Feeling stuck in the grey zone of “fine” for too long can definitely take its toll on your state of mind.
When life turns into routines, responsibilities, and autopilot thinking, curiosity gets sidelined without you even realising it, but it’s not gone for good. If you’ve been feeling flat or uninspired, here are some easy ways to slowly bring your sense of curiosity about the world around you back to life—without having to overhaul your whole world to do it.
1. Start noticing what makes you linger.
Source: Unsplash Whether it’s a random article you actually read to the end, a song that made you stop scrolling, or a passing comment that stuck in your head—these little moments are clues. They’re quiet sparks of interest, and noticing them is your first step back to curiosity.
You don’t have to chase them immediately. Just start paying attention. The more you notice what naturally pulls you in, the easier it becomes to follow that thread and see where it leads. Curiosity often starts as a whisper—not a lightning bolt.
2. Let yourself be a beginner at something again.
If you’ve been good at playing it safe, chances are you avoid things you might be bad at. The thing is, curiosity thrives in the “I have no idea what I’m doing” zone. Trying something new without pressure to master it can shake up the stale parts of your brain.
Whether it’s cooking, painting, coding, or learning how to skateboard badly, give yourself permission to be clueless. It’s not about being good. It’s about letting yourself explore without expectation, which is where real curiosity lives.
3. Ask questions you don’t already know the answer to.
When you’re stuck in a routine, you stop asking questions. You just assume you already know what to expect. Start small—why do birds sing at night? What’s inside a wasabi pea? Why do you actually hate networking events?
The purpose here isn’t to start Googling everything. It’s about flipping your mindset back to wonder. Kids ask constant questions—not because they want answers, but because they’re curious. You can do the same. Let weird questions lead you somewhere unexpected.
4. Stop trying to be impressive all the time.
If you’re always aiming to be competent or put-together, curiosity takes a back seat. That’s because being curious means you’re okay not having it all figured out—and for some people, that’s wildly uncomfortable.
However, when you stop performing and start exploring, things open up. You’re allowed to be messy, inconsistent, even confused. Curiosity doesn’t come from knowing everything—it comes from admitting you don’t, and being excited to find out more.
5. Revisit something you used to love before life got in the way.
We all have something we dropped somewhere along the way. An old hobby, a childhood fascination, or a project we gave up on because it didn’t feel “productive” enough. Reconnecting with those forgotten loves can reignite something real.
Pick one and return to it with zero expectations. Just see how it feels. Sometimes your spark isn’t lost—it’s just buried under everything you thought you were supposed to prioritise instead.
6. Get curious about your own boredom.
When you feel blah or uninterested, don’t just scroll it away. Ask yourself—what’s behind this feeling? Are you overstimulated? Underwhelmed? Holding back from trying something new because it might feel uncomfortable?
Sometimes boredom is just your brain asking for something different. Instead of avoiding it, investigate it. Treat it like a signal instead of something to push past. That shift alone can open up space for curiosity to creep back in.
7. Try asking “what if” more often.
What if you said yes to the invite? What if you asked the weird question in the meeting? What if you signed up for the random night class just to see? These little “what if” moments can lead to paths you wouldn’t have planned—but might really need.
Curiosity loves the unexpected. You don’t need a roadmap; you just need to stay open to the possibility that not everything has to be logical or strategic. Some of the best stuff starts with a gut “what if” followed by a tiny bit of courage.
8. Expose yourself to things outside your usual bubble.
If everything you consume—online, in conversations, on your feed—is just a mirror of what you already know, you’ll stay stuck in the same headspace. Curiosity gets stale when it’s never challenged. Follow people you disagree with (within reason). Listen to podcasts in totally different genres. Read articles on topics you usually skip. Curiosity doesn’t just wake up out of nowhere; it grows when you stretch what you’re used to seeing.
9. Hang out with people who are curious by nature.
Being around people who light up over weird topics, ask good questions, or get excited over niche stuff is contagious. It reminds you that interest doesn’t have to be productive—it can just be fun. You don’t need to share their interests—just soak up the energy. People who are genuinely curious about life have a way of making things feel fresh again. Spend more time around that kind of vibe and it starts rubbing off on you.
10. Let yourself deep dive into something useless.
Sometimes the most satisfying kind of curiosity is completely random. Want to learn everything about sea otters? Go for it. Weirdly obsessed with maps or typography? Indulge it. You don’t have to monetise your interest for it to be valid. In fact, taking the pressure off makes it easier for your curiosity to breathe. Chase something just because it makes you feel alive. That feeling is the whole point—and it’s often where the spark comes back.
11. Get curious about your own patterns.
Why do you always get tired at 3pm? Why do certain people drain you? Why does a certain type of work energise you more than others? These aren’t just personality quirks—they’re clues. Exploring them can lead to real self-awareness. Getting curious about yourself builds a deeper connection to your needs and instincts. That self-inquiry often creates space for other forms of curiosity to grow. It’s like clearing the static so you can hear your own interests again.
12. Give yourself permission to not be “average” anymore.
Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you’re just not that creative, not that interesting, not that curious. But that’s not truth—it’s just a story. And it’s one you’re allowed to outgrow. Feeling average doesn’t mean you are. It just means you’ve been disconnected from what lights you up.
You don’t need to be extraordinary—you just need to be present enough to notice what sparks something in you again. That’s where curiosity begins—not in talent or intelligence, but in permission to explore without judgment.
