The practice
It's so easy to get into a rut: get up, go to work, come home, eat, zone out in front of a screen or party at the weekend, go to bed. Repeat. Then we wonder why life has lost its spark.
You don't have to plan a round-the-world trip to discover new things. Make a list of small things you'd like to try, just for the heck of it. That drawing class you always wondered about taking? Sign up! Never seen a movie all by yourself? Try it! If you like it, maybe you try more. If you don't, then try something else.
One woman decided to sample a new fruit every week. By the end of the summer she had tasted star fruit, pommelo, kiwis, pluots, goji berries, mulberries, lychees, passion fruit, nectarines, white and yellow peaches, and mangoes. A man decided to explore local hiking trails, all by himself, with a camera. Someone else decided to sign up for a Spanish course at her local community college. It took an effort, but they all said it was worth it.
The theory
We used to think that brain development slowed and stopped by middle age, but scientists now know that brain development continues while you're learning. As long as you're learning, your brain continues to densify, growing new synaptic connections. And learning new things also provides some protection against Alzheimer's.
The result
As well as being good for brain health, trying new things can also change who you think you are. It can give you confidence and a sense of pride. After all, you dared to do something new. You got out of your comfort zone and expanded your repertoire.
Trying new things can lead to new skills, new passions, new friends, and a richer appreciation of what the world has to offer you. Start small, and see where it goes...
It's so easy to get into a rut: get up, go to work, come home, eat, zone out in front of a screen or party at the weekend, go to bed. Repeat. Then we wonder why life has lost its spark.
You don't have to plan a round-the-world trip to discover new things. Make a list of small things you'd like to try, just for the heck of it. That drawing class you always wondered about taking? Sign up! Never seen a movie all by yourself? Try it! If you like it, maybe you try more. If you don't, then try something else.
One woman decided to sample a new fruit every week. By the end of the summer she had tasted star fruit, pommelo, kiwis, pluots, goji berries, mulberries, lychees, passion fruit, nectarines, white and yellow peaches, and mangoes. A man decided to explore local hiking trails, all by himself, with a camera. Someone else decided to sign up for a Spanish course at her local community college. It took an effort, but they all said it was worth it.
The theory
We used to think that brain development slowed and stopped by middle age, but scientists now know that brain development continues while you're learning. As long as you're learning, your brain continues to densify, growing new synaptic connections. And learning new things also provides some protection against Alzheimer's.
The result
As well as being good for brain health, trying new things can also change who you think you are. It can give you confidence and a sense of pride. After all, you dared to do something new. You got out of your comfort zone and expanded your repertoire.
Trying new things can lead to new skills, new passions, new friends, and a richer appreciation of what the world has to offer you. Start small, and see where it goes...
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