Although airlines still employ pilots, a lot of the work of flying a commercial aircraft is done with an automated flight system, known to most of us as an autopilot. Unlike the one famously portrayed in the movie "Airplane!" the autopilot does not feature an inflatable man in a pilot's uniform. It's a small, highly advanced piece of equipment that uses global positioning, weather data, and other factors to determine the safest, most efficient route to a given destination. On most days, 45,000 flights arrive safely, attesting to the effectiveness of these systems.

The human brain is much more advanced than an autopilot system, but the two have a great deal in common. Our brains are wired to create routine, so much so that we often go about our days on our own form of autopilot. This isn't just conjecture – studies on the brain have demonstrated that our brains build neural pathways for everyday activities. Creating strong neural pathways in the brain are vital to survival. They make certain activities, such as driving a car or getting dressed, easy enough to accomplish without much thought. Imagine if you had to use the same amount of attention to unlock your front door as you would to solve a differential equation. Strong neural pathways allow us to turn our attention to matters of great significance without giving up our ability to accomplish everyday tasks. It seems like the best of both worlds.

The problem is that we spend most of our time relying on autopilot to get us through the day without tapping into the resources that our autopilot frees up. We get into a behavioral rut, doing the same thing every day simply because it's easier. We drive the same route to school or work, eat a small variety of foods, talk to the same people, watch the same shows, and go to bed at generally the same time each night, ready to do it all again the next day.

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence that suggests this reliance on autopilot doesn't merely make life a dull grind. There is evidence that disrupting this routine by trying new things actually has beneficial effect and could possibly help protect the brain against dementia. The brain is made up of billions of specialized cells called neurons. These neurons act like a vast computer network, using electrical impulses and chemical transmitters to relay information around the brain. Neurons that communicate on a regular basis form strong connections, while the connection between neurons that don't communicate weaken and eventually stop communicating altogether.

When your brain experiences something new, the individual neurons are forced to make new connections. The more new things a person experiences, the more connections will form between individual neurons. Done regularly, the brain will form many new connections over time, and these connections could help stave off neurological decline and possibly delay the onset of age-related dementia.

So, do your brain a favor. Try cooking a new dish you've never cooked before. Paint a picture. Write a song. Take up Tai Chi or country line dancing. Studies have shown that trying one new thing a week can have significant positive effects on the brain. The best thing is that it doesn't matter at all if you're successful at the new activity. In fact, the more challenging the activity, the better it is for your brain.

Thanks to the World Wide Web, there has never been a better time in the history of the world for exploration. Free apps like Duolingo can help you explore another language. Youtube can help you fix a big-screen television or cook an amazing risotto. Even better, ditch your screen and step outside. Grant County has a wealth of opportunities for exploring new and exciting fields of endeavor. When you step outside of your comfort zone, the most you're likely to lose is a little comfort. But outside of that comfort zone is a vast world, ripe with opportunities for learning and growth.

Have a look around. Your brain will thank you for it.