When life feels stagnant, adding new and exciting experiences to your routine could be a great way to shake things up, according to Liz Moody, author and host of a wellness podcast.
“I’ve been using something called the ‘novelty rule,’ and it makes life feel so much longer and so much more satisfying,” Moody said during an episode of her self-titled podcast in August 2024. “It gets rid of that feeling that every day is the same.”
The novelty rule involves consciously seeking new experiences as often as possible to slow down your perception of time and positively impact your well-being, said Moody, who studied psychology in college and has spent the past six years interviewing experts on all things wellness.
“Once a week, I try to fit in at least one novelty activity,” Moody said. “These can be really small.”
10 ways to practice the novelty rule weekly
“This is not about doing something big and different and scary. It’s just about switching up the things that you are already doing,” Moody said. For example, you can:
- Take a different route on your way home from work
- Phone a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while
- Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand
- Watch a movie or TV show in a genre that you haven’t explored before
- Put your watch on the opposite wrist
- Make a new recipe
- Do a different workout at the gym
- Go to a unique farmers market or supermarket
- Visit a new coffee shop or restaurant
- Play a board game you’ve never played before
Many of Moody’s recommendations align with what experts say keeps your brain youthful and your memory sharp. “Avoid boredom, stay challenged,” neurologist Dr. Richard Restak told CNBC Make It in 2024.
Moody suggests adding the novel experience you’d like to try to your calendar. “What we calendar in, actually happens,” she said.
Why the novelty rule works
Moody based the novelty rule on research that David Eagleman, a neuroscientist who teaches at Stanford University, explores in his book, “Livewired.”
Surprising things and novel experiences alter your brain circuits, according to Eagleman’s research. But as people age, there are fewer experiences that are truly new or surprising, Moody said on her podcast. This can change if you intentionally expose yourself to new experiences, she said, which can make time feel like it’s moving more slowly and your life feel longer.
And trying new things, especially with loved ones, can make you happier, Moody said. Her most vivid memories are the novelty experiences she planned, like visiting animal farms or going to a fun murder-mystery party with her dad that she saw advertised on a flyer in a restaurant.
“Because our brains get so much pleasure from anticipation, you can use calendaring in monthly novelty rule activities to increase your joy, all year long,” Moody said.
It has certainly worked for Moody. As she put it: “It has woken my life up in a way that I didn’t think was possible.”
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