How often do you do something off the cuff? In today’s world of online planners and heavy work schedules full of back-to-back meetings, you may have to think hard to remember the last time you were truly spontaneous.

While it may sound counterintuitive, making time to be spontaneous could help you become happier, more creative and more alert, according to Lifespan, an online health advice service.

While spontaneity should never be confused with acting on impulse, which could lead to poorly considered actions and negative outcome, it can boost your mental wellbeing.

Read on to discover 10 ways being more spontaneous in life could help you feel great.

1. Enhances your confidence

To be spontaneous, you need to have a certain level of confidence, as you need to be sure that you will be able to deal with unexpected outcomes. Acting “off the cuff” more often could help develop your level of confidence and help you feel better about yourself.

2. Reconnects you to your inner child

Children are naturally more spontaneous and curious. As a result, they tend to live in the moment and have a heightened level of joy when they do things. This is something we often lose as adults, which is why tapping back into your inner child through spontaneity helps lift your mood.

3. It can reshape your brain!

Becoming more spontaneous can even reshape your brain, Lifespan claims. This is because doing things differently forces the brain to create new connections between cells, which boosts the brain’s capacity. This can help to slow down mental decline as we age.

4. It eliminates boredom

As being spontaneous means you’re more likely to give something new a go, or be out and about with friends, you’re less likely to find yourself stuck in a boring routine.

If you have a job that’s monotonous, adding spontaneity to your day could really lift your mood. It need not be a major action either, just buying a sandwich from somewhere different could add some spontaneity to your routine.

5. Helps you adapt to change more easily

Being spontaneous means you’re more likely to adapt to change without feeling stressed or anxious. It helps develop a “go with the flow” attitude, from which you could become more flexible in other areas of your life, avoiding conflict and confrontation when things don’t go according to plan.

6. You can connect with others more effectively

According to life coaching consultants Myers-Davis, being more spontaneous could help you become better at forming bonds with people and getting them to open up. This could help you create more friendships and lasting relationships, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.

7. You’re less likely to suffer from stress

If you’re more spontaneous, you’re less likely to overanalyse and more likely to feel better about seizing opportunities when they arise. You’re also less likely to become upset or frustrated when events are not “going to plan”, helping reduce or negate feelings of disappointment when things don’t turn out the way you expected.

Lifespan explains that research has shown that overthinking before acting is linked to depression and anxiety.

8. You’ll feel happier and more positive

Spontaneous people tend to make the best of every situation, taking full advantage of everything life offers. This could help develop a mindset that allows you to see the bright side of life and be more optimistic, which helps you maintain a positive attitude.

9. You become more resilient

We all face difficulties during our life and being spontaneous allows you to remain more resilient when life is getting you down. According to Calm Moment, if you allow routines to determine how you respond to situations, you could deny yourself the opportunity to grow emotionally and become stronger when facing future challenges.

10. You’re more creative

If you’re being more spontaneous, you’re less likely to set boundaries on what you’re doing and thinking, and so will be more creative. This could help provide better and unexpected outcomes you’d never have thought of, giving you a greater sense of achievement.

Get in touch

We hope you enjoyed learning about the many benefits of being spontaneous. As you can see, spontaneity could provide many benefits, as long as you don’t mistake it for impulsiveness.

The latter is particularly interesting when you consider that recent research by Barclays found half of investors admitted to making impulsive investment decisions and then regretting it. That’s why speaking to a financial planner can ensure any decision you make has been carefully considered and is right for you, and not based on an impulse that could cost you dear.

If you would like to discuss your wealth, pension and retirement strategy, or financial situation more generally, please call us on 0800 434 6337. We’d be happy to help.