I try new stuff all the time and have a couple tricks to help me I want to share. Why do I try new things? Probably a personality trait coming from a low tolerance to be bored.
What do I try? From new languages, to developing small stuff that solve problems I find, to random stuff (the last one is clod plunges. I am really bad with cold and want to get better).
The thing I struggle the most is handle frustration. There is a lot of research on how important is to handle frustration and I can guarantee you there will be tons of frustration when starting doing something you do not control.
The #1 of my frustration is to be used to be fairly good at what I do. Most people are, you gravitate towards doing things you are good at. Dopamine involved. You avoid things you are not good at. So when the boredom push me towards things that are new and challenging, suddenly I have to face that… I suck at doing X. And that’s it. Its okay to suck. It is NEEDED. You have to go through that valley of ineptitude to reach a destination where you become good at it.
Second trick is to surround yourself by people smarter than you, better at whatever you are trying. Capable. Be prone to ask, be okay about getting ruthless feedback. There are times for being the smartest person in the room, but you do not learn from those. Sometimes I feel embarrassed because I’d ask a hundred questions, so that has been a challenge for me sometimes.
Beginners mentality is at your advantage. There are silverlinings into being foreigner to a field. You try things you do not know will not work and something you get amazing results. You bring a different perspective to old problems.
