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As a former professional BMX rider and the host of MTV’s “The Challenge,” TJ Lavin knows a thing or two about adventure. He’s seen highs, by winning medals in several X Games, and lows through suffering serious injuries last year. But his sense of adventure remains – and drives him to pursue other passions, such as music.

TJ says being adventurous isn’t limited to extreme sports, and anyone can add a little adventure to their daily life. He has teamed up with SOYJOY to encourage you to make your life a little more adventurous. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Put yourself out there. Think of something you haven’t done before, maybe even something that scares you a little bit, and try it. It definitely gets the heart pumping, but you’ll feel amazing once you’ve done it, and you may even find you have a knack for something surprising. Don’t let feeling silly or self-conscious get in your way either. If you haven’t tried kick-boxing, yoga or spin class at the gym, just wing it and make it happen
• Expand your horizons. If traveling is in the budget, take a trip to that place you’ve always wanted to visit. If traveling’s not possible now, TJ suggests taking a mini getaway by spending a night camping at a nearby campground. Or expand your cultural horizons by trying new foods, attending local cultural festivals, watching foreign movies, or reading up on the fascinating cultures from around the world.
• Learn something new. Stimulating the brain with new information challenges and strengthens your neural connections and actually helps your brain perform better. TJ took up playing the piano, and while he admits he’s not the best at it, he loves the feeling you get when learning something new. So take a class in something you’ve always been interested in. Whether it’s music like TJ, photography, writing, cooking, or a foreign language – you can find any number of opportunities through community colleges, parks and rec departments, museums and with local professionals.
• Be a tourist in your own hometown. There may be some adventures waiting for you right outside your door. Take a different route to work, ride your bike instead of driving, or spend the afternoon in a neighborhood you haven’t visited before. If you haven’t gone to some of the local treasures – the history museum or the bistro everyone’s always talking about – play tourist for a day and discover everything your town has to offer.
• Get more social. Strong social connections are good for your overall health and well-being. And they can open up your world to new people and experiences. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people. You can also open your life to new adventures by getting a pet. TJ has found that animals bring a lot of joy to his life and suggests adopting if you can. Animals can make you both more adventurous and more social at the same time.