Firing up Netflix and re-watching a series or film, rather than trying something new.

Picking your next book based on the same author that you have enjoyed in the past, rather than taking a chance on an up-and-coming writer.

Listening to the back catalogue of an artist, rather than giving the new creators a chance to make it into your Spotify playlist.

There’s always something in the comfort of the known. Something that is familiar, unchallenging and warm. But what happens when it becomes limiting? What happens when you don’t ever really try anything that’s new?

It’s a problem for most of us, staying confined to our own previous experiences as we know what we like and don’t wish to ‘waste’ time trying something new that may not necessarily be to our tastes. We load up the same series (Suits, The League or Power) or watch the same film (American Pie, The Equalizer or Taken) because we know we can effortlessly disengage and enjoy what we consume.

Maybe it’s an attention deficiency issue. New things require new efforts and greater concentration. We already know what we need to know when we go back into the old favourites. But this comfort prevents new material achieving that same comforting status.

So try something new. Give it the same opportunities that you gave your current favourites and see what happens. No, not everything will work out positively, but there’s a reason why you have your favourites now; you gave them a chance in the first place.