Break out of your routines

We all have routines - and it’s easy to get stuck in them.

We tend to be around people who look like us, go to the same schools, have similar ideals and political views. Over time, the wires in our brain go in the same direction… all the time.

Social media is a big culprit in this. We tend to unfollow people who offer radically different ideas than ours, and we end up in bubbles with like-minded folks.

Netflix and other streaming services are the same way. Once the algorithm determines what types of shows or movies you like to watch, it’s going to keep feeding you similar offerings. (Side note: they should develop an algorithm that presents you something you’d never expect!)

But breakthrough thinking and personal well-being happens by spending time with outlets that will shake up your ideas - people, books, movies, etc.

Here’s a personal story that illustrates this. During COVID, I started going to church regularly. I’m not particularly religious, but I really liked being in the church space. It was all very new to me and I observed a whole new set of people from different walks of life.

It was a tough time for everyone in the world, but the pain was especially noticeable at church. Some attendees had experienced terrible tragedies and were visibly upset.

There were great joys as well, such as christenings and weddings. These were the two sides of the human spirit and being there got me to think differently about so many things in my own life.

Sameness is comfortable. Think about how many people get to work. They walk out to their car, drive to the office, work and see colleagues, and then drive home.

Doing this every day deprives us of the opportunity to see how the world works in other aspects. So if it’s available to you, try taking the bus or train to work sometimes. You’ll get new experiences and listen to the conversations other people are having.

It’s always remarkable to me how inspiring day-to-day minutiae can be - simply because it’s new for my brain to experience it.

When I go to a restaurant, I often try and order a dish I’ve never had before. Do I always love it? Of course not. But it’s opened my horizons to countless new things.

It’s one of the reasons I love going to museums - and taking clients there. Exposing your brain to different inputs gives it an opportunity to produce different outputs.

So, shake things up! Even if you don’t completely enjoy the new experience, your brain will thank you for exposing it to something unexpected.

Thanks for reading,

Peter

‍