When I was a child, I read somewhere that each new experience grants you 22 more days of life. Over the years, it has become a family tradition -- one year at the holidays my mom sent me a package of several months' worth of extended lifespan in the form of new beauty products to try! Whether or not you truly gain an exact number of days from trying new things, there are three huge benefits to mixing it up in your life.
1. New experiences really can contribute to a longer life. A common link amongst people who are living in their 90s and beyond is use of new technologies including the internet, email, cell phones, and more. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control attribute higher life expectancy to a variety of things such as healthier lifestyles and advances in medicine, but also to decreased stress in people who live more active lives. They define "active" not just as physical exercise, but also social interaction, travel, and regular mental activity. So get out there and get those 22 days!
2. Just trying new things can make you happier. Most people define "boredom" as "having nothing to do," and according to an article by Anna Gosline in Scientific American Mind, boredom puts people at risk of higher anxiety, depression, performing poorly at work/school, and a host of other ills. Richard Walker, a psychologist at Winston-Salem State University, has written several very interesting articles on something called "fading effect bias" -- how we tend to focus on the positive things in our memories more than the negative ones. Crucially, he has also found that people who "engage in a variety of experiences are more likely to retain positive emotions and minimize negative ones than people who have fewer experiences." Not only will you be less bored (and therefore healthier) if you try something new; you'll also improve your overall outlook on life.
3. Until you try something you have never done before, you will never know if it's something you will love. As a teen one of my cousins taught me to play a collectible card game; it turned into a passion for games and stories that became a 10 year career. On a whim in high school a friend lent me a collection of Japanese animation videos, and my interest in the culture and language turned into a college degree. Recently my friend Chris took me out to play disc golf, and I spent a great day out in the sun hiking through bushes to find my lost disc. If you try something new it could lead to a new relationship, a new job, or a hobby that gives you pleasure for years to come!
Based on these three benefits, I decided to challenge myself to try one new thing every single day during the month of April. I challenge you to do the same! It doesn't have to cost money (I'm going to attend the free Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April, for example), and it doesn't even have to mean leaving your house (I plan to try to cook real Chinese food!). And it's up to you how new it is -- perhaps you don't normally make time to read books, so reading for pleasure every night would be a new and enjoyable experience.
If you have any ideas for new experiences to pursue in April, leave a comment below. I look forward to sharing my month of mixing it up, and I can't wait to hear about your journeys as well!
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