The Three Leaves Challenge

Original photo - taken and owned by Autmly

I’m sure at one point or another, we’ve all felt kind of stuck in doing the same things, day after day, week after week. And not that I have anything against routines. In fact I think they can be comforting and even necessary. But sometimes, routine can turn into a rut. You start to just go through the motions, without even thinking about why. And that’s exactly how I started to feel recently - like I was on autopilot. So, I’ve decided to start a weekly challenge for myself, which I’ve called Three Leaves Challenge, as a way to step out of routine and into discovery. Every week, on Instagram(@autmly_official), I’ll be sharing my three new things from the previous week. It could be a new book, a new hobby, a new recipe, a new activity, a new restaurant, etc. My goal is to bring curiosity, inspiration and appreciation into my everyday life.

Why Try Something New? The Science Behind The Challenge

It turns out that our brains are wired to respond to novelty. When we encounter something unfamiliar - whether it’s walking a different route, or learning a new skill - our minds light up. Exposure to new experiences reliably raises dopamine levels, which helps consolidate memories and even makes newly learned information stick better.

Studies show that encountering or even anticipating novelty can boost memory for other things learned around the same time, and active exploration of a new environment has been linked to improved memory formation. There are some other benefits:

• Activation of creativity and motivation

  Novel experiences light up dopamine pathways, enhancing mood, motivation, and creative thinking.

• Building of psychological recourses

  The “broaden-and-build” framework in positive psychology suggests that experiencing positive emotions - like curiosity and delight - broadens your awareness and over time builds lasting skills and resilience.

• Enhancing of focus and perception

  Novel stimuli can actually sharpen attention and visual perception, making mundane moments feel brighter and more vivid.

How The Challenge Works

Each week I’ll be choosing three new things to bring into my every day life. As I mentioned in the beginning, they could be anything from trying a new recipe, testing a new hobby, watching a movie wouldn't normally go for or listening to a podcast in a subject I’m not familiar with.

It’s very important for me to say that this will be a no-stress challenge, where even the small wins will be celebrated. There’s no need for dramatic changes or pushing myself too far out of my comfort zone from the beginning. And if I don’t do something perfectly right away, I won’t be beating myself down . This is not about perfection and in fact, being kind to myself through the process might be the biggest challenge of all.

Want To Join?

If you’re reading this, I hope the Three Leaves Challenge will inspire you too. I believe that even the tiniest flicker of novelty can illuminate your day, deepen your creativity and broaden your view. I’ll be happy if you join the adventure! Just use the hashtag #ThreeLeavesChallenge, so we can create a little community of curiosity and growth together. 🍂

Thank you for reading and I hope I see you next time!

Keep your heart cozy - no matter the season.