Weekend Boost No. 184
THE "FIRST TIME" AS A RESET
Think back to the last time you did something for the very first time.
Maybe it was a new trail, a new city, a new skill. A meal you'd never tasted, a conversation with someone completely outside your usual orbit.
Do you remember how present you felt?
I've been sitting with this question lately, mostly because I've been noticing how quickly time seems to move when I'm deep in routine. Same rhythms, same routes, same responses. And then I try something new, even something small, and it's like the world slows back down a little.
Turns out there's real science behind that feeling. When we encounter new experiences, our brains register more, encode more, and create richer memories. Novelty is one of the most powerful levers we have for how we actually experience time, not just fill it.
As leaders, we talk a lot about presence and intention. But here's what I keep coming back to this week:
When did you last let yourself be a beginner at something?
Not for productivity. Not for your CV. Just for the aliveness of it.
Here are a few resources worth checking out.
The Novelty Effect and Time Perception
You Can Use the Novelty Effect to Slow Down Time — The Good Trade
A readable, research-backed look at why new experiences change how our brains process and store time. If you've been feeling like the weeks are blurring together, start here.
How a Beginner's Mind Can Transform Your Leadership
Inc. — Moshe Engelberg
Beginner's mind, drawn from Zen Buddhism, is the practice of letting go of expertise and showing up open. This piece makes the case for why that's not just good for your weekends, but for your leadership.
Ready to really go somewhere new?
Somewhere Sunny — besomewheresunny.com
My friend Bree Schumacher runs beautifully designed group trips for midlife women, small groups, boutique stays, immersive cultural experiences, and a room to yourself. If you've been thinking about travel but don't want to go it alone, this is worth a look. (Galapagos, Nicaragua, Greece, Croatia, Guatemala, Columbia )
THE PRACTICE
Simple ask this week: do one thing for the first time.
It doesn't have to be big. A new neighborhood, a recipe you've been curious about, a class, a conversation with someone new, a route you've never taken.
Then just notice, what does it feel like to not know what comes next? What opens up in you when you stop being the expert?
Bring that back to your leadership. The openness, the attention, the willingness to not have all the answers, that's not just a good weekend. That's how we keep growing.
