Try Something New

This month, reap the rewards of stepping outside your comfort zone.

- HANNAH CHENOWETH

If it's been a while since you were a total beginner at something, that's not really surprising: Your "comfort zone" is called that for a reason. Routines give us a sense of safety, and sometimes we simply feel that we know what we'll enjoy. But there are big benefits to pushing past your resistance and being a novice. From taking up a hobby to joining a club, "new experiences put you in the growth zone," says Kathryn Smerling, Ph.D., LCSW, a psychotherapist and the author of Learning to Play Again: Rediscovering Our Early Selves to Become Better Adults.

"At any age, it's important to keep growing. Trying something new is proven to expand your neural pathways, which helps you stay mentally sharp," Smerling says. "While it may feel daunting, the benefits to your mental and emotional well-being can be a great motivator. Learning helps to keep you young."

Novelty also encourages your brain to release dopamine, a feelgood chemical that naturally dips as we age (roughly 10% per decade through adult life). Plus, research shows that adding variety to one's routine is linked to greater feelings of positivity—and who couldn't use a brain boost with a side of extra joy? This month, follow these steps to take the plunge into a new adventure.

1 ID YOUR FEAR.