Wellness

The Benefits Of Trying Something New

When was the last time you tried something new? A new food, a new hobby, a different hairstyle, an untrodden travel spot. New experiences are good for our mental and emotional health, and brains. They shake us out of our funks and boring routines and add vibrancy, growth and learning to our lives.

Whether it’s travelling solo for the first time or initiating a new friendship over a coffee, you’re bound to benefit from excitement and creativity when you open your mind and heart to fun, fresh possibilities. Lots of surprising and wonderful things await.

No need for big, daring experiences – small ones count too. Our brains react to new stimuli by releasing dopamine which makes us feel good and puts us in a positive mindset. You’ll meet new people, make exciting memories, build on your wealth of life experiences, and you’ll be a more interesting person with stories to tell.

Rarely do we purposely step beyond the usual and embrace new experiences, challenges and ideas. Fears often hold us back. We’re creatures of habit, so breaking out of our comfortable rut can feel, well, simply uncomfortable.

But you’ll find the rewards almost always outweigh the risks. And even if it doesn’t turn out 100% positive, that’s ok, you’ll still get something out of the process and learn more about yourself.

Branching out will increase your adaptability, and sharpness and provide insight into undiscovered talents and skills. In our fast-paced shifting world, leaning into change and being adaptable bodes well for your professional and personal life. You don’t want to live life stagnant and stuck.

The more you push yourself and reap the positives of doing something new, the more confident and motivated you’ll feel to step outside of your comfort zone. Sure, you may be content enjoying all the things you already enjoy but there’s an enormous universe out there with hundreds of thousands of unique experiences. New emotions, adventures and cultures that are inspiring, energizing and fulfilling.

Almost nothing is boring the first time around. Trying something new forces us to be in the moment, to focus, and to be intentional in our choices. We can’t anticipate what comes next so time slows down.

In all the mental clutter and outside clatter around us, happiness is found in those precious moments of profound engagement and learning, when you stretch your body and mind towards health-enriching experiences.

So where to start? Switch off auto-pilot, shelve those insecurities and make a habit of trying new things. We bet you’ll like it!