Of all the people I’ve met in my 26 years, I wasn’t impressed by those with wealth or an abundance of material possessions.
Regardless of whether or not they subscribed to “traditional” success, the guys that partake in the many experiences life has to offer always made the biggest impression.
Maybe they motorcycled through Vietnam for three months or spends his weekends out of town fly fishing. Those kind experiences lead me to believe he’s more about living life instead on winning the game of life.
If you find yourself stuck in a rut thinking about what sorts of experiences you want to feel fulfilled, here’s my list of things I believe every man should do in his life.
Experience Wildlife through Fishing or Hunting

Hunting for protein is arguably man’s original occupation, but wild goose doesn’t need to be on tonight’s menu. Even if it’s some afternoon catch-and-release by the pond, the ritual is all about remembering our role in the grand order of nature and the balance between humans and wildlife.
Participate in a Competitive Sport

The value of sports on a man’s character, whether team or individual, can’t be understated.
Building a robust frame through competitive sports is the least important thing about participating in them. Honing a skill, identifying clear metrics for improvement, and shutting out all the noise to simply get better are the pillars of a successful life.
Earlier is ideal. But remember: it’s never too late.
Approach a Girl in Person

There’s no shame in using the latest dating apps. You gotta go where the action is, but all the swiping can take a toll on a man’s self-esteem.
There’s zero chance your first impression will be as memorable without the confidence inherent in approaching a girl in real life. The worst she can say is no, and if that’s the case, handling rejection with grace is a valuable trait in any man.
Learn a Craft
The most successful people always seem to parrot the same general idea: embrace a life of learning.
Cognitive benefits aside, a constructive outlet sharpens a mind dulled by stress, work, and responsibility. Carpentry, coding Python, or paper mache—something should round out a man’s professional and personal responsibilities.
Fix Your Own Belongings
Tasking oneself with repairs before outsourcing (within reason) is endlessly rewarding.
That doesn’t mean dropping the engine without anything but a 50-in-1 toolkit from Harbor Freight. But if you’re willing to give resoling your work boots with rubber cement and Vibram outsoles, you can skip the cobbler going to the cobbler and learn a thing or two about shoe construction. The keyword here is self-sufficiency.
Embark on an International Solo Trip

Galavanting European cities with your best friends is unforgettable. There’s no doubt about it. But at the end of the day, eating out three times a day, hitting every souvenir shop, and partying until sunrise is pure consumption under a veneer of “cultural experience.”
Remove travel partners from the equation the trip is much less a getaway than an opportunity to understand yourself more.
Am I capable of navigating a new place with different customs? Do I have the interpersonal skills to meet foreign people without the safety net of close friends? Could I see myself moving abroad without any connections to hit the ground running?
Rarely does life serve you an opportunity to face these big questions.
Get a Hormone Panel

Certainly the black sheep of the list, isn’t it? Peculiar as it might be, hormone panels are an undervalued snapshot of a man’s overall health—particularly mental and sexual. Unless specifically requested, it isn’t common for doctors to order a hormone panel unless an issue arises that warrants one.
Testosterone, among other key hormones, naturally declines as we age. It happens sooner for some than others and the signs aren’t always obvious. One hormone panel could reveal why you’re having trouble sleeping, losing hair, maintaining focus, or losing your hard-earned gains.
Treat Their Parents
It’s impossible to understand the magnitude of responsibility and sacrifice parents make from the time a baby is born until you have one(s) of your own.
Conditions permitting, treating your parents to a vacation or a purchase they’ve been eyeing is one of the most rewarding ways to express your gratitude and respect for raising you.
Raise a Pet

Companionship is the most obvious benefit of nurturing another animal, and most consider it a crucial stepping stone for men who want children someday. Allergic to cats and dogs? No problem. Raising reptiles, birds, or fish serves as an equally effective means to improve your responsibility habits.
Learn Another Language
Mastering a new language is more than just learning to communicate. Speaking another language can open doors to meeting new people, travel experiences, and even career opportunities that were previously out of reach.
This takes years of practice, but it lends itself to the previous point of a life full of learning. Regardless, learning just one additional language is one of the best skills in a man’s repertoire.
Conquer a Phobia
It’s not about becoming fearless, but about showing yourself that you can handle it. Start small, take baby steps, and you’ll see your fear lose its grip.
I’m terrified of heights, and because it’s a fear hardwired into a lot of us humans, I don’t know if I’ll ever be “cured.” That doesn’t make me any less proud of every rollercoaster I’ve ridden.
Volunteer in Their Community
Giving back to the community reinforces a cornerstone of growth: providing service to others without the expectation of anything in return.
Volunteering is special as it can be tailored to causes you believe in. Ocean lovers can recruit peers for a beach cleanup. Animal welfare advocates can spend a Saturday organizing adoption initiatives at the local shelter. Those with family members who served can spend time with retired military members at the veterans’ home.
Go on a Shopping Spree
By no means should you discount financial responsibility. However, there’s always been more pressure on men to become rich. It’s easy to get fatigued by the fishy wealth gurus, societal expectations, and constantly abstaining from treating yourself. You know what I say? As long as you’re seeing success from a budget you’ve set, go on a reasonable shopping spree.
Go to your favorite designer boutique to buy that jacket, and pick up the leather boots you’ve been eyeing while you’re at it. Celebrate your new haul with a steak dinner. Ask for the New York strip and top it with blue cheese. Have one too many vodka martinis and order an Uber Black for the ride home. It’s cathartic, and you deserve it.
Take on a Leadership Role
Leadership is one of the many “built-in” traits men are born with. Some of us lean into it from a young age, while others haven’t let that part of them shine. It could be as simple as coaching your son’s tee-ball team or working towards a position to command a global sales team. Leading others while facilitating their growth is peak fulfillment, and all men should experience it.
Go Camping

The modern way of life can make a man soft. Environmental resistance is crucial for growth, and desk jobs, commuting by car, and 5-grain protein bowls from the latest fast-casual restaurant only sink us deeper into the church of convenience.
That isn’t to say the modern way of life is a bad thing, but every man should walk with his primal side. Camping is fertile ground for building an array of survival skills in breathtaking environments that many men wish we could be closer to. Should your first and only camping trip go sideways, at least it’s a reminder of how good we have it nowadays.
Grow Your Own Food
Similar to the point above, growing your own food is a lost art that rewards you with something you can see, touch, and taste.
The best part about it is that it can be done regardless of living space or green thumb know-how. A single jalapeño plant can be grown with a UV light indoors, or, with ample acreage, you can plant an entire vegetable garden with potatoes, onions, and herbs to season the dishes your labor makes possible.
Explore a New Hobby

Hobbies add so much color to life. A man’s time here on earth shouldn’t solely be spent working, sleeping, eating, and all of the other mandatory sectors of life that keep the show going.
Do a Dopamine Detox

Corporations managed to jam a dopamine response into everything. The notification cadence of our phones, going overboard with salt and sugar in food, and the general consumerist culture all work to make mundane parts of everyday life excite us, only for the pendulum to swing the other way and keep us wanting more.
The fact of the matter is that dopamine isn’t just the “pleasure molecule.” Yes, it’s responsible for feeling rewarded, but it also plays a crucial part in maintaining focus. Temporarily deleting social media, eating a clean diet free of processed foods, and taking a break from nicotine and alcohol can be a huge wake-up to the mental influence of modern life.
Try Yoga or Pilates

It goes without saying that a fitness routine should be part of every man’s life, and it shouldn’t just be tried once. Strength naturally declines and physique becomes less important as we age. Mobility, on the other hand, is always important to prevent injury while decreasing the chance you’ll depend on assistive devices like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs.
There’s so much to do in so little time.
It’s hard to hit everything on this list in one life. Some of these experiences can be easier than others depending on where you live, your responsibilities, or where you’re at in life. My hope in sharing 19 things every man should do, is that just a few can be targeted to enrich your time here on earth.
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