When it comes to hobbies and social situations, people often view their preferences as fixed and unchangeable. But what if I told you that our tastes can be trained? For most of my life, I treated taste as a set-in-stone concept – there were things I liked and things I didn't, and that was that. However, this rigid approach to hobbies and experiences left me feeling stuck in a rut.
After moving to London, I threw myself into work, leaving little time for personal pursuits or trying new activities. My housemates, on the other hand, seemed to be constantly exploring new interests – salsa lessons, interactive theatre, and more. While I admired their enthusiasm, my automatic "no" to anything that wasn't familiar kept me trapped in a routine of work, sleep, eating, and nothing much else.
That was until I started questioning whether my preferences were truly set or if they could be trained. Children, after all, need multiple attempts before accepting a new food – why not the same principle apply to social activities for adults? I began small, attending a book club despite my initial reluctance due to dyslexia. To my surprise, I enjoyed the discussion, people, and pints.
This newfound enthusiasm led me to explore other hobbies and experiences, from music and performance to running clubs and chess. At first, it was awkward, but as I continued to show up and engage with others, I discovered how much easier conversation became when starting from a shared activity. Running clubs, in particular, were intimidating at first, but the more I participated, the more I realized that speaking with people about their passions was far more enjoyable than trying to maintain superficial relationships.
Trying new activities has become oddly addictive for me. It's given me a sense of purpose and belonging outside of work, allowing me to connect with others from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Research suggests that engaging in curiosity-driven experiences can protect against cognitive decline and support long-term brain health – it seems my newfound hobby pursuits are also good for my mind!
One surprising outcome has been the way new activities have interconnected. Book club conversations led to theatre recommendations, which then introduced me to art exhibitions, and so on. The value of these experiences lies not only in the activities themselves but also in the people I've met along the way – who, without judgment, helped me find meaning in things I had previously dismissed.
By putting "try something new" into my weekly routine, I've broken free from a work-commute cycle that had become unsustainable. Getting out of my comfort zone now gives me a thrill – a simple hello to someone new is all it takes to dispel any initial awkwardness and forge connections. Next week? Who knows – maybe magic lessons or life drawing are on the horizon. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to see what's next.
After moving to London, I threw myself into work, leaving little time for personal pursuits or trying new activities. My housemates, on the other hand, seemed to be constantly exploring new interests – salsa lessons, interactive theatre, and more. While I admired their enthusiasm, my automatic "no" to anything that wasn't familiar kept me trapped in a routine of work, sleep, eating, and nothing much else.
That was until I started questioning whether my preferences were truly set or if they could be trained. Children, after all, need multiple attempts before accepting a new food – why not the same principle apply to social activities for adults? I began small, attending a book club despite my initial reluctance due to dyslexia. To my surprise, I enjoyed the discussion, people, and pints.
This newfound enthusiasm led me to explore other hobbies and experiences, from music and performance to running clubs and chess. At first, it was awkward, but as I continued to show up and engage with others, I discovered how much easier conversation became when starting from a shared activity. Running clubs, in particular, were intimidating at first, but the more I participated, the more I realized that speaking with people about their passions was far more enjoyable than trying to maintain superficial relationships.
Trying new activities has become oddly addictive for me. It's given me a sense of purpose and belonging outside of work, allowing me to connect with others from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Research suggests that engaging in curiosity-driven experiences can protect against cognitive decline and support long-term brain health – it seems my newfound hobby pursuits are also good for my mind!
One surprising outcome has been the way new activities have interconnected. Book club conversations led to theatre recommendations, which then introduced me to art exhibitions, and so on. The value of these experiences lies not only in the activities themselves but also in the people I've met along the way – who, without judgment, helped me find meaning in things I had previously dismissed.
By putting "try something new" into my weekly routine, I've broken free from a work-commute cycle that had become unsustainable. Getting out of my comfort zone now gives me a thrill – a simple hello to someone new is all it takes to dispel any initial awkwardness and forge connections. Next week? Who knows – maybe magic lessons or life drawing are on the horizon. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to see what's next.
its literally life changing! i was the same way, thought i had my fave hobbies & activities locked down 4eva, but really we just get stuck in a rut. like r u really living if ur life is all work sleep repeat? 
i just tried out a book club bc of dyslexia & it was actually kinda lit 
now i'm obsessed with running clubs & music & all that jazz 
its crazy how easy conversations get when u have a shared activity to bond over.
its not just fun it feels good for my brain too apparently all these years of sticking to one routine was bad for me 
at least i can finally say im a adult now and do whatever the heck im feelin
. Like, think about it, when you're tryin' new foods as a kid, you might need to have 'em multiple times before you're all in 
. Why wouldn't the same principle apply to social activities for adults? It's pretty cool how this person found their way outta that rut by startin' small and gettin' into things they were curious about 
. It's like, we're all supposed to be curious and explore the world around us, right? 
And it's awesome that this article highlights how these experiences can help keep our minds sharp too 
.
. Who knows what kinda connections I'll make and what I'll discover about myself? The possibilities are defo endless 
just read about how people can change their tastes and preferences through trying new things! it's so cool that someone went from being stuck in a rut to discovering a whole new world of hobbies and experiences. i totally feel the same way, i've tried lots of new stuff recently like rock climbing 
and photography 
and its been amazing how connecting with others who share similar interests has helped me meet new people and feel more purposeful.
or art exhibitions 
.
) and see what kind of awesome experiences we can discover. who knows, maybe next week you'll find yourself at magic lessons or life drawing too 
!
this whole "training your taste" thing is a bit sus to me... like what if people are just being socialized into liking specific activities? I mean, think about it - all those salsa lessons and interactive theatre groups in London were probably set up with some agenda 
... maybe to create a more "enlightened" or "well-rounded" population? And what about the book clubs that led to theatre recommendations? Wasn't that just a way for the arts community to get people on board with their projects? 
.
so i was thinking about this and its kinda weird how we always assume our tastes r set in stone lol like I had a friend who loved playing video games all through high school but then they just stopped one day after college and never picked it up again... its not that hard to change interests or try something new right? I mean our brains are so adaptable 
. I also feel like the most underrated thing in life is making friends as an adult, like in your 20s or 30s when you're already established in your career and stuff...
. Like, have you ever tried salsa lessons? No? Well, maybe that should be on your bucket list ASAP! 
Seriously though, our preferences can be trained, just like we can learn to love a new TV show or a different type of cuisine...who knew? 
I got bored with the article about how you can train your tastes to try new things... it was all so predictable 
. What if that's not true for everyone? What if trying new things is hard or uncomfortable for some people? 
, but now that I've tried life drawing, it's like a whole new world opened up for me! The thing is, it's not about being naturally good at something (newsflash: nobody is!) - it's about showing up and having fun. And, let's be real, it's also super beneficial for your mental health 
or a language exchange app 
. It's amazing how much of a difference it can make in your life when you challenge yourself to step out of that comfort zone 
.
. Now im always on the lookout for new things to do, whether its going to a museum or taking a class 
!
They're so much fun and can be a great way to meet new people who share similar interests! 
I've been using them to connect with other gamers and music lovers, and it's amazing how quickly you can build a community around something you're passionate about. 
.
. It's all about breaking out of our comfort zones and being curious about the world around us. Who knows what we might discover about ourselves? The possibilities are endless, just like this article says 
.
! It totally makes sense that our tastes can be trained, like we're just kinda wired to avoid new experiences. But think about it – if kids can learn to love broccoli after multiple tries, why not us? 
! It's crazy how easily conversation becomes more enjoyable when we're all talking about something we both care about 
.
. Who knows, maybe one day you'll find yourself teaching salsa lessons or life drawing 
. But when they take a chance on something new, just like he did, that's when the magic happens 
. It's like our brains need that spark to keep learning and growing, right? 
!