The self-expansion model suggests that the acquisition of new identities capabilities perspectives and resources primarily occurs in the context of romantic relationships and that self-expanding activities have numerous benefits for relationships. However self-expansion can theoretically occur outside of a relational context yet little is known about the benefits of self-expanding activities for individuals. Across six experimental studies we examined: (1) whether nonrelational novel exciting and interesting activities produce self-expansion and (2) whether engaging in nonrelational self-expanding activities results in greater exerted effort. In Studies 1 and 2 individuals who engaged in novel exciting and interesting activities experienced greater self-expansion than those who engaged in control activities. In Studies 3–6 individuals who engaged in high self-expanding activities exerted more effort on cognitive and physical tasks than those who engaged in low self-expanding activities and this effect was not due to depleted self-regulatory resources altered mood or changes in self-esteem (Studies 5 and 6).