ideasthatspark - Discover
So What's New?
Posted: Sep 3, 2009 4:43 PM
Updated: Sep 3, 2009 4:43 PM
If you do the same things with the same people in the same environments day after day, life may feel a bit, well, stale. “We fall into routines because they’re comfortable and even soothing,” says New York-based life coach Stefanie Ziev. “But in order to grow and be happy, we must recognize and change our patterns.” In fact, research shows that when we experience new things, we trigger the release of the feel-good brain chemical dopamine -- and also forge new pathways in the brain that lead to greater thinking power.
Fortunately, you don’t need to quit your job, get plastic surgery or sell all your belongings to leave the grind behind. Making small changes can work wonders for rejuvenating your mind, body and spirit. Check out these fun, simple ways to freshen things up:
Change your image Whether you part your hair differently, bleach your teeth or just buy new shade of lipstick, a physical alteration can rock your world. “It’s powerful to make a change that you can see in the mirror and that other people can observe,” Ziev says. “It can empower you to make other changes.”
Commit to a daily switcheroo Do at least one thing differently every day: Take an alternate route to work, drink tea instead of coffee or invite new friends to dinner and let them pick the restaurant. The change can be as simple as flossing before you brush, as long as it forces you to consciously deviate from your regular routine.
Make a vision board Ziev recommends cutting out images and phrases that resonate with you from your favorite magazines and pasting them onto poster board. It might be a phrase like “First Woman President,” a picture of a family vacationing or people running a marathon. “The vision board helps you get in touch with your core passions and desires,” Ziev says. “And simply identifying them is the first step toward achieving them.” Hang the board in a prominent place and ask yourself daily: What can I do right this second to get closer to these ideals?
Change your scenery You don’t need to book a trip to Mardi Gras or the Grand Canyon (although, how cool would that be?). Just get out of town and look at something new. Go tubing in the mountains and antiquing in the country, or check out the taxidermy museum an hour away. If traveling isn’t in the cards, change the scenery in your home by moving furniture, painting walls or simply reading in a different chair or eating in the dining room instead of the kitchen.
Go tubeless (temporarily) Is channel surfing exciting? Not so much. What would your night or whole weekend look like without TV? You might find yourself painting the garage door purple, baking a seven-layer cake or disco dancing around the house to the hits of the 1970s. Surprise yourself with the creative, refreshing fun that can happen when you turn off the tube.
Get smart You probably don’t need to know conversational Mandarin, the genus and species of the birds that frequent your feeder or the benefits of knitting with mercerized cotton yarn, but learning a new skill can provide you with an unexpected avenue for inspiration. You might fall in love with Chinese culture, become an avid bird watcher or be able to knit scarves for everyone for the holidays. Need ideas? Consult your vision board or ask friends about their skills and hobbies. Just asking can get your creative juices flowing.
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