7 Ways to Add Novelty to Your Life and Break Out of a Bland Routine

Sometimes, we can get so stuck in our daily routines that life can start to feel bland and repetitive. The cycle of going to work or school all day, coming home in the evening, going to bed and then doing it all over again can make us feel like we're stuck in a time loop—and the only way to get out of a time loop is through experimentation and changing things up day by day.

As it turns out, novelty is good for you. It can help you shake things up, inject some joy, fun and creativity into your life and give you new things to look forward to all the time. Even small changes to your routine can help you become more adaptable and resilient—and we have some simply suggestions for you below.

Get Stuff Done From New Locations

If you have homework or work remotely (even if it's just some of the time), changing up your work environment can add a touch of fun and get you in a different frame of mind, allowing you to tackle your tasks in new ways. You might want to start by simply moving around the house, such as from your bed or desk to a kitchen counter or living room table, before you consider other spots like the library, a coffee shop, a co-working space or a friend's house. Many parks even have wifi, allowing you to get some sun and touch grass as you answer emails or put together reports. Different environments may have different impacts on your productivity, creativity and focus, so try new things to add some variation to your experience.

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Also read about: 8 Sneaky Ways to Be More Active in Your Daily Routine

 

Try New Food

Even if you don't consider yourself a super adventurous eater, trying new types of food is an excellent way to experience novelty regularly. Chances are that you're not even close to trying every restaurant in the nearest big city, so get online, peruse some maps and start looking at places that sound delicious or at least interesting. Try ordering out, starting with something small that sounds up your alley, and get more adventurous from there. Order a to-go dessert, just to try something new.

We're also big fans of dessert shops and coffee bars with rotating menus, whether it's on a weekly or monthly basis, because they allow for you to taste something new all the time. Even if you don't love what you taste, going out on a limb is good for you. Also, if going out for new food is too pricey, you can instead try new recipes from the comfort of home. The number of options on the internet is virtually endless.

 

Take Different Routes

Taking the same exact routes to and from your destination every day can get monotonous, fast. These days, most navigation apps will suggest the fastest route to take each time you drive, but you can also bake extra time into your itinerary to go a completely different route and see your town in a new way. Just taking in novel visuals and training your brain to navigate to different places is new ways is good for you, but even more, going off the beaten path can show you a different side of where you live. You just might discover an interesting new place to visit or your favorite new restaurant by merely driving somewhere new.

 

Investigate Novel Hobbies

It's so important to have hobbies and interests to pursue when you're not focused on academics or your career, allowing you to focus your drive and creativity into something that engages and relaxes you. If you don't really have hobbies at the moment, or are burned out on the ones you have, it's time to investigate some new ones.

This really can be anything, from reading, playing games or playing sports to dancing, playing music or engaging in arts and crafts. Some hobbies are totally free, requiring little more than your own motivation, while others might have costs attached. You might want to sign up for a class to try things out and expand your horizons, or go online and look up tutorials on pursuing a hobby that's caught your eye. If it's a crafty hobby, chat with friends about what they love, and see if they'll teach you the ropes about it and share supplies with you to get you started to save costs. Truly, you might only be one step away from your next big passion.

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Also read about: 5 Reasons to Use Your Local Library, Instead of Buying All Your Books

 

Act Like a Tourist in Your Own Town

Sometimes, having more fun and excitement in your everyday life is all about perspective. Instead of going through your typical routine, try looking at where you live (or the nearest city) as if you were a tourist. Pull up a map and investigate places you're less familiar with. Make a list of the activities you can do, museums or historical sites to visit, parks to walk or hike, restaurants to eat at and more. From there, compare reviews and prioritize places to check out first. Plan a staycation that's all about doing the things you've never done before, even though they're right at your fingertips.

 

Start Writing

Adding writing to your daily life may seem like a small change, but it can add a surprising amount of richness and creativity to any routine. Maybe you want to start with journaling as a way to process your day or set and go after goals, or as a beginning to an autobiography of sorts. Perhaps you can blog about something close to your heart and connect with like-minded readers online. You can also flex your imagination by coming up with completely new stories, or even writing fanfiction. There's something freeing about telling new stories within the worlds of your favorite media, or even combining elements from different films, shows and more to create something completely unique to you.

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Explore New Media

One of our favorite low-risk ways to broaden our creative horizons is simply be exploring new media. Many of us can become reliant on re-watching the same old comfort shows again and again, but there's also a lot to be gained from taking a risk on new things, whether it's a TV series, movie, book or anything else. Follow recommendations from friends with similar tastes or people you look up to, or check something out just because you saw a social media post about it that looked interesting. The worst that can happen is that you realize it's not for you, and you don't have to complete it. On the other hand, you may also discover vast new worlds, fresh perspectives and ideas that will stick with you for a lifetime and inspire you to seek out even more novelty in your life.

 

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