Assistant professor says trying something new can make life feel exciting again
Published October 27, 2026
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Max Alberhasky, an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing at Cal State Long Beach, explains in Psychology Today that routines make life efficient, but repetition can dull our responses through hedonic adaptation. He suggests adding novelty without abandoning habits by exploring a new place, learning a skill or planning a new experience. Even one new activity each week may help make life feel engaging.
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