Spontaneity is Back: Why Brits Are Chasing ‘Intentional Firsts’ in 2026

If Britain had a national hobby, it might be muddling through on autopilot: work, home, telly, bed, repeat—until your sofa starts leaving an imprint on your soul. But there’s a new itch in the national psyche this year, and it’s called spontaneity.

According to a nationwide survey of 2,000 British adults commissioned by TUI, more of us are fed up with playing it safe—and ready to swap routine for a string of “never done this before” moments that actually feel like living.

The numbers paint a familiar picture, with a sharper edge. Six in ten Britons (57%) say they feel stuck in a rut, and 43% admit they’ve been doing the same daily loop for years. It’s not that people have suddenly become allergic to work; it’s that they’re tired of life feeling like a rehearsal. In fact, 78% say they’re worn out by always playing it safe, while 46% find the global landscape overwhelming. No wonder 58% would love to throw caution to the wind and mix things up a bit.

And crucially, this doesn’t look like a January-only burst of good intentions. Almost half (49%) say they want to reclaim their sense of adventure in 2026 for lasting change—less “New Year, New Me”, more “New Year, New Neural Pathways”.

The rise of “intentional firsts” (and why it’s not just a buzzword)

TUI’s research suggests a fresh trend is emerging: ‘intentional firsts’. Not reckless stunts for the group chat, but deliberate choices that pull you out of the dull groove and back into the driver’s seat. Half of respondents (50%) say this year should be about spontaneity and self-discovery—swapping “someday” for “why not?”. And 52% are prioritising new experiences over the usual grind.

The most telling stat is this: more than two-thirds (67%) say they’re deliberately chasing pursuits they’ve never done before. That’s not a bucket list gathering dust. That’s a nation quietly deciding it’s had enough of beige.

Big swings and small rebellions

So what counts as a “first” in 2026? For many, it starts with travel—because nothing snaps you out of routine like landing somewhere that doesn’t know your name or your morning commute.

Top of the list is booking the holiday of a lifetime somewhere new (56%). After that, it’s taking up a new hobby or interest (22%), and learning a new language (17%). But the charm of this trend is that it isn’t reserved for the fearless or the fabulously funded. Some of the “firsts” on the list are wonderfully human: getting the tattoo you’ve always wanted (14%), or finally bringing home the dog you’ve been talking about since 2014 (10%).

Others are more “fresh-start energy”: launching new businesses (11%), going cold water swimming (8%), learning to salsa dance (6%), or getting a dramatic new hairstyle or hair colour (5%). And for the truly bold—or those simply overdue a bit of chaos—around one in twenty have plans to go on a blind date, try a bungee jump or skydive, attempt a digital detox, or have a go at a viral TikTok trend.

You can almost hear Britain clearing its throat: “Right then. Let’s have a proper go.”

The brain wants novelty (and it’s not being subtle about it)

TUI have teamed up with neurology doctor and neuroscientist Dr Faye Begeti, who says the findings have powerful implications for brain health.

“These findings tap into people’s instinct for ‘firsts’ which echo something neuroscience has long understood – trying something for the first time is incredibly powerful for the brain. The routines of everyday life can leave us stuck in autopilot mode: same commute, same decisions, same neural pathways firing. It’s efficient, but it’s not stimulating because we’re relying on the same circuits over and over again.

“The brain doesn’t thrive on repetition; it thrives on novelty and challenge.

“Challenging ourselves to do something unfamiliar – whether it’s learning a new skill or taking a bold adventure – strengthens our neural connections and helps build cognitive reserve which supports long-term brain health.”

That’s the science of it. The lived experience is simpler: when you do something new, you remember you’re alive. Your brain lights up, your senses clock in, and the world stops feeling like one long Tuesday.

Travel is the easiest “first” to book—and Britain is booking it

If spontaneity has a passport, it’s getting stamped in 2026. A striking 83% of Brits plan to travel somewhere completely new this year. The top dream picks are Japan (30%), New York (29%) and The Maldives (24%)—a trio that reads like three different versions of escape: neon reinvention, big-city reset, and tropical exhale.

TUI’s wider message is clear: don’t wait for life to calm down before you start living again. The brand is actively encouraging the nation to embrace “intentional firsts” as a conscious pursuit of joy—less fleeting thrill, more deliberate optimism in challenging times.

And, from a travel perspective, they’re predicting a year of “never done this before” holiday firsts—where “somewhere new” isn’t a nice idea, it’s the main event.

Neil Swanson, Managing Director at TUI UK&I comments, “This research shows almost six in ten Brits feel stuck in rut, but there is a clear shift at play as people get ready to reclaim their sense of adventure and find an antidote to uncertainty through exciting new experiences. We can forecast some interesting holiday choices ahead. From a surge in hobby and skill-based holidays, to milestone getaways to mark significant life events from divorces to empty nesting, to embracing bucket list dreams our ‘firsts forecasts’ shows an appetite to chase first-time travel experiences like never before.

The antidote to autopilot: pick one first and start

The temptation, of course, is to read this and immediately decide you’re going to run a marathon, get a tattoo, learn Japanese, launch a business, and skydive into a salsa class—preferably all before February. But “intentional firsts” work best when they’re intentional.

Start smaller than your ego wants you to. Choose one “first” that genuinely changes something: your environment (a new destination), your skills (a language), your body (a haircut, a swim, a run), or your social life (a date, a new club, a new community). Then treat it like an appointment with the person you keep postponing: yourself.

Because the point of spontaneity isn’t to become a different person overnight, it’s to stop letting the days blur together. It’s to make a few new memories on purpose—and give your brain, and your spirit, something fresh to chew on.

NEUROLOGY DOCTOR AND NEUROSCIENTIST DR FAYE BEGETI’S TOP TIPS FOR TRYING SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR:

1. MOVE YOUR BODY IN A NEW WAY – Try a skill-based activity like salsa dancing or paddleboarding. Exercise triggers the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein that supports brain cells and reduces age-related damage. Activities that require coordination and learning a new skill engage the brain far more than repetitive workouts. Setting an ambitious goal, like training for a half-marathon, can also create momentum to push yourself further.
2. BOOK A HOLIDAY YOU’VE NEVER TAKEN BEFORE – Travel is one of the most powerful ways to stimulate the brain. New places, languages and routines activate neuroplasticity – the process of forming new neural connections. Even a solo trip or visiting a country you can’t yet place on a map can pull the brain out of autopilot mode.
3. LEARN A LANGUAGE, EVEN JUST A FEW PHRASES – Give your brain a serious workout by learning a new language. A major study published in Nature Ageing of 86,000 adults found that bilingual people show slower biological ageing. One explanation is that switching between words and sounds keeps attention and memory networks active – systems that naturally weaken with age. You don’t need to be fluent – even practising a few phrases before a trip or trying them out abroad is enough to spark these benefits.
4. GET OUTDOORS AND TRY NATURE FIRSTS – Spend time in nature to reset your brain. Nature has a calming effect on the amygdala – the part of the brain that processes stress. Big adventures like wild camping or cold-water swimming work wonders, but even small doses – like planting a vegetable garden – make a measurable difference.
5. STRENGTHEN SOCIAL BONDS – Strong social bonds are one of the best predictors of long-term brain health – positive interactions activate networks that help us interpret emotions, form memories, and regulate responses. Make those bonds even stronger by sharing firsts: host a dinner with a cuisine none of you have tried, book a group trip to a new destination, or take a pottery class together. New experiences with friends or in group settings add an extra layer of stimulation by engaging learning and social networks at the same time.