Changing lanes
It’s so easy to get stuck in your lane and keep doing the same things. We can only listen to the music we feel comfortable with, we can go to the same places, with the same people, and surround ourselves with the news, views and opinions we agree with.
The world has changed a lot in the last 30 years. Before, we watched the news at a set time, we listened to the radio or watched the one music channel and our favourite shows and movies arrived on a schedule.
We also had less places to go, less things to choose and more importantly, less things to get upset about. Technology has changed everything, as we now have a lot of choices.
Entertainment
With streaming services, we can only experience things we’re comfortable with. The things we think we like. It’s probably what the algorithms want us to like though. We can watch the same shows, restrict ourselves to the same movies and play the same games. When did you last try something new?
When we do go out, do we often go to the same places? The ones that are familiar, the ones we’re comfortable with or the ones we have set up on an app? Why not try something different and see what happens?
Technology
Are you part of a tribe? Everything seems to be part of an ecosystem now. The big question is, what made you choose? Perhaps a better question is, what are the alternatives?
Just be open to other options. Just think about what would happen if you switched.
News and views
Again, with all our technology we can filter out things we don’t like. Things, or more specifically views, we’re not comfortable with. We may also feel we need to ‘unfriend’ someone for having a different view. It’s easy when all the voices around us are saying the same thing.
I don’t think it’s good for us. Understanding someones position is very different from agreeing with it. It brings us closer to finding common ground though.
The main thing I’d like you to consider is that doing something different is really important when it comes to your mental health.
Is there something you could do different?
Could you try listening to something new or watch a show or movie that’s different? Can you go somewhere else for a change? More importantly, could you use different apps and devices to access all of this? Finally, is there another news outlet you could engage with?
To get you going, here are three easy things you can do right now:
If you haven’t already, listen to the Beatles
Arrange a day out to visit somewhere you’ve never been before
Try watching NHK World, the Japanese news network
Do something different. Try changing lanes.