Tiny Experiments

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Responsibilities pile up, and sometimes we get busy. We seek structured frameworks and cling to routines, not because they’re necessarily working, but because they’re familiar and reassuring.

A tiny experiment is a low-risk repeated action taken to learn something new, spark a shift, or test a possibility.

Elements of a good tiny experiment:

1. Self-contained: You need to decide the duration in advance.

2. Doable with your current resources: Your tiny experiment shouldn’t require money you don’t have, complicated tools, or connections you don’t have access to.

3. Rooted in genuine curiosity: Make sure you’re not doing it just because you “should.”

4. Potentially impactful: While small, your experiment should ideally have the potential to positively affect your life.

flowchart LR
    A[Observation]
    A --> B[Practice self-anthropology]
    B --> C[Notice fixed mindsets]
    C --> D[Borrow inspiration]
    D --> E[Experimentation]
    E --> F[Use constraints]
    F --> G[Ask generative questions]

See also: Self-anthropology, Unfolding