Science shows variety makes us happier – this is how to break from routine ...Middle East

As human beings, we need routine. Having a sense of structure can help us to feel less stressed and less anxious. We like to know what is likely to happen in the days, weeks or months ahead as it gives us a sense of control and emotional safety.

However, when it comes to the bog-standard actions that we carry out in a robotic way, can too much routine be bad for our health?

One scientific study has suggested that people may feel happier when they have a sprinkle of variety in their day-to-day lives – particularly when it comes to new physical environments and different experiences.

So, if variety is the spice of life, we have to understand why we lose it at times, when it is most useful, and how we can create more of it.

At school, we are encouraged to try lots of new activities and develop skills. Then, life happens – we get busy, we have responsibilities, we are told we need to become experts in one area in work, we end up finding it hard to relocate geographically as we build networks of career, family, friends and activities in one place.

Or maybe we have a particularly stressful time where one or more areas of our lives are challenging – caring responsibilities, financial problems, health issues – and we need to baton down the hatches and just get our heads down, without having the luxury of variety.

Over time, this period of less variety then makes us scared of doing new things, and that fear perpetuates stasis.

When is it most useful?

Ironically, it may be that variety can be our saviour at the most challenging times in our lives. This may be the case especially if you have come out of a relationship where you feel you have lost yourself. Variety can help us meet new people, and to rediscover perspective.

If we have experienced a bereavement, sometimes changing what we usually do, or where we usually go, can allow us to process our feelings and give us some space mentally.

When we have had periods of lots of change and we feel fatigued and low in emotional and mental energy, reserve or motivation, variety can refill us and help us find our “why” again.

And if we have started feeling dissatisfied or bored with work or our career, adding in some changes at work or in other areas of your life can help us find some space to get perspective.

How do we create more of it?

There are three levels of changing things up that could help: changing yourself (thoughts and feelings), changing what you surround yourself with (people, places and things) and changing your forward direction.

We can all work on ourselves in terms of using strategies such as mindfulness, meditation or self-awareness to change our reaction, response and framing what has happened to us and what we think might happen in the future. Look at your habitual thoughts and chose to turn those around – you’ll be surprised how different you will feel.

Choosing differently about who you spend time with and doing what, and where can instantly create variety. Start small and simple: if you don’t feel up to going to new places, go to the same places following a different route. And start saying yes to new things.

Changing your forward direction means looking at the bigger picture and asking yourself what kind of life you would like to lead, what needs to change and how you want to feel. Make those bigger decisions; in searching out and creating variety, you will find that your life will feel and look completely different to the one you once had.

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