The Novelty Rule That Changed My Weekdays for the Better
Breaking down a simple neuroscience hack to take the monotony out of daily life.
As someone who works an 8-5 corporate job five days out of the week, it can be easy to get in a rut of monotony. Waking up at the same time, making the same breakfast, walking the same route to the office, listening to the same music, etc.
“The Novelty Rule” is a concept I first learned about from Liz Moody, a best-selling author and podcast host of The Liz Moody Podcast. I had the pleasure of meeting Liz a couple years ago in San Francisco when she hosted a gathering for local women. She shared many incredible take-aways (and I encourage you to check out her podcast!), but the aha moment that stuck with me ever since was The Novelty Rule.
Based on neuroscience research conducted by Dr. David Eagleman at Stanford University, the basis of the rule is that infusing our everyday lives with new experiences alters our perception of time, therefore making our lives feel longer and richer. When you try something different, your brain creates new neural pathways, and the memories of the novel experience stand out more.
I’ve always been curious as to why time feels like it is flying by so much faster now that I am older, and why my elementary and middle school years felt like they went on forever. The Novelty Rule certainly answers that question. As a kid, I was constantly doing new activities each day, and no day looked the same. In class we frequently had themed parties, played various games on the playground, read new books, had playdates with different friends after school, and learned new skills. As an adult, the days can start blending together and feel boring if we are not intentional about infusing our life with more variety and fun. This doesn’t mean we have to quit our jobs and go on crazy adventures every day, but it is a much-needed reminder that life does not have to be so monotonous. Not only will our lives feel richer and more fun, our days/weeks/years in adulthood might end up feeling longer as a result.
How I implemented The Novelty Rule last week…
More ideas to implement The Novelty Rule this week…
Ask a friend for a new podcast recommendation and switch up what you listen to on your morning commute
Take a different route to the office or gym
Buy a new brand of your favorite snack
Work at a coffee shop
Sit outside to eat lunch instead of inside the office
Play a board/card game
Call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while
Try a new restaurant or a make a new recipe from a cookbook
Go watch a movie at an actual movie theater
Wake up early to watch the sunrise
Host a dinner or dessert potluck for friends after work
Use a nice mug for your morning beverage, or add different spices or flavors to your drink
Learn a new word each day in another language
Adding more novelty to life does not require making big shifts. Start with something as small as switching up what you eat for breakfast, and see how this starts to expand your life. I know it did for mine!