Boost Your Brain by Doing the Unexpected

Imagine your brain as a living, breathing garden. When you plant the same seeds and water the same rows every day, things may grow—but over time, the soil gets tired, and the garden becomes predictable. What if, instead, you tried planting something new? What if you wandered to a part of your garden you’ve never explored?

That’s exactly what challenging yourself with unusual or novel activities does for your brain. It wakes it up. It says, “Hey! Let’s grow in a different direction.”

In solution-focused therapy, we don’t dwell on what’s wrong. We focus on what works and how small changes can lead to big shifts. The same principle applies to brain health. If you want to think more clearly, creatively and confidently, one simple step is this:

Start doing things differently—on purpose.

Why Doing the Unexpected Works

When you step out of your mental comfort zone, your brain forges new neural pathways. It's called neuroplasticity, and it's how learning happens. But it doesn’t need to be dramatic. Even small tweaks to your routine can spark change. The key is to break patterns.

Think of it like a “solution experiment.” You don’t need to know where it will lead. You only need to notice what happens when you do it. Recently I attended a supper club inside a Victoria line tube carriage. The food was South American and there were lots of dishes and ingredients I had never had before - the novelty factor had neurons inside my brain firing like a Pinball Wizard machine!

Practical “Unusual” Challenges to Try This Week

You don't need a big plan—just a willingness to explore. Try one or two of these ideas and observe how you feel:

  • Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand. It’s awkward. That’s the point.

  • Take a different route to work. Notice what’s new.

  • Eat something you’ve never tried before. How does your brain react?

  • Read a book from a genre you usually avoid. Mystery fan? Try sci-fi. Memoir lover? Try a graphic novel.

  • Have a conversation with someone outside your usual circle. Ask questions. Listen differently.

  • Take a class in something random—like improv, origami or coding. Not to master it. Just to play.

Each of these small shifts is a solution-focused experiment—they reveal your adaptability, curiosity, and capacity for change. You’re not doing them to “fix” yourself. You’re doing them to grow your capacity for joy, insight, and mental flexibility.

Ask Yourself the Solution-Focused Questions

As you try something unusual, pause and reflect:

  • What surprised me?

  • What did I enjoy?

  • What did I learn about myself?

  • How might this small change ripple into other areas of my life?

We don’t need to know every step of the journey to begin. All we need is a willingness to notice what works and do more of it.

Final Thought

Challenging your brain doesn’t mean climbing mountains or learning six languages (unless that excites you!). It means saying, “What happens if I try this?” and then noticing what gets better.

Your brain is wired for novelty. Your spirit is designed for growth. When you do something new—no matter how small—you invite possibility. And from a solution-focused perspective, that’s where all change begins.

Try one unusual thing this week. Then ask yourself: What difference did it make?

Your brain—and your future self—will thank you.

Nicola Strudley