Use the Novelty Rule to Alleviate Monotony

Whenever you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, you can use the novelty rule to break up the monotony.

Most adults settle into routines, both in their personal and professional lives. These routines are everywhere: people take the same route to work, they eat the same item from their favorite restaurant, or they shop at the same grocery story going through the aisles in the same order. While structure can be reassuring to some, the endless repetition feels mundane to most; almost as if life is on autopilot.

Conventional wisdom suggests the antidote to monotony is to make big changes. Cut your hair. Go on vacation. Take a class. While these sudden changes seem to work for a while, your hair grows back, you have to come back from vacation, and the class comes to an end. The routines get reinstated and the monotony returns.

In contrast, Liz Moody encourages people to break up their everyday routines by introducing an element of newness to them. Take a slightly different route to work or park in a different spot. Add an adventurous appetizer to your usual order. Explore the aisles of the grocery store in a different pattern or try a different store. Small changes can make big differences.

Moody calls this the novelty rule: incorporating even tiny bits of novelty can break the monotony of daily routines and make life feel more engaging. This changes how we experience time, because when we feel like we are engaged, life isn’t passing us by. The novelty rule makes old routines feel new.

Research supports introducing new elements to your life. When you’re learning new ways of doing things or you’re faced with novel situations, the hippocampus in your brain activates. This stimulates the release of dopamine – the so-called ‘feel good’ chemical – which makes us feel more satisfied, uplifted, and sharp. Stimulating the hippocampus regularly promotes neuroplasticity, which can improve recovery from injuries and slow down mental aging.

In short, you don’t need to go on a tropical vacation to feel recharged – just make some small changes in your daily routines. You can use the novelty rule to alleviate monotony.