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13 Interesting Ways To Spur Your Innate Curiosity

Strategies For Stimulating Curiosity

Spice up your life by stimulating your natural sense of curiosity. Your daily activities can evoke just as much wonder as any story about Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Studies show that we learn better when we're in a state of heightened curiosity. In one experiment, test subjects who were interested in answering a trivia question found it easier to remember other information even when it was completely unrelated.

Take a look at the benefits of nurturing your curious side. An inquiring mind can open up new opportunities for you. Here are the benefits of stimulating your natural curiosity.

1Feel More Engaged

When you're being led by curiosity, you tap into sources of intrinsic motivation. You enjoy your tasks for their own sake rather than plowing through them to reach an external reward. That provides more intense and lasting satisfaction.

2Develop Wisdom

Wisdom is developed when you nurture your curious side. Curiosity encourages learning. You seek out facts and find ways to apply them to your own life.

3Strengthen Your Relationships

Taking a sincere interest in the welfare of others promotes empathy. You listen attentively when your child describes how they feel about their best friend moving away. You're able to put yourself in their position and provide comfort and validation.

4Experience Fun And Happiness

Brain scans show that curiosity activates the reward center in your brain. Cleaning out the attic becomes fun when you search for treasure in old storage boxes. You discover increased fulfillment as you have fun tackling one challenge after another.

5Try New Things

Make each day an adventure. Sign up for classes in scuba diving or gourmet cooking. Listen to a different radio station or take the scenic route on your drive home from the office.

6Try To Read Daily

Delve into subjects that fascinate you and pick up new interests by reading books. Visit your local library. Take a second look at the classics you read in high school to see if you appreciate them now differently.

7Attend Cultural Events

It's essential to be curious about others' customs. Look up art venues in your neighborhood or in cities you travel to for business. Check out the latest exhibitions or concerts.

8Study Science Again

Maybe you stopped thinking about science once you graduated from college. Refresh your memory by registering for a biology course online. Browse the science section in a local bookstore. Find simple experiments you can share with your kids.

9Consult Some Experts

Fuel your curiosity with inspiration from other curious minds. Contact a popular speaker you met at a conference and ask if you can interview them for your company blog. Chat with the employees at a hardware store to plan your next home improvement project.

10Always Ask Questions

An inquiring mind opens up new opportunities. Let your boss know you care about your work. Ask why the company is opening a new office in Missouri or redesigning the website.

11Think Analytically

Critical thinking can change the way you look at assignments that used to bore you. Critical thinking also enhances your performance. Figure out ways to clean the shower faster or simplify the steps for ordering supplies for your department.

12Play Around

Stimulate your natural sense of curiosity by playing around. Let go of expectations and welcome surprises. Allow your mind to wander and free up your creativity.

13Travel The World

A change of scenery provides many reasons to be curious. Find out what the locals are eating for breakfast in Nova Scotia or listen to a jaguar roar in Costa Rica. If you run out of vacation days, camp out in your backyard to see what happens after dark.

Awaken your sense of curiosity. Satisfying your desire for knowledge will deepen your understanding of yourself and others. Curiosity also prepares you for greater success.



About Author

Jackie Wing

Jackie Wing is an Alaska native, who enjoys snowboarding more than is probably socially acceptable. She lives in Anchorage with her two dogs Reese and Peanut, or as she likes to call them "Thing 1" and "Thing 2."