Anyone fancy a Do something new every day thread?

[woodcutbirds]

Been discussing how much it helped kick me out of depression to do something - anything - every day that I'd not done before or not since childhood, or something I was scared to do. It made more difference than anything else.
Does anyone fancy having a go at doing something new every day for a week?

I'm 99.99% sure I have undiagnosed ADD too! It's probably why I smoked for 30 years because I felt I just couldn't concentrate without nicotine.

This is a good source of dopamine-boosting foods and activities: helloendless.com/10-ways-to-increase-dopamine-to-boost-your-productivity/

That article actually says that aspartame DECREASES dopamine (in direct disagreement with the piece I read earlier!) so, I don't know now...

But music and new things are both great Dopamine boosters:

I've got a copy of The Dopamine Diet somewhere. I might just try following that. I need to lose 25lbs and cheer up so, two birds, one book...

I haven't done much new today, though I did plant some more new herbs so I guess that's sort of new.

I'm enjoying this conversation about dopamine. That link is great sodding. I notice there are a few things on their I do and find help me a lot. I might add trying some of the others to my list of new things to try. Maybe I'll give the cold shower a go. Yikes.

Yes and has anyone else noticed time slowing down a bit since starting this? I was reading an article in Psychologies magazine today which said the key to slowing down the feeling of time passing as we age is novelty + meditation

This thread is so cheering and interesting.

I've done it before, but not for ages, but I went to the pool and spa. This time I did it in the right order (swim, sauna, steam, whirlpool). Also, I didn't count my lengths but instead swam for a time period (30 mins) so felt less pressured. Enjoyed it more and didn't feel very anxious.

I have been reading an interesting book about Sensory Processing. As well as five senses, we have vestibular (balance), proproceptive (heavy work), and tactile (deep pressure touch), and we need a variety of these activities (a sensory diet) to feel at our best.

Funny- I was thinking just the other day how long the days were seeming!

Hello all!
After work I texted a good friend: ‘I’m stopping by for a quick coffee, put the kettle on’ (never done this before). And it was lovely, and, like you said earlier, time seems to be slowing down, I was there for all but 35 min but it felt like we had a good few hours!

DS's birthday cake looks fab! Guns are hard to make out of cake, it turns out, but red gel food colouring makes very authentic blood spatter...

On FB earlier a friendly-looking running club was offering a free 8-week 0-5k running course quite near me. So I've signed up. I'm old, I can't run, I'm fat, so unfit... I'm already thinking WTF HAVE I DONE. I only did it because if this thread!

has, running is fab!!! I promise, you’ll be amazed at your body and what it can do. And your mind will love it. So happy for you!
Happy birthday to your son!

Sodding (do you mind me calling you Sodding? - it always makes me smile when I type it) running is great. I would love to have a club like that./ Round here it's all very healthy sporty types in tight lycra who can walk faster than I run. Used to 'run' (slow jog) years ago and enjoyed it. Gives you a lot of energy.

ADHD - that sensory processing stuff is very interesting. Im going to look into that. Reminds me of that episode in Frasier when they haven;t had a girlfriend in months and keep going for hot stone massages just to be touched!

Fencing I love that tone of voice - just telling your friend you'll be there. I wouldn't dare. Glad you had a good time.

So weird about the slowing down of the days. It's true.

The Fiesta was cancelled last night! But we had a brilliant time, wandering over the Thames bridges, stopping off in tiny bars. I did something very unhealthy as my 'new thing' - smoked a cigar. I used to love the smell at Christmas in childhood, and I know you don't inhale them, so no danger of becoming a smoker again. We were in this tiny bar that sold them and I bought a tiny one at random. DH thought it was hilarious. Definitely not one to add to new habits, though. I got the idea for it from I Dare Me, a book by an American news anchorwoman who did a new thing every day for a year. Worth reading for a few unusual ideas.

Off to look at that dopamine link now.

Btw I read that Aspartame increases dopamine too, after you mentioned it. So I wonder which is true.

Just specifically googled whether aspartame boosts or lowers dopamine. Looks like the medical consensus is that it reduces dopamine levels, so I'm going to get DS to cut back. I know diet drinks aren't healthy but he was such a poor eater as a child due to illnesses that we got into bad habits - if he'd eat or drink anything at all it became acceptable.

Happy Birthday to your son, Sodding

I like the fact you had a cigar, Woodcut - if only to show that novelty doesn't have to be 100% virtuous! Sounds like a fun evening.

Love the boldness of just dropping in on a friend like that fencing. What a way to Carpe Diem!

I'm struggling to think what to do today. Thought I was taking ds to a New Thing as his Dad has injured himself somehow but it looks like he's found himself some crutches and will be hobbling there himself. You know when you get yourself all geared up for a change of plan and then it doesn't happen after all? It's a bit deflating.

I have a list of decorating and DIY chores to fill the void and some work to catch up on but need to find something new to squeeze in too. Did a jobsearch yesterday and it was like tumbleweed. Maybe with the uncertainty of Brexit anyone with a decent job is staying put?

On the upside, yesterday I had a fruit/veg box delivered and my god, the nectarines in it were heaven! You know the way Roald Dahl describes the taste of the peach in James and The Giant Peach? The way stone fruit actually used to taste in the 80s? That perfect tangy-sweet, fragrant flavour that's so gorgeous and intense you literally can't think about anything else while you're eating it? Well it was like that . So there's another sensory thing and may as well be classed as new as I haven't eaten anything like it ages.

What a gorgeous description of eating a nectarine, Ruffle.

If you doing decorating DIY chores all day, can your 'new thing' be really fun and rewarding of your hard effort? Like a full on pamper hour of deep bath with exotic oils, salts or bubbles, face mask, candles, music etc.

or you could make a 'home shrine.' Not religious, just a corner of a room that is really perfectly laid out, so it draws the eye. Totally decluttered, with a perfect object/fresh flowers/candles/small stack of books/photograph or whatever appeals to you and symbolises something good in your life, arranged there so that every time you walk into the room, you eye is drawn to it and it lifts your spirits. I used to do that a lot pre-DC. Not done it since. Might do it myself today.

Our living room, despite my best efforts always looks like a bomb hit it because my teens go in and toss cushions around and shed clothes and leave cups and pull the furniture all out of place. Drives me nuts. Maybe while they are out I'll lay it out just as I want, for an hour or so before they return and clunk around in it.

Aww, thanks for the encouragement, @8FencingWire! That's just what I needed to hear. I've really slumped since I had a panic attack last year and got too scared to do anything. I do about 50 steps a day so even getting to the park will quadruple my weekly average!

@woodcutbirds I absolutely love the home shrine idea!!! I've never heard of that before but it's genius.

I moved a huge plant away from a window last week so I've got a bare corner in the sitting room at the moment. It draws your eye when you walk in, so I'm definitely going to shrine it up.

It's probably excellent Feng Shui too. If it's the SW corner of your room, it'll boost your marriage. I think our corner is SE, which is about money..? I'll look forward to cash rolling in. 😆

A cigar is hilarious! Did you like it? I smoked Marlboro Red for years (eek!) but even I can't handle cigars! 😆

Shame about aspartame loading dopamine - it did feel a bit too good to be true. Dammit! Probably a good idea to reduce your son's diet-drink habit, but I'd imagine that'd be tough. Sugary versions are so bad for teeth and overall health - it feels like there's not really a good alternative.

@RuffleCrow

Did a jobsearch yesterday and it was like tumbleweed. Maybe with the uncertainty of Brexit anyone with a decent job is staying put?

I think Brexit uncertainty has put the whole country on a standstill! Have you ever contacted a headhunter or a recruitment agency in your sector? Would that be better..? That could be a New Thing!

DS has a few friends coming for a sleepover today, so our sitting room will be full of giant teenagers tonight.

I'm taking him for his prom-suit fitting at lunchtime today. Do teenage boys still wear dinner suits to proms? Do they wear bow ties too? I have no idea.

I need a New Thing. We need to do a food shop so I might search out a new recipe we've never tried and buy the stuff for that.

Have a lovely day everyone!

I'd completely forgotten about Feng Shui. I'll work out what part of life the living room represents and see whether it improves....

Sodding* DS1 says most boys just wear a normal dark business suit at his school. But he loves dressing up so he got a tux from a charity shop when he turned sixteen and started getting invited to other school proms. I said I'd buy him a real one when he's 18 and stopped growing so he looks good for his own school prom.

Hope the sleepover goes well. Feels weird when they're suddenly almost grown up doesn't it?

My dd if only 7 so I have a while before I need to worry about proms thankfully.

It sounds like you made the most of the evening despite the fiesta being cancelled woodcut. You made me laugh with trying a cigar. I used to be a rollup smoker back in the day, but now I am achingly well behaved and don't smoke anything or drink alcohol. I think I'd probably pass out if I tried a cigar.

This morning DH and I have cut down a huge bush that was taking over our backdoor. I've wanted to do it for ages but couldn't find the motivation. It was pretty fun doing it together and now we have a lovely big space round the door rather than being attacked by a huge scraggy bush everytime we go out.

Love reading everyone's posts. I'm trying to limit typing time as I have RSI so bit brief. My new thing this morning was a Zumba class. I was hoping for some sexy Latin music but it was more like fast dub, a lesson in having an open mind! I did really enjoy doing a non-competitive class, I didn't get anxious (I had a bad experience with netball last year). I also found a new way back from the gym (turns out I'd been going the very long way).

I'm having a tidying/cooking/organising sort of day too - I think rearranging the front room might be on the cards.

I haven't done anything new yet!

DS said the school told them they should wear black dinner suits, so that's what we hired. He looked so handsome and grown up when he tried it on that I got quite emotional 😭 And they had a shoe sale on, so he chose a pair of those super-long pointy shoes.

I love the teenage years. They're a bit eye-rolly and I always sometimes feel that I can't say the right thing... but teenagers are such a good laugh.

Hope you're all having a magical day.

Hello all :)
A new thing: I think I might have volunteered to do a bit of community gardening on my estate. That’s a first (I kill plants indiscriminately, hence the weeds suggestion 🤣)
One of the things I wanted to do is get involved in my community, today the opportunity arose.
Hope you all had a fab day

Badgers it's so therapeutic to unblock a blocked space like that.

ADHD I fancy a decluttering, cleaning, tidying day today too.

Yesterday's new thing was a new cocktail served by a friend we went to dinner with. I wasn't that keen on it, but it made this list. Far too many of my 'new things' are things I put in my mouth! I need a lot more of them to be things I put my back into.

Sodding I'd call witnessing your son's rite-of-passage at a school prom a first. Very moving.

Fencing that's a brilliant thing to do. I hope it leads to some lovely days in the sunshine, growing plants and making friends. We visited a community garden a few weeks ago as a 'new thing' and it had a gorgeous atmosphere.

I haven't done anything new today but have been busy and had a nice day out and about. This evening DH and I are watching a film he's been wanting to watch for ages. I have chocolate in for the occasion. So a new film is my small new things for the day.

Hope everyone else has had good days.