I just turned 25.

One of my favourite gifts was a small booklet called:

“Olle’s 25 Challenges for When He’s 25”.

I enjoyed it so much I wanted to share the challenges with you. Someone told me that if I share them, I’m more likely to actually do them.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Make fart noises on the bus or train without saying anything. Just enjoy people’s faces.

2. Follow in James Bond’s footsteps and order a vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred.

3. Pick a month of your liking and have Meatless Mondays. Meaning no meat for a whole day! And if you like it, keep doing it other months. Great way to cut down on your annual meat consumption. Also, it’s good for the environment 😉

4. Speak in skånska (Swedish dialect). No exceptions!

5. Send an email to a friend you haven’t spoken to in awhile and let them know you are still thinking about him/her.

6. Try a new form of training! Like water gymnastics or archery. Bring a friend if you want.

7. Take one full week and take as many pictures as you can of birds. Discovery Channel has Shark Week, but you Olle Lindholm will have Bird Week. Spread those wings!

8. Learn how to make paella. Maybe I’ll even try this recipe.

9.  Cancel everything and go somewhere that inspires you.

10. Get a globe or a map, close your eyes and place your finger randomly on it. Got a country? Great. Now go and learn as much as you can about that country. What do they export? What does their flag mean? And so on…

11. Go a day without any internet (including data use on your phone). It’s difficult, but possible!

12. Take out a pen and a piece of paper. Write down 10 strengths you have. Then write how you can use them to your advantage. Then write up 10 weaknesses you have, and brainstorm on how you can improve them. You will be surprised about all the awesomeness on that paper!

13. Order a Happy Meal, play with the toy and feel like a kid again! If available, totally jump in the ball pools!

14. Use an ATM and scream “Yes! I won! I won!” when the money comes out.

15. If a bar is boring, create a dramatic scene with a friend and storm out. Don’t forget to pay first!

16. Invite a friend (or a couple of friends) over for dinner and serve them something else besides spaghetti bolognese. 😉

17. Solve a Rubik’s cube.

18. Do a shot with a stranger. Bottoms up!

19. Expand your music taste! Ask your friends what their favourite album is right now. Limit yourself to 3 or 4 at a time so you have proper time to listen to them.

20. Sit down and think for a while, even do some internet searches. Then make an honest list of museums you really want to visit around the world. Keep that list with you when travelling so when you find yourself in a new place, you can go to those museums!

21. Learn how to make a camp fire! (Tip: Bring a scout or a fireman with you).

22. Plant something! Whether it’s in your garden or in a pot, plant a seed, take care of it and watch Mother Earth do her thing!

23. Donate your time or money to a cause you believe in. Don’t just pick anything. Make sure this charity or cause lies close to your heart.

24. Do a zero draft for your next book.

25. Make a list of the people you care about most. It can be 1, it can be 100 people, as long as they mean something to you, something special. Then go and do something nice for them. Whether it’s writing a nice letter, baking them something or taking them on an adventure – just remind them that they are special to you and that you love and appreciate them.

Let’s have some fun…

Which one was your favourite challenge? Which one will you start with first? And do you have any challenges you’d like to add to the list?

Let’s challenge each other to see how many we can do. I will tackle one challenge at a time.

Why don’t you join me? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Photo credit: Simon Wright.

PS. A big thanks to my friend Lou who gave me these challenges as a birthday present.