Great explorations A new study

A new study shows that exploring your own town or neighbourhood is good for GREAT your mental health. Explorations

We’ve all had that buzz travelling somewhere new – goosebumps, perhaps, or an immense sense of joy at seeing the world in a different light. And while that world is currently much smaller than it was a year ago, there’s still a lot of happiness to be found in our surrounds, a new study suggests.

A report published in Nature Neuroscience shows that experiencing new things on a daily basis leads to more positive emotions in those doing the experiencing – even if it’s just in our neighbourhood. The researchers tracked people in the US over the course of several months, and found that those who got out and about rediscovering what makes their town so special, reported being happier and healthier in their emotions than those who stayed at home.

“New and varied experiences are broadly beneficial for the brain and for humans in general,” the study’s co-author Aaron Heller says. These experiences don’t need to be large – just getting out of the house and seeing something fresh can boost the happy hormones. There’s an upward correlation as well: the more places people visited, the higher the reported positive emotions for that day. The more new, places visited, the higher the endorphin levels still. “The findings suggest that novelty is important, but experiential diversity is as well,” says co-author Catherine Hartley.

The take away? It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, there are always new things to discover – and plenty of joy to be had from your adventures.

Explore your hood

1. Make a list of the cafes you’ve never tried, and organise a caffeine crawl. 2. Pump up your tires and try out that bike path. 3. Set up a picnic date with a friend and your dogs, in a park you’ve never visited. 4. Pick up your camera and photograph your neighbourhood’s street art – or interesting doors, or dogs, or signs…

From Sheridan’s AW20 decor range

SIGNATURE / Lifestyle

This month we reveal top tips on putting together the ultimate cheese board, spotlight the season’s hydrating skincare products, and talk to those in the know about styling your home with cushions and throws. Plus much more!