THE SERIOUS BENEFITS OF UNSERIOUS PURSUITS
Doing something unconventional or new isn’t just a hoot—it’s genuinely good for you. Psychologists and aging researchers emphasize that novelty and play are essential ingredients for a healthy, happy life at any age. “Humans are designed by biology to play throughout their entire life cycle,” says Dr. Stuart Brown of the National Institute for Play. In other words, the urge to try new, fun things isn’t something you outgrow—if anything, it becomes more important as we get older. One major reason is the brain boost we get from new experiences. Neurologically, when you encounter something novel—whether it’s learning to salsa dance or using a smartphone app—your brain’s reward center lights up. Novelty triggers the release of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that also enhances motivation and learning. Scientists note that “novelty is an antidote to monotony”—it energizes the mind, strengthens neural connections, and even improves memory. In short, novelty brings zest to life, acting like mental fertilizer that keeps our brains growing and blooming. Crucially, these benefits don’t taper off with age. Recent research has overturned the old myth that you can’t learn new tricks in later life. In fact, older adults can learn new tasks and even sharpen their cognition—if they approach learning like a child does. “Our findings promote the benefits of lifelong learning, namely, to improve cognitive abilities in older adulthood,” psychologist Rachel Wu and colleagues write, after finding that seniors who learned multiple new skills boosted their memory and attention long-term. In one study, people in their 60s to 80s took three months of classes (from Spanish to iPad use to music composition); by the end, their cognitive test scores looked 30 years younger than before, and a year later they had maintained or even improved those gains.
The key, Wu says, is to stay curious, embrace challenges, and be willing to be a beginner again—just like kids do.
Aside from supercharging your brain, doing “ridiculous” things can work wonders for mental health and confidence. Playful risk-taking reduces stress and builds resilience. It jolts us out of routine and reminds us we’re capable of growth. In a focus group study in Scotland, older adults described how trying something new invigorated them and gave them something to look forward to, breaking them out of a mindset of only “looking back”. Simply stepping outside your comfort zone—even if it’s a little terrifying
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