The Importance of Novelty to Mental Health

By Jordan Mayfield, LSCSW, LCAC

Introducing novelty in our lives is an important coping strategy in managing mental health, although it is often overlooked by practitioners. Novelty is the idea of doing something new, changing up routines, and/or introducing new information to promote growth, interest, and learning. Of course, taking anything to an extreme is going to be ineffective so novelty that promotes high-risk or dangerous behaviors is not the type of novelty that is helpful nor what this article will explore.

COVID was a difficult time for most, if not all individuals. One of the reasons is because there was a significant lack of novelty that people were experiencing. During COVID (although not completely over) people were often stuck inside their homes with limited places to go and doing the same things over and over. As a result, mental health symptoms for many people increased. In working with clients coming out of the pandemic, increasing experiences of novelty can be key in reengaging in and enjoying life.

A sense of novelty is important to mental health because “it activates the dopamine system directly. As a result, it enhances mood, positive outlook, motivation, and goal setting” (Psychology Today). Novelty is defined as anything new to us. From a biological perspective, humans need novelty because acting on instinct alone is not enough to keep us engaged, happy and fulfilled. “We need that dopamine rush to keep us motivated to keep going in life- to learn, to work, to succeed. If we no longer feel this rush of dopamine, we will likely give up on that activity and look for pleasure elsewhere” (Brain World Magazine). This is going to be particularly prevalent in ADHD individuals.

Novelty is not only important in current mental health and wellbeing, but also a strong predictor of longevity. “People who actively seek out new experiences throughout life live happier, healthier lives. It is an important consideration for those who want to live well in their older years, since the tendency to seek out novel experiences often declines with age” (Brain World Magazine). Some examples of novelty can include traveling, eating a new food or at a new restaurant, changing your hair, or learning a new hobby. Many times, finances can be a barrier to experiencing novelty. So having free access to novelty is important. This can include finding free events around town to attend, learning about something new through a book or online, making a new friend, or even as simple as taking a walk in a new area.

Novelty is also an important component to healthy and satisfying romantic and sexual relationships. Learning and doing new things together can help increase closeness and intimacy. Research shows that doing something novel as a couple (non-sexual) is the number one thing that helps influence sexual desire. A quick online search can produce novel activities for couples or fun and free date ideas.

Novelty works best when you are not reaching for the same novel activity over and over. This is why Youtube and TikTok can be so addictive. They produce a significant amount of novelty, activating dopamine, but as a result we can get sucked into watching them for hours without realizing it. The same act that produces dopamine that is done over and over can result in addiction. So, when finding novel things to do make sure you are utilizing many different avenues to do so, otherwise the behavior will quickly lose its effectiveness. Finding novel things to do and learn about can enhance creativity and build self-esteem and resilience. In addition to the mental health benefits of novelty, your life, relationships, and social interactions may also be enriched.