Live Big

Here’s a guess: Your list of priorities includes stuff about cluttered basements and unread novels. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (basements gotta get decluttered). But it’s a new year, a new you—and it’s time to turbocharge that to-do list and expand your horizons. Here, 24 ways to live big—Yao, big. That’s Yao as in wow. Which is what everybody’s going to say when you drop your inhibitions and start truly living large.

#1  Learn to Surf
So your chances of carving like Kelly Slater are slim to zilch. We say, ride anyway. Why? Because that adrenaline soaked feeling of pure bliss will hit you every time you catch a wave, no matter how big, says Josh Trent, a trainer at La Jolla 24 Hour Fitness in California. Start on the sand, with a friend standing behind you to push you forward. The foot you step out with is your lead foot. Trent recommends beginners practice standing on their board while still on the beach. Lie flat on your belly on the board, hands under your shoulders, fingers spread out. With a slight arch in your back, do a quick push-up. At the top of the push-up, swing your feet below your hips, landing with your lead foot forward. Keep your shoulders back, your abs drawn in, and your chin away from your chest.

#2  Go Skydiving
Talk about big-time thrills: “An untethered, 60-second, 120 mph flight through a spectacular environment” is how Chris Needels, executive director of the U.S. Parachute Association, describes skydiving, the ultimate big-living activity. And it turns out, prepping your body to drop 13,000 feet requires more stretching out than bulking up. The force of the wind during free fall can create pulled or cramped muscles if you haven’t limbered up first, says Needels. Would-be skydivers should stretch the groin, shoulders, legs, and lower back.

#3  Tell Off the Boss
You needn’t do it in a big, crazy kind of way for it to boost your confidence—in fact, you probably shouldn’t. Instead, ask for regular meetings about your job and your expectations for it. He’ll dig your initiative; you’ll dig regularly getting to say, “I’m not getting the support that was promised,” says John Hoover, Ph.D., author of How to Work for an Idiot. He’ll never realize you’re calling him incompetent.

#4  Drop Out for a Month
You know the ol’ saw: It’s not the daily grind you miss on your deathbed. So, if you can afford it, check out for awhile before you check out. Just do your homework first. Have two daily goals and a healthy list of Plan Bs for your time off, says Laura Stack, author of Find More Time. Staying engaged will prevent you from even thinking about calling work.

#5  See Your Favorite Performer Live
There’s nothing like the magic of a live concert. But to truly live big, you have to dream big: Go to the city where your artist gives a little extra. Love U2? Head to Boston. Better yet, fly to Dublin. We’re talking a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

#6  Hike the Grand Canyon
The 3-day trip from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back is an epic trek and a big-time fitness goal. You’ll traverse at least 10,000 feet in elevation change, so you’ll need to get your trekking legs on and your posture perfect. Your prep: Pack a backpack, take it to the gym, and ask your trainer to evaluate your posture, says Jeremy Jones, a trainer at the Gilbert 24 Hour Fitness in Arizona. If your posture changes under the weight, you’ll need to strengthen your core. Jones recommends planks, supermans, cable rows, and flies.

#7  Get Out of the Bedroom
Pair the usual physical stimulation with an unusual location, and you get memorable sex. Try the picnic table out back—anywhere less than in-your-room-with-the-door-locked private. The danger of being caught supplies the incendiary mental stimulation, says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., a sex therapist and author of She Comes First: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman.

#8  Be Really Honest for a Day
To avoid land mines, start with, “I want to say something, and it might not be easy to hear.” Keep everything in the first person: what you see, hear, and feel, says Susan Campbell, Ph.D., author of Saying What’s Real: 7 Keys to Authentic Communication and Relationship Success. End by asking for your listener’s take.

#9  Go Big for 1 Day
Donate a budget-stretching sum to charity. Anonymously.

#10  Drive Cross Country
The coast-to-coast rite of passage is a classic goal. If you do it right, it doesn’t have to be a royal pain in the neck, either. Long drives can cause tightness in the hip flexors and lower back, neck pain, and stifle circulation, says Nick Russell, fitness manager at the Coit and Campbell 24 Hour Fitness in Richardson, Texas. So 2 weeks before the trip, start doing core exercises to improve your posture and protect your back, says Russell. Then, while you’re driving, tighten your stomach muscles to keep your core as engaged as your wanderlust.