As important as routine and rituals are, our brains crave novelty.
It’s easy to become bored with the same repeated routine. I have found I’ve fought a battle between these two over the years.
I am naturally drawn to routine. Each time I have moved over the last several years, it doesn’t take me long to establish my new routine.
I usually earmark certain days of the week for certain tasks. I find my favorite stores and even my favorite route through those stores.
Inevitably, though, I begin to find myself bored with the same old same old.
It’s at this point that I tend to search out novelty to keep life interesting.
It has been found that when we experience something new and different the hippocampus of our brain is stimulated resulting in a release of dopamine.
Dopamine is the hormone that regulates our motivation. That’s why you might find yourself having more energy or being excited about a novel experience.
Novelty is responsible for triggering surprise. Even if we saw the Grand Canyon every day, eventually the awe and wonder would lessen. Your brain, in an effort to conserve energy, would habituate even something as majestic as this.
Your brain is wired to pay attention to new things. Especially, if they are vivid and interesting.
It’s actually quite easy to incorporate novelty in your life by doing simple things like trying out a new route, cooking a new recipe, or visiting a new museum.
Novelty can spark your creativity resulting in more expansive thoughts. It acts like a type of neurological primer.
It can also help you look at the world with fresh eyes. Look beyond the obvious and see how familiar objects can be used in different ways.
I remember an activity I used to do with my students. We would take a common object, like a paper clip, and see how many different ways it could be used.
This became quite fun as we brainstormed ideas as a class, and often resulted in giggles. Be as silly as you like.
How do you respond to novelty?
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