Novelty is a Lifehack - Here’s Why
I went on a holiday recently. It was the classic routine – warm weather, beachfronts, and cocktails. All the things us working adults supposedly crave.
Despite it only being a short 5-day trip, I returned home feeling like weeks had passed. Not only that, but I was on top of the world. I felt rejuvenated, in a way that I didn’t realise I needed.
It seemed strange because I felt totally normal prior to leaving. It definitely didn’t seem like I was in a rut or needed the time off.
But after thinking about it for a while, I realised what was happening. By going on that holiday, I’d given myself some much needed novelty.
*Cue talking about evolutionary psychology again.
I know I know, it’s a bit early on in the article for me to start rambling about evolutionary psych but hear me out.
Just like food and sex, novelty is another one of those things our brains are wired to pursue. Our brain rewards us for exploration with bursts of feel-good chemicals. It rewards us for seeking out that shiny new thing.
Looking at human behaviour through this evolutionary psych lens goes a long way towards explaining the electric feeling that often accompanies a change of scenery or the discovery of an awesome new song.
It feels good because our brain rewards it. Conversely, when we don’t get regular doses of novelty, our brain begins to crave it.
I think this perfectly explains the rush that came with my mini holiday. It wasn’t just the novelty that came with the change of scenery but also the contrast. In the same way that a sunny spring day is even more enjoyable after you’ve struggled through a cold, dark winter, novelty feels better after you’ve been deprived of it. In short, I hadn’t travelled in a while so it felt extra good when I finally did.
Novelty and Curiosity
With everything we’ve just spoken about in mind, novelty and curiosity are the perfect pair. Curiosity pushes you to pursue something new. Novelty rewards you for that pursuit.
As if you needed another reason to pursue your curiosities. Oh, you did? Well here you go!
Pursuing your curiosity will make you feel good. In fact, it has the potential to make you feel on top of the world like I did, even if only temporarily.
So, embrace the inner child living inside your head. You have the perfect excuse to go on an adventure.
Visit a new location. Try a new TV show or genre of music. Go to a pottery class… I don’t know.
Find something that interests you and start Googling – see where it leads. Who knows what you’ll learn along the way. Exciting times, huh?
But before you get stuck down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, stay with me. There’s one more thing worth talking about.
The Real Benefit Behind Pursuing Novelty
Excitement and curiosity are all well and good, but there’s more to this story than that.
When you pursue a new experience, your brain rewards you for it but you’re also giving yourself an opportunity.
And that opportunity is the chance to break free from all those limitations that have been getting in your way recently.
Maybe it’s the cookies in the breakroom at work that you just can’t resist. Maybe it’s your annoying neighbour that keeps you awake at night and then leaves you in a bad mood the next day. Or maybe you just can’t stop hitting the snooze button and have missed your morning gym session four days in a row.
Whatever it is, pursuing novelty offers you the chance at a clean slate.
After all, so many of the things holding us back are just simple habits and behaviours that we keep doing because that’s what we’re used to. Familiar environments and people, all potential triggers for the behaviour that’s getting in our way.
Shake things up by hanging out with some new people or visiting a new city. It might be exactly what your brain needs to finally let go of that nasty habit.
And that will make you a little bit more badass.