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Woman beats depression by leaving her comfort zone and doing something new every day for a year

Here’s a list of some of the new things she tried.

By

Tod Perry

jess mell, new year's resolutions, depression
A woman happily embracing life from a balcony. – Photo credit: via Pixabay

Like many of us, Jess Mell, 34, an insurance adjuster in England, had a hard time during the pandemic. During the first two years of lockdowns, she suffered from anxiety and depression, so on December 27, 2021, she decided to fight back by getting out of her comfort zone.

To overcome her mental health problems, she challenged herself to try something new, every day, for 100 days. The challenge was so effective at improving her mental health that she extended the challenge to a whole year.

“The first 100 I did one new thing every day—for the rest of the year I decided I’d do 365 new things in 365 days,” she said, according to The Metro. “I could do ten things in one day if I was free.”

One of the most interesting things about the challenge was the wide variety of new things that Mell attempted. She tried new artistic endeavors such as taking a life drawing class, origami and attempting to play the ukulele.

She gave up on the ukulele, but at least she tried.

She also expanded her life skills by learning to pick a lock, using chopsticks and changing a car wheel. Mell also took a walk on the wild side by drinking moonshine, taking a shot out of a belly button and dying her hair pink.

According to the New York Post, by the end of 2022, she had only accomplished 364 new tasks. She found the perfect number 365 by turning her year of new experiences into her first Instagram reel.

Mell has gotten tremendous benefits from expanding her horizons and she looks to continue the challenge in 2023 as well. “I’m going to keep [trying new things] in that it’s now just part of what I do,” Mell said according to the New York Post. “I’ve always tried to find new things to do, so that will go on. Whether I track it the same way I’m not sure.”

Anxiety and depression are serious health conditions that require professional help, so Mell’s experiences shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all for complex conditions. However, there is some scientific backing to her turnaround.

In Psychology Today, Dr. Jutta Joormann explains that “experiential diversity” (having new experiences) “can improve overall well-being” and leads to an increase in “positive affect.” Dr. Joorman adds that when we experience new things it can lead to a positive “upward cycle” that can “promote subsequent development of more positive emotions.”

That’s probably why once Mell started her challenge, she couldn’t stop.

Mell’s story is a wonderful reminder to all of us of the benefits of getting out there and trying something new. Hopefully, her story encourages people to break free from their routines and have some new experiences. As science shows, it’s bound to improve your outlook on life.

“What has been so nice about the whole experience has been that whenever I’ve thought ‘I could try that,’ rather than putting it off, I just ask myself ‘why don’t I?’ I really hope I keep that up,” she said, according to The Metro.

Here’s s partial list of some of the new things that Mell tried. Any sound interesting to you?

Tried origami

Went to hot yoga

Dyed my hair pink

Learned how to do various types of knots

Went to a life drawing class

Completed a paint by numbers

Learned to pick a lock

Ate using chopsticks

Attended a first aid course

Changed a car wheel (or helped to!)

Drank a shot out of a belly button

Made fudge

Played golf

Made a pizza from scratch

Went to Belfast/Northern Ireland for the first time

Attempted to learn to play the ukulele (gave up!)

Visited Krakow/Poland

Tried moonshine – 72% strength

Had a beekeeping experience afternoon

Tried breast milk

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    Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dancing GIF Giphy

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    “Making soup. Soup is pretty cheap and easy to make. I usually cook a pot each week. This week’s was broccoli cheddar soup. The week before that was chicken noodle and the week before that was butternut squash soup. It’s something we really enjoy and it helps save us money. Having soup in the fridge means we always have something to eat. Especially when we don’t feel like cooking. So we may have it for lunch or supper or even breakfast if we don’t feel like making something else.” – Euphoric_War_2195

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  • A couple invited a homeless man into their home for Christmas. He stayed there for 45 years.
    A man knocks on the front door of a home. – Photo credit: Photo Credit: Canva
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    A couple invited a homeless man into their home for Christmas. He stayed there for 45 years.

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    Cecily Knobler

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    Both Rob and Dianne let out a healthy laugh. “And Di and I have talked a lot about that. We don’t think he was proud to be taken to work by a lawyer. But we think maybe that he never had someone take him first day of school. He never, perhaps, had somebody say when he was 11, ‘How did it go in the big school today, son?’ And now he’s almost 30, and at last somebody’s at the gate.”

    The Instagram post notes that “Ronnie, who was autistic and alone, ended up staying for 45 years and changed the lives of Rob, Dianne, and their children forever.”

    Rob has been telling this story for a while now and wound up writing about their experience together in a book called A Knock at the Door. But for those who didn’t know, the recent clips on social media are moving hundreds of thousands to their core. One person writes, “Some angels live on earth. These angels are called Rob and Dianne.” Another writes, in part, “What amazing people. This is the real spirit of Christmas.”

    Lovingly, Rob and Dianne’s niece Rachel Hurley adds in the comments, “This is my auntie Di and uncle Rob. Robbie was so loved by us all and a huge part of our family. He used to come to my nan’s every Saturday for a cooked breakfast and read the papers with my grampy.”

    Hundreds reply to this comment alone, many with follow-up questions about Ronnie’s life now. Rachel answers, “He lived with them until he died in 2020 of complications after a stroke. He was 75.” To this, many send well wishes to remind the entire family how kindhearted they are.

    Another friend of the family, Daf Matheson, adds a personal anecdote, “Whilst Ronnie was living there, Rob and Di let my family live with them for a few months. Robbie was shown so much love and dignity. He would always say hello to everyone he saw and then roll up his sleeves to help anyone he could. I certainly learnt a lot from all three of them!”

    Upworthy had a chance to follow-up with Matheson, who shared beautiful memories of his time living with the family. “I’ve known the Parsons and Ronnie ever since I was born. As a child, my family stayed with the Parsons for what was meant to be a few weeks while our house was having some work done, but we ended up staying for a few months. Ronnie was living there at the time and had been there for many years. Ronnie was always really friendly and I only ever had fond memories.”


    He even remembers the tiny details that help weave the fabric of a family. “He would head out for work before we headed to school and would say hello when we came back. We would play darts, talk football and I just saw him as part of the Parsons family. After we moved back into our home, I would see Ronnie every week at church. He would always greet me with a smile, a high five, ask how I was doing and then crack on with putting out chairs for people. Aged 15, I played my first game for Ronnie’s charity football game. No one loved Boxing Day more than Ronnie. I’ll always remember asking him every month if I could be the team’s penalty taker and then seeing the joy on his face as he’d reply ‘No chance!’”

    Matheson continues to heap praise on the Parson family. “With regard to Rob and Di. I’ve always seen them as unofficial Godparents. Rob would tell me a story almost every day that we stayed with them and Di continues to be one of the funniest and most caring people I know. It’s hard to comprehend how generous they are because it is so unusual. They showed Ronnie love, which I imagine was a rare experience for him, but they also gave him dignity, independence and also the opportunity for him to be generous too.”

    Many others share heartwarming stories of their own wherein they took in vulnerable people, and many feel inspired to do so in the future. In fact, Ronnie himself was inspired to help the vulnerable. In another interview, Rob shares the time that Ronnie came home wearing no shoes. When asked what happened, he said, “I gave them to some homeless guy.”

    As if the story could get more heartwarming, in Charlie Buckland’s more extended piece for the BBC, he further explains that Rob “vaguely remembered Ronnie, someone he would occasionally see at Sunday School as a boy and who he was told to be kind to as he was a ‘bit different.’”

    He adds, “Ronnie was then almost 30 and had been without a home from the age of 15, living in and around Cardiff and moving from job to job — Rob would sometimes see him at a youth club he ran. To make him feel as welcome as possible, they asked their family to bring him a gift for Christmas, anything from a pair of socks to some ‘smellies.’”

    Dianne shares in the interview, “I can remember him now. He was sat at the Christmas table and he had these presents, and he cried because he’d never known that sort of feeling of love, you know. It was incredible, really, to watch.”

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  • Frugal people share the 19 ways they save money on heating their homes during winter
    Frugal people share how they lower their heating bill during winter. – Photo credit: Canva
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    Frugal people share the 19 ways they save money on heating their homes during winter

    “I wish I’d done this like 3 winters ago.”

    Emily Shiffer

    Getting warm and cozy indoors is one of the joys of the winter season. But the cost of heating your home or apartment can quickly get expensive. According to a December 2025 report by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA), heating costs are expected to rise 9.2% the next three months, and will bring the average cost to heat a home in the United States to $995.

    Cutting heating costs can save you a lot of money. And frugal people have found brilliant ways to keep their homes heated without paying extravagant heating bills.

    On Reddit, frugal people shared their advice for how to lower heating bills without being miserably cold. From better insulation to heat sources, these are 19 of their best tips for cutting heating costs.

    “Small degree changes can do a lot as well, e.g. going down to 68°F.” – ShiroxReddit

    “The least expected source of draft for me were electrical outlets. I’d done the work to use shrink wrap over windows etc etc. And then I’m just there in bed one night, and I could feel the most annoying draft blowing on my face… I went crazy trying to find it. The tiniest little gaps can have huge consequences. Recommend a temperature gun to ID where you’re losing heat. It’ll help triage problems and keep you from needlessly doing things that aren’t helping! My library lends out thermal cameras and other things that lets you see where your energy and heat leaks are. Y’all might want to check your local library. :)” – Taco_Bhel, iBrarian

    “Heat your body, not the airspace. Put on layers, wear socks and slippers. Cover drafty windows with plastic sheeting. Drop your thermostat down to 65° (or lower). Use a heated throw blanket for sitting around when necessary but don’t run it all night long. Get a down comforter for your bed that will retain your body heat.” – anythingaustin

    “Learn to live with 68, then 66, then 64. 62 isn’t worth it imo, for both comfort and pipe freeze possibilities.” – antsam9

    “Turns out most of my misery was tiny gaps. The worst offender was the front door. At night, with the lights off, I could see a faint line of light at the bottom. I added a simple door sweep, and for the sides I used adhesive weatherstripping (I had to redo one section bc I placed it wrong the first time, classic). I also made a dumb little “draft sausage” with an old towel and some rice in a sock for the bedroom door, which looks kinda goofy but works. For the living room window, I didn’t do anything fancy, just checked the latch, tightened a loose screw, and put a thin foam strip where the sash meets. The weirdly satisfying part was re-testing after each thing: you hold your hand near the edge and it’s like… oh, THAT’S what normal feels like. No more cold ghost touching your ankles. I’m not pretending my place is suddenly a cozy cabin, but my sleep has been noticeably better because I’m not waking up at 3am feeling that sharp chill from the window side. Also my heat feels more “steady”, not blasting then disappearing. If you’re in the same boat, I’d honestly start with the unsexy stuff before buying another gadget: check doors, check window latches, look for light lines, feel for airflow with your hand. Just do it safely and don’t block vents or anything. I wish I’d done this like 3 winters ago, instead of rage-adjusting a thermostat and acting surprised when nothing changed lol.” – ventuscalmlight

    “Electric vest or pad that can run off of USB that you can change the battery is another option.” – antsam9

    “Seal the windows with the window film. It might be too cold now for it to adhere properly without you turning the heat to 70 and using a hair dryer to warm up the surface. Seal the cracks first with molding draft clay.” – antsam9

    @comestayawhile

    Use these items to save $$$ on your heating bill! 🤑 It’s freezing here today, so I’m doing everything I can to keep the heat inside and the cold OUT! 🥶 linked on my Amazon and LTK #homehacks #winterprep

    ♬ original sound – Amanda Vernaci @comestayawhile

    “Increase thermal blocking capacity by reinforcing window curtains with an extra layer of felt blanket. I bought well used old comforters that were light weight on the biggest windows (damn Chicago bay windows).” – antsam9

    “Save the heat that you generate. If you run a heater (expensive) run it only in the smallest room. If you run the dish washer, don’t set it to dry, let the door open so it can humidity the room and give some warmth after washing.” – antsam9

    “Humid air holds onto heat better, so get a cold air humidifier (hot ones harbor more bacteria).” – antsam9

    “Invest in wool socks and a alpaca fur beanie and nice gloves. You’ll be wearing these often. Inside.” – antsam9

    “I got a thermal camera for my phone, cheap used off of Facebook market and looked for cold spots and used spray foam insulation to increased the insulation. If I couldn’t, I would strategically place carpet, blankets, furniture, etc to prevent heat leaking.” – antsam9

    “Drop the temp and layer up like people are saying. Also I just ordered the clear plastic window insulation kits off amazon for my own house. ‘Duck brand’. Super useful and efficient. Just install over windows and it locks in a ton of heat.” – SectorZed

    “My long gone grandma always had an old bleach bottle filled with hot water. She dragged it around throughout the day and jammed it in her bed to warm it up too. I have done this for our kids at our chilly lake cottage. Works like a charm on a cold rainy day.” – ketoLifestyleRecipes

    “You might want to get a ceiling fan as well. It will distribute heat and cold more evenly and reduce the influence of warm and cold spots.” – cosmoscrazy

    “It all starts with insulation and humidity. If its humid – get a dehumidifier, dry air is much easier (cheaper) to warm up. Make sure to always use your range hood when cooking and extractor fan when in the bathroom. Slap some of that 3M plastic film on your windows, put up some thick curtains if you can. Your windows are gonna be losing most heat (either via air leaks or just heat exchange due to a much lower R value than a wall). Also chuck some door snakes down on your exterior facing doors (balcony door, and maybe front door unless your building has a heated hallway).” – dinkygoat

    “Lots of people recommending an electric blanket but I prefer an electric mattress pad with a good quality comforter. With this combo you won’t run into the situation of overheating and waking up sweaty during the night (which happened all the time for me with an electric blanket). Crank up the mattress pad before you go to bed, then once you’re in, you turn it down to low, and the comforter will retain the heat instead of generating it.” – monsterlynn

    “My utility company has a free ‘Focus on Energy Comfort Pack’. It has window film, a door sweep, weather stripping, and little insulated pads to go behind outlet covers on external walls. It also had a plug in LED night light and a hot water heater temperature gauge. Super frugal as it was all free. The main window I wanted to cover was the kitchen window because former owner “bumped out” the kitchen a couple feet to the edge of the roof line and that window is so drafty. I made a huge difference but took up most of the window film. I like being able to open some other windows occasionally even in winter (though not in our current single digits) so there is only one other I’ve considered covering.” – wi_voter

    “I used the leg from an old pair of jeans and two pieces of pool noodle. Made a cylinder that fits the two pool noodle pieces, then just slips under the bedroom door. Basically a draft stopper on either side. Works great, had it for a few years now. I like a cold bedroom, with no heat source in the room, my bedroom is at least 10°F colder than the house without causing drafts.” – __wildwing__

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  • Neuroscientists reveal simple, 8-second trick that helps you like people more
    A person annoyed with her coworker. – Photo credit: via Canva/Photos
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    Neuroscientists reveal simple, 8-second trick that helps you like people more

    It starts with a bit of imagination.

    Tod Perry

    There are some people in life you may not like all that much, but it’s in your best interest to enjoy their company. It could be the brother-in-law who loves to antagonize you, a coworker who gets on your last nerve, or the parents of your child’s BFF whom you can’t ever seem to get on the same page with.

    It feels nearly impossible to force yourself to like someone. However, a new study from the University of Colorado Boulder and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany suggests that, thanks to a neuroscience-based trick, you can use your imagination to like people more.

    How to use the 8-second rule

    Let’s say that you have to go to lunch with a coworker who gets on your nerves. She talks too much, gives away too much personal information, and loves to talk behind your other coworkers’ backs. To make the situation more bearable, take just eight seconds before you go out to eat with her to imagine a scenario in which you have a good time. She lets you talk for a bit. The lunch tastes excellent, and you find out you both like the same music.

    To put it simply: things turn out much better than you expected.

    coworker, lunch, happy lunch, fun time, man smiling, woman smiling
    Coworkers enjoying lunch together. u200bvia Canva/Photos

    According to the neuroscientists behind the study, imagining an optimistic scenario with your coworker tricks your brain into thinking it was a real interaction. Therefore, you will begin to have more positive feelings toward them because of the encounter you had in the past. (Although it never really happened.)

    Using this quick 8-second trick can also help people overcome phobias, much like exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, if you’re afraid of spiders, a psychologist might gradually expose you to them so repeated encounters help you overcome your fear. But this new research shows that simply imagining positive experiences with spiders can also help you overcome your fear.

    imagination, thoughts, thought bubble, ideas, abstrat art, thoughts
    A person imagining a better world. u200bvia Canva/Photos

    “We show that we can learn from imagined experiences, and it works very much the same way in the brain that it does when we learn from actual experiences,” senior author Roland Benoit, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder, said in a statement. “If memory and imagination are so similar, then theoretically people should be able to learn from merely imagined events.”

    “It suggests that imagination is not passive,” author Aroma Dabas added. “Rather, it can actively shape what we expect and what we choose.”

    It’s important to keep imagining positive things

    The good news is that by imagining an optimistic scenario with your annoying coworker, you can increase your chances of liking them. However, imagination can also have a dark side. If you constantly imagine negative scenarios, you may experience more anxiety and depression. “You can paint the world black just by imagining it,” said Benoit.

    The big takeaway is that your imagination is extremely powerful and, when used for good, can help you build a more positive reality. But you should also be careful to recognize when you’re catastrophizing about future events, because that can lead to unnecessary trouble. You are what you think. The more you imagine a positive reality, the more likely you are to live in one.

    Keep Reading →
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