The Mel Robbins Podcast

5 Fun Ideas to Shake Up Your Life & Get Out Of A Rut

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Want to know the secret to make your life exciting again? By the end of this podcast, you are going to have a plan to shake things up in your life, starting today. In this fun and engaging episode, Mel is leading you through an exercise that will prompt you to find more adventure and passion in your life. She will walk you through 5 different questions that will help you start your “Never Been There, Never Done That” adventure. You are going to learn the surprising benefits of trying something new, and it doesn't have to cost a thing or take up very much time. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-188 Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00: Intro 01:15: Use this simple trick to shake up your life. 05:25: According to research, having something to look forward to has these benefits. 12:27: This is the research behind why you NEED to be setting goals for yourself. 15:19: Make this list to bring more excitement into your life. 19:49: 5 EASY ways to jumpstart a new adventure. 24:19: This is the only thing you need to do to tap into a better life. 31:23: How Mel and her son Oakley had a hilarious cooking fail. 36:43 Add this final thing to your “Never Been There, Never Done That” list. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel Robbinshost

Jul 1, 202441mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Shake Up Your Routine: Discover Adventure Hidden In Everyday Life

Mel Robbins shares a simple, research-backed game called “Never Been There, Never Done That” to help people escape the boredom of routine without needing a big, expensive vacation. By intentionally exploring new places, routes, foods, and activities in your own backyard, you set small, energizing goals that increase excitement and meaning in daily life. She explains the science of goal-setting and habituation—how we stop noticing good things when life gets too repetitive—and shows how tiny changes restore a sense of wonder. The episode ends with five practical ways to build a personal local “adventure list” you can chip away at week by week.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Create a ‘Never Been There, Never Done That’ list for your local area.

List nearby places and activities you’ve never tried—stores, museums, classes, trails—then pick one each week to bring novelty and excitement into your routine.

Use micro-goals to give your weeks direction and meaning.

Treat each new activity as a small goal; research shows goals provide a sense of direction and turn life into a ‘game worth playing,’ which lifts your mood and energy.

Fight habituation by deliberately changing your environment and routes.

When you always do the same things, your brain stops noticing the beauty and joy around you; simply taking a new street, walking a different loop, or visiting a new neighborhood reactivates your sense of wonder.

You don’t need a faraway vacation to feel refreshed.

Planning and doing small local adventures—like visiting a new garden center or nearby museum—can deliver similar emotional boosts to a trip, without the cost or time away.

Use five categories to generate ideas: stores, streets, culture, food, and community.

Go into a new shop, take a different route, visit a museum or library, try a new food/recipe or restaurant, and join a sport or volunteer group to quickly build a diverse adventure list.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

You are a creature of habit. So am I.

— Mel Robbins

Routines are great for locking in a habit, but when your life becomes too routine, it loses its sparkle.

— Mel Robbins

Based on the research, simply putting a plan in place to explore your own backyard will bring more excitement into your day-to-day life.

— Mel Robbins

You shouldn’t have to wait until you have the time and the money to go on a vacation far away.

— Mel Robbins

Your next adventure is just waiting for you. All you have to do is open that door and walk in.

— Mel Robbins

The concept of the ‘Never Been There, Never Done That’ gameHow routines and habituation dull joy and awarenessThe psychological benefits of setting small, local goalsUsing local exploration as an alternative to distant vacationsFive practical categories for creating a local adventure listExamples of unexpected gems discovered close to homeBuilding connection and purpose through community and volunteering

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