I recently read an article about how when TV writer Rob LaZebnik from The Simpsons turned 60, he realized he had become “boring.” So he embarked on a journey to do 60 new things during his 60th year of life to break the monotonous routine he felt he had fallen into. From attending a mega church to a gay bar, LaZebnik put himself in new situations.

Vacation Transformation

Think about when we go on a vacation. All our senses are hit with “new”—new sounds, new smells, new adventures, new types of play, even the unique environment we are temporarily living in. Whether a hotel room, RV or yurt, it stimulates your senses and makes you feel alive.

When we are on vacation, our subconscious does not carry the burdens of our everyday lives. You are not reminded of all your “to-do” lists, the work that needs to be done, the house repairs that need to be made or the clutter that needs to be cleaned up. That all goes away on vacation; there’s a lightness to the vacation mindset. This is why people love vacations!

But the problem with vacations is that they end. And after you have been home for a week or so, you find yourself reverting to the same routines as before.

Neuroscience At Play

As we get older, we tend to become less adventurous, and that’s when our “boring” habits usually begin to develop. But neuroscience shows you do not have to be stuck in your own personal Groundhog Day. By putting ourselves in new situations, we forge different pathways in our brain that help us feel stimulated. When you break out of your rut, you are creating excitement that makes you feel alive. This inspires curiosity, which inspires adventure.

A recent study by European researchers that tracked phone location data of more than 40,000 people over several years shows there is a limit to the number of places we visit. That number may surprise you because it is just 25. Sure, you may check out a new restaurant or take your dog to a different park, but the research shows that old places disappear as new ones are added to the list.

So how can we break away from our usual haunts without having to spend the rest of our life on vacation? Create mini vacations for your brain!

An Unusual Homework Assignment

One homework assignment I sometimes give my executive coaching clients is intended to shake up their day. I ask them to change as much as they can about their daily routine. For example, if the first thing you do after waking up in the morning is go to the kitchen and make your coffee, try brushing your teeth first instead, and while you’re at it, use your opposite hand. Change up your standard breakfast. Take a different route to work. Park far away from your office instead of trying to find the best parking space. Walk somewhere instead of driving. Go for a swim instead of your regular run.

All these things may seem trivial, but when you add them up over a given day, they amount to change for our brains.

My clients have fun doing different things and producing new ways to get out of their ruts, and they tell me they feel more energized. This is an exercise in mindfulness because you are becoming aware of your routine and the alternatives available to change things up.

A Different Kind Of Bucket List

LaZebnik’s list of 60 innovative things he did is a different kind of bucket list. He established some criteria for his adventures: They could not be dangerous, wildly expensive or insanely simple or complex. But when it comes to coaching, I think simple is okay. So start with a list of things you can change in your life to change up your typical routine.

Use mindfulness in this exercise by asking yourself, “Why do I do what I do when I do it?” We go through each day with tremendous repetition, but is it intentional?

Business leaders can especially benefit from this form of self-transformation because it fosters growth. By navigating different territories for the brain and embracing change, you can gain fresh perspectives, develop innovative problem-solving skills and enhance your adaptability.

My wife and I start our day the same way each day, which is repetitive, but it is also extremely intentional. Each morning, we sit down together and discuss what we are grateful for, what we are proud of and what our intentions are for the day.

For years, we’d say we wanted to meditate, exercise and journal every morning, but we found ourselves not doing those things because, well, life gets in the way. Instead, by setting aside a few intentional minutes to participate in a thoughtful exercise together, we set the tone for our day. Within a week, that small intentional change inspired us to additionally incorporate meditation, exercise and journaling every morning. We now do it all, and it’s been game-changing.

When we think of bucket lists, we often think about life-changing moments like hiking Machu Picchu or meditating with a monk in a Buddhist temple. Those are fine goals, but they are also big-ticket items that might be more appropriate for post-retirement living. What can you do to change things up in your life now?

Just like LaZebnik, put yourself in a different scene. Do things that are culturally outside the norm for you and approach everything with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, which is the opposite of boring. Listen to a speaker on a new topic, take a cooking class, go to an art fair or a jazz festival, learn a new language. There’s a myriad of activities you can add to your life to get out of your rut. There is no time like the present to be present for yourself!

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This article was originally published on Forbes.com as a Forbes Coaches Council post.