One of the most interesting ways to help our brain move from feeling stuck, depressed, stressed or anxious is to introduce new or novel information into our mind or our environment. A little bit of change can make quite an impact. We don’t need to completely overhaul our lives, but just find little parts to adjust by bringing in new experiences or information stimulates new neural networks in our brain.
When we go through times of struggle and start to feel overwhelmed or down, our brain starts to operate on a sort of autopilot – relying on familiar routines and patterns to function. This is ideal to conserve energy from a survival perspective in terms of feeling safe in our psychological “cave”, but for our brain it is like eating the same meal – perhaps rice over and over and over. Our basic needs are being met but there is no spark in life. Predictable, safe but lacking in variety and enthusiasm. We are existing but not psychologically developing or growing.
Above: Photo by Nitish Meena
Photo by Andrik Langfield
When we struggle we can start to feel stuck, flat, worn out. Our relationships become stale, predictable and not very satisfying and so too does our work and routines. We call this psychological rigidity. Becoming stuck with the same patterns, actions and thought processes.
The opposite is psychological flexibility – being able to step back and see and experience things from lots of different angles and through different lenses. Often we are naturally in this mode when we travel to new places where we are very aware of the different light, the different smells, everything is experienced as new and exciting.
Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels
The human brain has evolved to be a master at adapting to new experiences. While there individual differences (some people thrive on constant change, others prefer to stay more in a predictable zone), for most people, having some access to novel information, perspectives or experiences is one of the very best things you can do. Particularly if you are prone to depression or feeling stuck and overwhelmed.
Travel is a fantastic option, but as for most people travel opportunities are few and far between. Here are some other ways to expose your mind to a sense of wonder and learning… think of ‘changing the channel’ in terms of your surroundings or what you typically do.
Photo by SplitShire from Pexels
- Take a different route or means of commuting (whether walking ,driving, public transport). When we do the exact same thing every day our brain stops registering details and diverts to the usual mental loop (usually worries). However, even if you walk on the opposite side of the street to usual, your brain encodes all the unfamiliar details so that a proportion of your processing capacity is removed from the habit loop to viewing your environment with fresh eyes.
- Take this one step further by listening to an audio book or podcast on something you would love to learn more about while you are commuting.
- Go to a café or restaurant once a week that you have never been to before
- Sit next to someone different to eat dinner at home or in a different seat
- Go to a show or movie that is not your typical choice – choose a cinema or theatre that you have never been to before.
- Once a week cook or bake something you have never made before
- Join a volunteering, social or community group in an area that interests you just to see what it is like
- Watch programs or clips that inspire a sense of wonder or awe…. Not to say that there isn’t a place for some good mindless reality TV every now! Try to mix them in with things like:
One Strange Rock (Netflix series hosted by Will Smith) – An amazingly produced series sharing perspectives on the evolution of Planet Earth and views from the space station. Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrC4vDcWmxk
This is my favourite TED talk of all time:
Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.
Nature’s beauty can be easily missed — but not through Louie Schwartzberg’s lens. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day.
Author: Shannon Yeardley, Clinical Psychologist and Clinic Director
Brisbane Wellbeing Psychologists