The Importance of a Change in Scenery

Why does everything feel the same? Can you do anything about it? 

Here is something that we will all resonate with: walking the same route to the MRT or your bus stop. Passing the same Kopitiam and sitting at the same desk. Lunchtime TikTok scrolls are a new norm amongst our generation; hence, by 3 pm, you're exhausted. Sound familiar?

Here's what's happening from a psychological perspective: your brain isn't overstimulated. You're experiencing what researchers call sensory monotony, when your environment becomes so repetitive that your brain stops paying attention. For a better understanding, it would be like eating the same dish every day that keeps you healthy but has no taste.

Neuroscience research suggests that human brains are unable to sustain repetitiveness for long periods; they also require novelty to thrive in any environment. New experiences and a change in scenario trigger the release of dopamine in our brains. When everything looks, sounds, and feels identical day after day, our cognitive systems go into power-saving mode.

Orchard Road and Bugis are visually beautiful but experientially identical. Coffee Shops, CBD offices, Spotify playlists, and such routines cause brain fog that we need to combat and introduce richness into our lives. 

Have you wondered what are some ways to break this pattern?

1. Mental health professionals cannot stop raving about the importance of using our senses. Touching trees while walking or sitting on a park bench mid-walk, and my favourite: stepping out during the rain to enjoy the smell in the air.

2. Visiting museums, heritage sites, a beach/ a park or even browsing old photos on Instagram gives the brain different time contexts and creates mental distance from your current loop.

3. Changing up routines has been extremely beneficial. Can you change your commute for a day and end up exploring a new area or getting down a few stops early to enjoy the silence of mornings?

4. Starting to notice our surroundings more instead of scrolling during the commute. People-watching or keeping in touch with our surroundings, including seeking out old or new buildings each week, helps our eyes adjust to different scales and styles while also allowing us be more present in the moment. 

Sameness isn't just boring, it's a form of deprivation and recognising that might be the first step toward feeding your brain what it's actually hungry for.

Written by: Mansi

01/2026

References

Dresp-Langley, B. (2023). From reward to Anhedonia-Dopamine function in the global mental health context. Biomedicines, 11(9), 2469. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11092469

Rat research hints at shared anti-boredom mechanism, academic suggests. (n.d.). https://www.vettimes.com/news/vets/small-animal-vets/rat-research-hints-at-shared-anti-boredom-mechanism-academic-suggests

3 ways getting outside into nature helps improve your health | Cultivating Health. (2025, August 25). cultivating-health. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/3-ways-getting-outside-into-nature-helps-improve-your-health/2023/05