The 1 Surprising Health Benefit of Finally Leaving the Comfort Zone and Trying New Things

As an east-coaster, we don’t get many of the “powder days” that skiers out west refer to. There’s even a subreddit dedicated to just how bad downhill skiing is (aptly named Ice Coast). Therefore, my desire to throw myself down a pyramid of ice on what are basically fancy sticks has been minimal, to say the least. But this winter, when I had the opportunity to go west and check out the place best known for optimal conditions—Vail Resorts in Colorado—I couldn’t turn it down.

Well, actually I almost did. I was beyond thrilled to check out the Nordic skiing opportunities in Breckenridge and Vail, but when I was asked to “just try a half-day beginner downhill lesson,” I hesitated. Would I really do something I was so uncomfortable with, especially after a bad downhill experience years ago? Spoiler alert: Yes. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but what if it would be beneficial for the dog? (It’s me, I’m the dog.)

What’s the benefit of trying new things?

According to the Epic Pass app (aka a mobile app that lets snowboarders and skiiers track their stats), I hit a grand total of 3,065 vertical feet on my adventure, but it may as well have been 30,000 as I’d never hit altitude like that before. The good news is that no one could see my knees violently shaking in my cool, baggy, trendy ski pants.

There I was, amongst kids a third of my age—but roughly the same height, so I liked to think I didn’t stand out *too* much—muttering “pizza, french fry” to myself over and over. Sure, I was scared to try something new. But I quickly learned that getting out of your comfort zone actually does have an important health benefit: It's good for your brain.

According to science, my brain not only liked this new adventure I was on (it was a surprise to me, too), but doing new things can play a major role in maintaining your brain health as you age. The biggest benefits, you ask? Here's what experts say:

• Increased endorphins: Besides feeling that temporary rush, endorphins (peptide hormones released by the hypothalamus—the part of your brain that's responsible for maintaining homeostasis) have been linked to long-term brain health.^1,2 Though they mostly function in the body to block pain receptors temporarily, their presence can help reduce anxiety symptoms.³ And when you have less anxiety, the better your short- and long-term memory also becomes.⁴
• Ability to adapt to change: “Throughout life, both the structure and function of brain circuits can be continually shaped and reshaped dependent upon our daily experiences,” says Claire Sexton, DPhil, a neuroscientist with the Global Brain Health Institute. When your brain gets used to more and more new experiences, the easier it is for you to adjust to changes.
• Stronger neural pathways: It’s not just about trying a new skill once, however. “Practicing the piano has been shown to elicit changes in the motor cortex, a brain region associated with movement,” Dr. Sexton explains. “Meanwhile, a greater number of years of experience of London taxi drivers has been associated with greater volumes of the posterior hippocampus—a brain region associated with spatial learning.” 
• Improved brain stimulation: While it's easy to feel afraid of trying something new and just staying home, approaching new experiences with an open mind isn't just about learning a new skill (or creating a fun memory), it also helps stimulate your brain. This can have all kinds of benefits, such as a reduced risk of developing dementia and increased cognitive performance.⁵

How often do you need to try new things to get brain benefits?

“Although there are no definitive guidelines for how often we should try new things, keeping physically, cognitively, and socially active throughout life has been shown to have multiple health benefits,” Dr. Sexton says. Essentially, anytime you get the urge to pick up a new hobby, try a new workout class, or even just test out a new running path, it can't hurt.

However, the brain benefits get even better if you're trying out a new skill and practicing it more often. “Neuroplasticity can occur over multiple timescales, from milliseconds to years, and different regions of the brain can be affected depending on the nature of the activity,” says Sexton. So if you've been wanting to get into rollerblading every weekend or sign up for those piano lessons, now's your chance—and you have a good reason for it, too.

Let's not forget: The more you put yourself out there, the less likely you are to feel anxious about doing new things again. And with decreased anxiety levels, you’re more likely to sleep better, which is extremely important for your brain health. “Sleep has been shown to be essential to consolidating neuroplasticity," Dr. Sexton explains. In other words, getting enough rest helps your brain create and strengthen neural pathways, which are essential for key brain functions like learning, memory, and decision-making, especially as you get older.⁶

“Learning new skills throughout life is a wonderful way to stay engaged,” adds Sexton. And thanks to Vail Resorts, I got to boost my brain health AND brag about my skills on the bunny slope. Plus, I won’t be so nervous next time, which is valuable in and of itself. So what are you waiting for? Walk out of your comfort zone and open a new door. There's a ton of health and social benefits waiting behind it.