Some habits are worth doing every day. Others are better when you give them a little more space.

That’s why I like having a few things I intentionally do once every month. They aren’t complicated, expensive, or time-consuming, but they help me stay connected with my goals, my surroundings, and the people around me.

If you’re looking for things to do every month, here are 7 ideas I would actually keep on my list.

1. Take Yourself Somewhere You’ve Never Been

Every month, I like the idea of going somewhere I’ve never visited before—even if it’s only 20 minutes from home.

It could be a new café, a walking trail, bookstore, museum, market, park, or a small town nearby.

I think this is one of the easiest ways to stop every month from feeling exactly the same.

You don’t need to plan an expensive day trip. The rule is simply: somewhere new.

And if you discover a place you love, you’ve gained somewhere you can return to later.

Try this: Put five unfamiliar places in your phone at the beginning of the month and choose one before the month ends.

2. Do One Thing That Your Future Self Will Thank You For

This is probably my favorite monthly habit.

Instead of asking, “What do I need to get done today?” I ask myself:

“What can I do this month that will make next month easier?”

It could be organizing an important folder, backing up your photos, cleaning a neglected space, making an appointment, learning a useful skill, reviewing your finances, or finally dealing with something you’ve been avoiding.

The task doesn’t have to be impressive.

What matters is that you’re making life slightly easier for the version of yourself you’ll meet a few weeks from now.

3. Have a “No Plans” Day

This sounds almost too simple, but I think it’s surprisingly valuable.

Choose one day each month where you deliberately don’t fill your schedule.

No unnecessary errands. No pressure to be productive. No trying to squeeze five activities into one afternoon.

Sleep a little longer. Make breakfast slowly. Read. Watch something. Go for a walk. Sit outside. Do absolutely nothing for a while.

I don’t think rest should always have to be earned.

A monthly no-plans day gives you a chance to notice how tired or overwhelmed you’ve actually become before you keep moving.

My rule: Don’t turn your relaxing day into a secret productivity challenge.

4. Ask Someone a Question You’ve Never Asked Them

Every month, choose one person you care about and have a conversation that goes a little deeper than the usual “How are you?”

Ask about something you’ve never really discussed.

You could ask:

• What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
• What was one of your favorite memories growing up?
• What are you looking forward to right now?
• What is something you’ve changed your mind about?
• If you could spend a month anywhere, where would you go?

I love this idea because relationships can become repetitive when we only talk about everyday responsibilities.

One genuinely curious question can lead to a conversation you remember for years.

5. Make a “Month in Photos” Folder

At the end of each month, choose your favorite photographs from the previous few weeks and put them into one folder.

Don’t only choose the impressive pictures.

Include the ordinary ones.

Your morning coffee. A random sunset. Dinner with friends. A funny moment. A street you walked down. Something you bought. A rainy afternoon.

After several months, you’ll have a visual record of your actual life—not just the big occasions.

Make it interesting: Choose only 10–15 photographs each month. Having a limit forces you to pick the moments that really meant something.

6. Do One Slightly Uncomfortable Thing

I don’t mean something dangerous or extreme.

I mean something that pushes you just a little outside your normal routine.

Try the class you’ve been thinking about. Start a conversation with someone new. Go somewhere alone. Speak up about an idea. Try a completely unfamiliar recipe. Finally publish something you’ve been working on.

I find that doing one uncomfortable thing every month keeps life from becoming too predictable.

And sometimes the things we initially feel nervous about become the experiences we end up enjoying most.

The goal isn’t to become fearless. It’s to become a little more willing.

7. Write a Letter to Yourself About This Month

This is the one I’d definitely keep.

At the end of each month, spend 10 minutes writing about what actually happened.

Not a list of achievements.

Write about what you enjoyed, what surprised you, what frustrated you, who you spent time with, what you’re learning, and what you want to remember.

Then save it somewhere safe.

Do this for a year and you’ll have 12 little snapshots of your life.

I think that’s much more meaningful than simply looking back at a calendar and seeing where you went.

You may even discover patterns you didn’t notice while living through them.

How I’d Turn These Into a Monthly Routine

I wouldn’t try to force all seven ideas into one weekend.

Instead, I’d spread them naturally throughout the month:

Beginning of the month:
Choose somewhere new to visit.

During the month:
Do one uncomfortable thing and one future-you task.

Anytime you need it:
Have your no-plans day.

Before the month ends:
Have a meaningful conversation and collect your favorite photos.

Last day of the month:
Write your letter to yourself.

The whole routine could take surprisingly little time.

And that’s exactly why I like it.

You don’t need a massive monthly reset or a complicated planner. Sometimes seven small intentional actions are enough to make an ordinary month feel much more memorable.

Final Thought

The best monthly habits aren’t necessarily the ones that make you more productive.

Some should make you curious.

Some should make you rest.

Some should make you closer to people.

And some should simply help you remember that you were actually there, living the month instead of rushing through it.

So pick a few ideas from this list and make them your own.

Then, when the next month arrives, do it again—but change one thing.

You might be surprised by how different an ordinary year can feel when you intentionally give each month its own little story.