New is defined as discovering something recently or now for the first time; not existing before.
I initially struggled to find an N related word, but my recent trip made me reflect and think about my mantra this year. It’s actually a question that I’ve been intentional about asking myself every few days. And the question is:
What’s my something new?
This year my goal is to live life in full, and one way of going about that on a day-to-day basis is to remain present in all of my endeavors. As much as I speak about being present, by no means am I perfect and I definitely have times when I’m ruminating about the past or too caught up in what the future holds. With that said, I can guarantee one thing, if it’s something new I am fully engaged. So, I made it a rule, this year I must ensure that I do something new every month.
This something new can be anything and by definition it simply has to be something I’ve not done previously.
There’s actually nothing like the first time. It’s just different, the body responds differently to new things and new neural pathways (brain connections) are created. The first time is your premise for all the next times, it shapes your experience like no other.
Your something new doesn’t have to be expensive or something grandiose. Here’s a few ideas for your something new:
- Listen to a genre of music you don’t ever listen to
- Take yourself out on a solo venture (restaurant, day trip or holiday)
- Is there an activity you’ve been longing to try? Do it?
- Take a new route to wherever you often visit!
- Morning routine, switch it up, that’s the same for your nighttime routine too.
- If you have a fave dish at a restaurant and you always get it, order something else.
- If you tend to cook the same meals at home, try a new recipe.
- Are you single and want to date? Go to a speed dating event, join a dating app, message that crush!
- Try not to use your phone for the first hour of your day and fill that time with something else.
- Move your body in a new way; try a new exercise, join a new fitness class, complete your workout routine in a different order.
These feelings are fun, trying new brings excitement to life, it breaks the habit we all fall into when we are busy with studying, working, family life etc., which turns on autopilot mode, and we start operating like robots. They say life flies by when you’re having fun, it also flies by when you’re not aware of what’s going on.
I remember at the end of December we went to watch Avatar: The Way of Water in 4D and I couldn’t believe that was my first time watching a movie in 4D, I found it so cool, that experience alone inspired me to think about other things that could be new for me.
The 4D experience reminded me of when I was young and watched Rugrats at the cinema. I’m not even sure if you could call it 4D but I distinctively remember that the cinema had these accompanying cards that you could scratch and smell; these smells were specifically related to the smells of the movie (I even had to google it to make sure I wasn’t telling you a lie). Anyway, I say all of that to say despite being in my mid-twenties, I felt like a child watching Avatar and it took me back to my 5-year-old self. The inner child is always there and that’s why I think doing something new, and having novel experiences is like no other because it’s the unknown and magical and reconnects you to what it was like as a young child who was discovering so many things for the very first time.
It only makes sense that I share my something new’s with you so far and now I’ve shared them, it makes me even more accountable to stick to my word.
My something new’s so far:
January: Spa hotel trip in the midlands with my girls
February: Morocco with my family
March: ??? well who knows I’ll figure it out when March arrives
Yes, these have a cost attached and I’m grateful for the resources to allow the above to happen. With that said, another something new I did that didn’t cost a thing, was not using my SatNav to direct me from a place that I’ve been going to for the best part of 3 months. I managed absolutely fine and realised that I was using my SatNav for comfort more than anything else.
Please take a moment right now and ask yourself:
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
If you’re struggling, that may just be an indicator for you to switch things up a bit.
I’ve got a personal challenge for you and that is to join me in doing something new each month. I appreciate the current situation of life right now but like I said it doesn’t have to cost much, if anything at all.
I know we are towards the end of February, but it still exists and so does the next 10 months of the year!
Here’s to a life that is full of new experiences, a life that you are living in full. A life that can feel new by being present each day and noticing the subtleties that it brings, but also reaffirming that by intentionally carving out time to plan and do something new! 🙂