting – fantastic way of creating art
3. Presented at PechaKucha – fast paced public speaking following a Japanese format
4. Did parkrun in another country – my first overseas event in Singapore
5. Made noodles from scratch – learning from the locals in Hội An, Vietnam
6. Made a lantern – in the city full of lights, Hội An, Vietnam
7. Went on a night safari – such a great way to see nocturnal creatures
8. Went up the tallest tower in the world – seeing the sights from the Tokyo Skytree
9. Saw the Japanese Snow Monkeys take a bath – something I’d always wanted to do
10. Took a ride on a bullet train – efficient and comfortable travel in Japan
11. Taken a tour of a car factory – behind the scenes at Mazda
12. Tried regional variations of Okonomiyaki – a delicious Japanese dish
13. Sang karaoke in Japan – brilliant fun in a Big Echo
14. Soaked in the hot springs in Taiwan – relaxing in the natural waters
15. Met the deer in Nara Park – freely roaming around the temples, they bow for food
16. Travelled in a Cambodian post van – a fast and cheap way to travel across the country
17. Met Guinness World Record Holders for the longest circus show – in Siem Reap, Cambodia
18. Had breakfast at a floating market – enjoying life on the river in Can Tho, Vietnam
19. Went trekking in Sapa – a two day adventure in north west Vietnam
20. Tried Vietnamese egg coffee – much nicer than I’d expected
21. Cruised, kayaked and swam in Lan Ha Bay – an otherwordly place in north east Vietnam
22. Hiked to the moving dunes in Poland – a desert in northern Europe
23. Walked across the Curonian Spit in Lithuania – a stretch of land full of nature
24. Swam in the Baltic sea – not as cold as you might think
25. Walked on the edge of the Tallinn TV tower – getting a high-rise view of Estonia
26. Saw Depeche Mode in Tallinn – after years of hearing their songs, we saw them play live
27. Got active in the world’s purest air – which is in northern Finland
28. Picked up a hitchhiker – making friends with strangers on the road
29. Ran at the most northerly point in mainland Europe – keeping the runstreak going
30. Indulged in the Swedish custom of Fika – a delicious tradition
31. Met a moose – getting up close with the king of the forest
32. Visited the home of marzipan -learning about the history and sampling the good stuff
33. Made embossed tin decorations – easy to learn and fun to do
34. Made a vase of flowers out of paper – rather than origami, this was the art of bookfolding
35. Made an earl grey flavoured hot chocolate – an unusual but delicious combination
36. Made a fused glass Christmas tree – creating a new decoration for the festive season
37. Hand painted some baubles – making unique and individual Christmas decorations
38. Went pub painting – an amazed myself with the result
39. Tried busking – with limited buskable talent, this was a step out of the comfort zone
40. Had a go at a terrazzo kit – not sure this turned out as expected
41. Made toasted teacakes from scratch – Really delicious results
42. Made a vegetarian wellington – which was huge
43. Made a family clay wall hanging – a unique and personalised decoration
44. Made a dried flower wreath – bringing colour at any time of the year
45. Slept on a satin pillowcase – apparently there are many benefits
46. Completed a 31 day photography challenge – learning to get off the auto setting
47. Made a bread wreath – didn’t quite turn out how I thought it would
48. Made a whipped feta dip from scratch – quick and easy
49. Made rosemary and sea salt crackers – artisan buffet offerings
50. Made baklava from scratch – intensely sweet, gooey and nutty treats of deliciousness
51. Made paprika and parmesan hearts – a perfect buffet addition
52. Made a website – nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time
2024 - Fifty-Two New Things A Year The Big List
1. Tried jive dancing – successfully jiving by the end of the night thanks to a great teacher
2. Tried making a terrarium – a lovely, relaxing activity getting hands on with nature
3. Went to a classical CD concert – a relaxing couple of hours with unexpected benefits
4. Having a go at life drawing – an unexpected lesson in paying attention
5. Playing ice-free curling – similar to bowling, easy to pick up and play
6. Having a go at whittling -learning a bushcraft skill
It’s been a fantastic journey so far that has seen me step out of my comfort zone, embrace embarrassment and learn lots of new skills that I’d never expected.
How many have you tried? Which ones do you think you might do?
There are plenty of things that I tried before I started my fifty-two new things a year in 2018, and I have a big list of things that I’d like to try to work my way through, so I’m hoping I’ll continue to find new experiences for a long time yet. If you’ve any suggestions for things that I should give a go, please leave a message in the comments.
Epic list here. Well done. Hot yoga sounds fun. I did a sauna last night for the first time; proper sauna in someone’s private home, where we’re house sitting. 180 F, really hot. Loved it even though the concentrated temp felt intense. A bit like hot yoga.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan! Hot yoga was great! Oooh nice, I like a sauna but I always need a blast of cold half way through! Sounds like a nice place to be housesitting! Enjoy.