After nearly two years of pandemic lockdowns, social distancing, and postponed celebrations, you might finally be ready to start making plans again. A date in the diary gives you something to look forward to, allows you time to prepare, and the anticipation itself can be fun in the build-up to the event.
Sometimes though, despite your best-laid plans, it’s the impromptu get-togethers that turn out to be the most fun.
As the government’s coronavirus strategy shifts toward learning to live with Covid-19, making plans and getting together with friends – if you’re comfortable doing so – should get easier.
And so too will embracing the joys of spontaneity.
Here are just a few of the benefits of kicking back and going with the flow. Plus, some tips for how you might do just that.
1. Set out on a walk with no purpose
It’s fun to meticulously plan a weekend walk – cleaning your hiking boots and mapping out your route on an unfolded Ordnance Survey OS Explorer. Sometimes though, leaving the house with no idea where you’re going can be just as much fun, and still great exercise.
You might take a new footpath, wander into a cul-de-sac in search of a forgotten alleyway or speak to new neighbours for the first time.
The key to being spontaneous is to step outside of your comfort zone. What better way than to take literal steps outdoors and make exciting discoveries in your local community?
2. Have a backwards day
Committing to spontaneity might be difficult so consider easing yourself in by being spontaneous around the home.
Start with upsetting your daily routines by flipping your day. This can be especially good fun if you have children or grandchildren in the house. It might sound frivolous but having dinner in the morning and breakfast at night – or starting the day with a bedtime story – can be a great way to step safely out of your comfort zone.
It can open up new conversations, force you out of a rut in your diet or hobbies, and help you find new ways to structure your day.
3. Make use of affirmations and positive thinking
Saying “yes” more is the best way to be spontaneous and that means thinking positively.
Begin the day with an affirmation. The moment you wake up, tell yourself that something exciting is going to happen today and then go in search of it!
The anticipation of the day’s exciting event will leave you predisposed to say “yes”, stepping out of your comfort zone to broaden your horizons, spark creativity, and try new things.
Positive thinking means more than simply saying “yes” to things, though.
Next time you get the urge to walk in the rain, answer an ad, or sign up for a new class, you might feel your old impulses telling you “no”. Approach this internal voice with positivity. Be thankful for it as an incitement to change, dismiss worries about the past or future that can be a barrier to spontaneity, and then make the right decision for you in the present.
4. Speak to a friend
Pandemic lockdowns, and continuing worries over new coronavirus variants, might’ve left you feeling isolated. One great way to shake up your routine is to contact family and friends.
Speaking to others can help you share your concerns, relieve worry, and expose yourself to different coping strategies. It’s also a great way to make new plans and organise new events – as we’ve seen already, even a simple walk can open opportunities for spontaneity.
Just remember, whatever activities are suggested, try your best to say “yes”.
Even better than speaking on the phone is to step out on an impromptu walk and pay a visit to a friend. They won’t always be in, or ready to receive visitors, but a quick coffee and catchup could make all the difference to your day and theirs.
5. Remember the benefits
Embracing spontaneity is not only useful for opening up new experiences and discovering exciting new hobbies. It can be good for your physical and mental health too.
Fresh air and exercise are great for de-stressing, especially if you can get out into nature. Last April we looked at the mental health benefits of fresh air and provided 3 ways to incorporate nature into your life as part of 2021’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
Researchers at Cardiff University looked into the mental health implications of access to green space during the pandemic and found that those in easy reach of nature were calmer, more peaceful, and had a lot of energy.
Saying “yes” to new experiences can help you to become more flexible and adaptable, useful skills to take into all other walks of life. Making new friends, adopting new hobbies, and breaking free of potentially constricting routines can also be inspirational. You might find you experience a spark of creativity.
