The psychological reasons why novelty - from visiting new places to socializing - makes us happier and healthier people.
Early on in the pandemic, when I spent most of my days confined to my apartment, I noticed something strange start to happen. Even the most mundane new experiences made me feel genuinely elated. When the trees bloomed in spring, they looked psychedelic. Seeing the sun glint on a nearby lake was as pleasurably disorienting as peering into a kaleidoscope. Taking a walk to a different neighborhood I had never explored might as well have been a trip to Marrakesh.
Before this, I would not describe myself as a person who enjoyed "the simple pleasures." Previous springtimes were not spent thinking fuck yeah, look at that tree! whenever I saw a cool tree. I had historically chased down constant newness out of abject fear of boredom. So when comparatively minor experiences that otherwise wouldn't have registered made me exhilarated, I wanted to know exactly what was going on in my brain - and how I could make that feeling last.
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Thursday 28th March 2024
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The Brain-Changing Magic of New Experiences