So, this year, you want to make a New Year’s resolution that lasts. You’ve had enough cauliflower to last you a lifetime, and you’re sick of auto-renewing gym memberships that you always forget to cancel. There are only so many times you can declare you’re going to read more before we all know you’re lying to yourself. We think there’s a short story like that about a boy and a wolf, but we wouldn’t know–we haven’t read it either.
The good news is that the perfect resolution–the one you won’t be able to break–is right in front of you. Or, rather, it’s at the Improv Asylum Training Centers, conveniently located in Somerville, Hingham, and the North End.
That’s right, improv is the New Year’s Resolution that tricks you into self-improvement!
Improve Your Social Skills
We all need to socialize. Even the self-proclaimed loner gets lonely (we promise). Improv classes create a designated space for you to meet new people and build relationships. In the age of social media, it can be hard to find ways to connect offline. Improv classes are a screen-free environment where you’re encouraged to forge social connections.
Improv requires vulnerability. You must be willing to step outside your comfort zone and take risks. That vulnerability fosters empathy and strong, trust-based relationships. Good improvisers support each other, both onstage and off. With improv, you can truly walk in another person’s shoes.
Think Creatively
It’s a phrase you see on all sorts of job listings: “creative thinker.” Or perhaps “creative problem solver.” Improv can help you unlock your creative thinking/problem-solving skills. Because improv is, well, improvised, it values authenticity and originality above all.
In an improv scene, you don’t know what will happen next. Improv encourages you to think on your feet, a skill that translates directly to creative thinking. Not to mention, you can do anything in an improv scene. Nothing is holding you back but your imagination. In your day-to-day life, thinking outside the box can help you solve tough problems–like how to make your neighbor stop blasting music at three in the morning.
Support Your Mental Health
It’s a well-known fact that laughter signals your body to release endorphins (the happy chemicals) and lower cortisol levels (the stress chemicals). But, believe it or not, Improv is known to have strong therapeutic benefits beyond laughter.
Improv, mindfulness, and meditation are more alike than you might think. To commit to an improv scene, you have to be in the moment. No stressing about your incompetent coworker. No mental budgeting. No thinking about the embarrassing thing you did when you were sixteen. Improv doesn’t let you linger on your stressors. It forces you to take a break.
Improv creates a controlled environment where you can take risks without the fear of failure. If you mess up, so what? There’s no such thing as a mistake in improv–only opportunity. Practice focusing on what you can control and embracing the unknown.
Zip-Zap-Zop On Over Here!
While social media and artificial intelligence are creating a world of inauthenticity, improv does the exact opposite. Connect with people beyond the facade of the internet. Think boldly, bravely, and creatively. Take care of yourself. Find your community.
You’re ready to make 2026 your year; we just know it. Take the first step today by checking out the Improv Asylum’s upcoming classes. Classes enroll on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait!
