Try It! Stepping Out of the Routine

We know that sticking to a routine — a steady rhythm of study, play, sleep, repeat — can be really productive and leave you feeling great! It can help you get your homework done and finish long-term projects, all while also giving you the time bond with your friends, teammates, and other peers. A reliable schedule helps with time management, and to be sure, planning is a very important life skill and the key to finding success … but how do we keep a routine life exciting?

Well, every once in a while, you just have to hit REFRESH! You have to go beyond what you know and try new things just to get the thrill and the joy of a new experience. Learn a new sport, cook an unusual meal for yourself and your family, join a new club — even if it does sound a bit wacky, like the Waffle Club, Lettuce Club, Ghost Club, or Toast Club!

Freshmen year is all about new opportunities, so spice things up with a few bold moves. Jump in! Trying new things and making changes may seem daunting at the beginning, but you’ll be surprised by how easily you can overcome your fear …or at least bring it along for the ride. If a friend or two is willing to join you, then you can head for the unknown together. The more, the merrier!

Throughout life, people experience fear of the unknown. Do you want to know what the perfect remedy is for this fear? It’s trying something new — going towards whatever it is you want to avoid! This very act, when practiced time and again, can help us to reduce our fears. New ideas and activities keep life exciting because they keep us learning. If you have just entered a new learning curve, you know that life up ahead will certainly be interesting.

PRE-ORDER NOW!

What Do You Say?
By Bill Stixrud & Ned Johnson

“In an age when childhood anxiety, depression, and suicide are on the rise,
parents need, more than ever, tools for communicating effectively with children.
What Do You Say? could not have arrived at a better time and is essential
reading for today’s parents.”
—Booklist

Try a new idea and see if it works. If it doesn’t work at first, don’t get discouraged. You will make mistakes when you go beyond what you know, but this shouldn’t stop you from challenging and maybe even and surprising yourself. You’ll be amazed by your own ability to grow and adapt. This kind of exercise builds a particular kind of muscle — the strength of self-confidence.

Finally, your creative life will flourish because you are asking your brain to work in a new way. This, in turn, creates new neurons and neural connections.  So, try new things for the sheer brain work out —not to mention the new friends, talents, and interesting life you will develop along the way.

The benefits far outweigh the risks, so take a breath, dive in and try it!