Variety...the Spice of Life.

Anyone who knows me know that I am very much a creature of habit. I've been joked about how much of a "planner" I am and how I always like to be in control.  To create this control, I have often found myself doing the same activities and visiting the same well known places for my endeavors.  Lately, however, I've been trying to do a much better job of switching things up a bit by seeing what the "other side" has to offer and have experiences outside of my usual comfort zone.  Pleasantly, I've experienced great results from this.  From this, I realized that overall, variety in life is a very positive thing. We can live in our small world and do the same things over and over, but if we take the risk and consistently look for things that are new and different to attempt, we have way more to gain than to lose.  Some of these benefits are:

It can help you grow to become more well rounded and comfortable with different types of people

In the gym, the concept of muscle confusion is huge in the way of becoming as strong as possible.  By consistently doing the same types of exercises over and over, you body become accustomed to it and adapts so that the intensity and growth potential of your muscles from the exercises lessens over time.  This is very comparable to always doing the same activities over and over again. By trying different things, you have a great opportunity to grow in a number of different areas in your life.  One of these areas can be your relationship with your co-workers. Trying different things in life is helpful in that it allows you to have a insight into topics or conversations in which otherwise you would not have been able to be participate.  This can be very helpful in a corporate environment in which you have individuals who are from all walks of life and can have a tremendous impact on your career.  By trying different things with them and stepping "outside of the box" to participate in activities that you usually wouldn't, you increase the chances that you can bond with your co-workers and have a better overall relationship with them.  This often goes a long way when individuals are put in line for promotions and questions are asked of the masses of their general impression or connection to others in the office.

It can give you a different perspective on how to approach and react to problems or issues.

Often, we live in our own self-prescribed bubble and have no true sense of what else is out there in life. We respond to problems and approach situations utilizing the best decision making experiences we have based on our background and what we know to be true.  However, by opening up your world to different activities, places, people, etc. you increase your understanding of the numerous ways to approach problems and make decision based on different thought processes of which that you may not have been aware.  Different cultures have different ways of handling relationship, work, and life issues in general.  By consistently looking for different ways to interact with others different from us and putting ourselves out there to participate or be a part of something in which we usually would have declined, we increase the chances that we will be able to gleam that small nugget that can mean all the difference in the next big decision or dilemma we face.  Just as workplace diversity is not about having different cultures and ethnicity for the sake of having it, but for the great ability of these different people to add value to the perspective and decision making ability of the business, personal life variety will help you make better decisions for your personal and professional life.

It helps you appreciate what you already have

Often when we live in a bubble, we can begin to moan and groan about how we wish things were better and how we deserve better from life in general. By opening ourselves up to experience different things and see what "the other side" may look like, we can gain a valuable re-appreciation for the quality of what we currently have in life.  Spending time doing something that is outside of your element may also be an encouragement to help you realize how much of a blessing it is to truly be good at the things with which you are already comfortable.  To be great at something takes work and you should feel proud of any major talents you may have. Often, when we do something well for so long, we forget the tremendous amount of work and effort it took to get there. By stepping out and trying something different, we can remember that feeling of being a novice and appreciate the hours of work and effort that it took to master something. Similar to how Michael Jordan stint at baseball invigorated his love and appreciation for basketball, by trying things that are "outside our wheelhouse," we can do this for ourselves as well.

Variety.  It seems like a no-brainer that this is something that we should all have in our lives. However, one would be surprised at the number of people who become so "comfortable" with their lives that they don't realize that they have closed their minds off to trying anything new that is outside of their comfort zone.  As kids, we are often ready to try anything new because we are fresh and vibrant and always looking to experience something different.  Unfortunately, as we mature, this excitement at life tends to dissipate as we become adults and "grow up." Today, you should fight this feeling and look for something new to work into your life to help you truly enjoy everything this wonderful world and your wonderful life has to offer.  You never know what...or whom...you may find along the way.

Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.

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