In life, spontaneous thinking can be exciting. When we simply go for something without thinking, or a day falls into place without any planning, it can feel amazing. The unexpected and the unintended are often far more thrilling and fun than the events you plan out to the smallest margin.
However, many of us fall into a plan in life where we have a very set and strict way of living and doing things. While that can provide comfort, science proves that being more out there and unplanned can actually be good for us.
Having a steady routine that you stick to week by week, month by month, year by year, is not a good thing. It might feel like a comfort blanket, but it produces a lack of ambition and desire. It can also create deep-seated unhappiness and desires which are never truly fulfilled. Indeed, a study in the Journal of Gerontology found that engaging in unique and different activities is great for adults.
They found that taking part in various activities and events across a period of eight days was beneficial to the individual. By always having your meals at the same time, going to work at the same time, taking the same routes to work, eating the same foods, enjoying the same activities, etc. you become less inclined to really think or feel anything different.
Indeed, the study found that those who had a more spontaneous schedule scored better on major cognitive functions than those who stuck to the same old routine. This included having better memory spans, greater attention to detail, easier speed of processing, and greater reasoning skills.
While it might seem discomforting to break out of routine, science shows that it can be the best thing for us. So, the next time you find that you are talking yourself out of taking part in an activity, think about the long-term consequences of monotony. Sometimes, a little bit of variety can be just what you are looking for.