How To Actually Be More Spontaneous & Why It's So Stellar For Your Brain

Let’s be honest: Spontaneity is often framed as frivolous, or worse, irresponsible. In a world that’s driven by productivity and efficiency, making room for experimentation seems like a nice idea—for others with more time, resources, or even creative capacity. 

But, I like to look at it through a very different lens. In my experience, and based on the latest scientific research, the first accessible step towards awakening your energetic, inspired, creative perspective is experimenting with spontaneity, openness, and curiosity. Making space to break free from your linear path—even a little bit—can lead to a whole slew of benefits for your brain. Here’s why:

1.

It can bring your spark back.

When we’re living on life’s hamster wheel, many of our days can look exactly the same. We answer emails, finish To Do lists and do chores in the most logical way. But, consistency isn’t just boring; it can lead to cynicism and procrastination that underlie the main elements of burnout. In fact, one study of Italian and Austrian university students found a causal relationship between low spontaneity and psychological suffering1. 

On the flipside, surprise and novelty can actually be therapeutic. The more spontaneous and creative experiences we have, the more happy, fulfilled, and even successful we become. This is because these experiences activate something called “divergent thinking2,” which is a cognitive process that helps us imagine outside the box and feel comfortable with doing things we may not have before. It also releases dopamine and other neurotransmitters that help us feel more motivated, connected, and inspired.

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What if I told you there’s a secret to making your days feel longer and more enjoyable? Well, according to scientific research3, changing your repetitive routines is at the root of making time slow down, in the best kind of way.

That’s because, we can shift our perception of time, and most importantly slow it down, when we use our creative brains. When something is new, we pay attention to every single element of it. But, when we’ve done it hundreds of times—we stop recording as much information as we used to.

Neuroscientist and creativity researcher, David Eagleman, Ph.D., was the first to discover that making an effort to collect new experiences and trick our brains into doing something out of their habitual comfort zone can help us feel like time lasts forever. That’s because, the longer it takes to process a memory, the longer that moment feels.

Eagleman shares with The New Yorker: “This explains why we think that time speeds up when we grow older; why childhood summers seem to go on forever, while old age slips by while we’re dozing. The more familiar the world becomes, the less information your brain writes down, and the more quickly time seems to pass.”

3.

It’s good for your creativity & brain longevity.

Research has shown that acting without a plan (i.e. spontaneity) can increase happiness, vitality, and fulfillment. Plus, making spontaneous thinking into a consistent practice is shown to increase mental flexibility and strengthen pathways in our brains.

One famous piece of neuroscience research commonly referred to as “The Nun Study”4 observed the brains of nuns over decades. The researchers found that the nuns who read, worked on puzzles, learned new things, and did creative activities into old age had more brain density and kept their cognition strong—even when their brains were physically deteriorating. 

These sorts of practices also lead to a virtuous cycle: The more we do new things, the more we expand our perspective, the more open, curious and motivated we are to do it again.

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4.

It can help us feel more present and alive.

Spontaneity and routine don’t have to be at odds with each other. By giving yourself room to practice openness, even with just one new idea each day, you can begin to build pathways in your brain that make spontaneity a habit.

Collecting new experiences doesn’t only happen when we pack a suitcase or climb a mountain—it can occur any time we activate our creative brain. That could mean spending a few moments doodling in between meetings, or taking a new route on your daily walk.

These small moments of everyday creativity and spontaneity not only quiet the prefrontal cortex of our brain, where anxious thoughts roam; but it also gives us an entirely new way to look at the world. Increasing our perceptual field—literally—reduces stress in our bodies.6

Scientists have found that exposing yourself to new, unfamiliar experiences, no matter how big or small, helps us feel like life is longer and more full. It allows us to record meaningful experiences and cement them in our memories. Even more, it helps us to be fully present in the right now, and feel most alive.

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