Want to turn back time naturally? Discover the real brain food and the secret weapon for vitality...

Feeling stuck? Bored? Trapped in the same old routine? That “oooo dear” feeling: Is this all there is? It isn’t just a downer; it’s been reported as the fast track to premature aging. The good news? You don’t need pricey serums or drastic measures to keep you feeling young. Your brain already holds the secret: neuroplasticity with its magical ability to rewire and renew itself. And here’s the kicker: this magic never disappears. But like any good magic trick, it needs fuel. The secret ingredient? Novelty.

Why novelty newness is the ultimate brain fertiliser

Your brain thrives on curiosity, challenge and learning. When you introduce something new, whether it’s a skill, a place, or even a small tweak to your daily routine, you’re essentially giving your brain a healthy workout - it strengthens your focus, sharpens your adaptability and keeps your mind flexible and agile.

Simply put, novelty lights up dopamine circuits tied to motivation and memory. When you do something new - you’re likely to remember it as you don’t have the stored muscle memory. It also naturally strengthens your ability to recall (yup you're actively working your muscle memory)

So how can you add a daily dose of novelty to your life - quickly - with minimal effort?

You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to quickly see some small step changes. You know what, it's really simple and just small, intentional changes can work wonders:

• Switch it UP: Change your routine - your morning one - your lunch one, your evening one. Take a different route to work, cook something completely different. Meet your friends at a new place - it must be completely new.

• Learn a skill: Whether it's cooking a new cuisine, learning a new language, trying a different sport, going to a gig or exhibition that is out of your normal 'preference'. Take a look around, don't over analyse - see what's there - try it!

• Travel: Explore a new city, even if it’s just a day trip. Even a new part of your own city will do the trick.

  
  

These small acts of exploration help your brain adapt, grow and thrive. And in an age where AI is taking over many of our logical tasks, our brains will need this kind of active “fertiliser” more than ever.

Mental aging starts when curiosity stops. The good news is that curiosity can be retrained. You just have to treat exploration like EXERCISE: something you commit to, not wait to feel

Curiosity: the true fountain of youth

Making new social connections work much in the same way. As all new social situations, new types of conversations will challenge your perspective and your brain's neuroplasticity. Being in a new and different social settings, helps us expand our very own cognitive networks (as we naturally look for ways to connect with others - these muscles will work harder to fit in and stay fit) while isolation and echo chambers will shrink them.

Working our social muscle builds strong neural connections and patterns, especially with memory and emotional balance - meaning that people that stay curious to new connections, age differently.

This expanded “social muscle” will in reality naturally transform your social life - specifically how you connect to your local neighbourhood and city. In other words, people who stay curious towards other people, stay openly connected with and to a diverse range or people, age - differently. They adapt faster to life’s changes and maintain a sharper edge. And this lively curiosity shows up in your eyes (first), your skin, your natural movement - so you glow and move with vitality.

Choose growth over comfort

A predictable, routine life quietly erodes your potential. So, while it’s great to master the latest AI tools, understand the newest tech and have your macros down to a rigid routine, don’t forget keeping your social muscle agile and fit will keep you moving faster and feeling younger.

It starts with one simple choice: to seek challenge over comfort, surprise over sameness, and connection over withdrawal (aka as streaming/ scrolling). Join a Share-A-Table and open yourself to the unexpected beauty of shared moments.

Because the secret to staying young lies not in time but in how you live, learn and connect.