When the world feels heavy—flooded with news updates, drifting markets, and unpredictable challenges—staying curious may feel like a luxury. Yet how to stay curious in overwhelming times is precisely the skill that helps us navigate complexity, maintain growth, and even protect mental health.
Amid mounting evidence from psychology and neuroscience, embracing curiosity isn’t just uplifting—it’s vital. Below, you’ll find a practical guide, backed by research, to rethink curiosity as a tool, not a distraction.
Why Curiosity Matters Now
Curiosity Enhances Well-Being Under Stress
A 2022 study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both trait curiosity and information-seeking behavior significantly improved well-being and reduced loneliness among participants.
Curiosity Is a Buffer Against Burnout
Research from psychologist Todd Kashdan demonstrates that curious individuals are better at reframing challenges, coping with ambiguity, and avoiding emotional exhaustion—key ingredients in preventing burnout .
Curiosity May Help Keep the Brain Sharp
New findings from UCLA reveal that while trait curiosity may decline with age, state curiosity—focused interest in new topics—rises in midlife and beyond. That upward curve has been linked to retinal preservation of memory and reduced dementia risk .
Emerging Trends to Nourish Curiosity
Playfulness as a Strategy
Researchers from Oregon State University propose “lemonading”: turning sour experiences into playful opportunities. A playful mindset encourages curiosity and fosters resilience amid stress .
Nature as Curiosity Fuel
The Attention Restoration Theory finds that brief exposure to natural environments—or even images—reduces directed attention fatigue and restores mental clarity . This regained cognitive space opens the door for fresh curiosity.
Controlled Fear and Morbid Curiosity
Studies from the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University show that moderate exposure to thrilling or fearful content (like horror films) can enhance emotional resilience, especially under pandemic-related anxiety. In effect, encountering controlled fear helps keep curiosity alive .
How to Stay Curious in Overwhelming Times: A Practical Guide
Curiosity is not a mood—it’s a practice. Here’s how to embed it into your life, starting today.
1. Create a Daily Curiosity Habit
- Subscribe to a weekly exploration prompt: a newsletter, podcast, or topic outside your usual scope.
- Begin each day by listing a question you’re curious about.
- Set aside 10–15 minutes of low-stakes exploration—read, watch, or tinker without agenda.
This aligns with broaden-and-build theory: positive experiences like curiosity create cumulative resources of creativity, social connection, and resilience .
2. Alternate Between Active and Passive Curiosity
Balance reading and browsing with hands-on engagement:
- Passive: watch a documentary, read an article.
- Active: sketch a diagram, test an app, try a recipe.
This interplay helps reset cognitive load and maintain engagement, especially under stress.
3. Use Nature to Recharge
Even a short walk in a park, or pausing to observe natural elements, can restore your ability to focus and explore mentally . Pair curiosity prompts with green spaces to optimize both mental recovery and creative openness.
4. Embrace Play and Safe Discomfort
Reserve time weekly for playful activities—games, absurd ideas, creative experiments. This “lemonading mindset” helps flip stress into curiosity and invites imagination to collaborate rather than retreat .
5. Leverage Curiosity Logs via PKM Tools
Programs like Obsidian or Notion let you capture curiosities and revisit them over time. Review your log monthly: see patterns, follow-up questions, or ideas worth developing. This supports deep learning and self-awareness.
When overwhelmed, opening your curiosity log can quickly refresh your thinking with new angles.
The Cognitive Science of Curiosity in Stress
Directed Attention Fatigue
Cognitive overload—constant tasks and decision-making—leads to directed attention fatigue. As your mental stamina depletes, curiosity retreats .
Nature or fascinating content roots your attention gently, restoring mental reserves and enabling renewed curiosity.
Positive Emotion Broadens Perspective
Curiosity is itself an emotional state. When you feel interest or excitement—even briefly—you open your attention beyond immediate concerns. This broadening effect is essential for innovation and emotional resilience .
Real-World Examples of Curious Resilience
- Older adults learning new hobbies: UCLA studies show retirees picking new topics—bird watching, languages—remain mentally sharp and engaged .
- Horror fans during Covid: People who naturally seek out scary films or speculative fiction were more resilient during the pandemic—suggesting controlled curiosity builds emotional preparedness .
- Nature journaling: A writer’s slow hike through Shenandoah National Park offering time for mindful observation led to renewed curiosity and clarity .
Extra Tips for Overwhelming Contexts
Label Inputs: Know Noise vs. Nourishment
Classify content as mandatory (urgent tasks, news alerts) or curiosity-making (exploration, creative prompts). Reduce mandatory noise to make room for curiosity time.
Schedule Regular Curiosity Check-Ins
Use calendar habits: weekly exploratory read, monthly curiosity log review, quarterly nature-themed walk. These micro-routines sustain curiosity across busy seasons.
Share Curiosity to Socialize It
Discussions with curious people multiply curiosity energy. Try sharing one unusual fact or question each week with friends or colleagues to spark mutual curiosity.
Conclusion
Overwhelm is like a cognitive fog. But by practicing how to stay curious in overwhelming times, we can shine a light into uncertainty. Curiosity offers a subtle, powerful antidote—anchoring us, deepening our learning, and widening our perspective.
Embrace curiosity in small, consistent ways. Today’s question may be tomorrow’s solution, spark, or shift in mindset.
References
- Muth, C., & Carbon, C. C. (2021). Curiosity for information predicts well-being during COVID-19 pandemic: Contributions of loneliness and daily lifestyle. ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354098503_Curiosity_for_information_predicts_well-being_during_COVID-19_Pandemic_Contributions_of_loneliness_and_daily_lifestyle - Bojanic, N. (2024). Five Ways Curiosity Can Support Your Mental Wellbeing. Natalia Bojanic.
https://www.nataliabojanic.com/articles/five-ways-curiosity-can-support-your-mental-wellbeing - Tickle, L. (2023). Old dogs really can learn new tricks: how curiosity rises with age. The Times.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/old-dogs-really-can-learn-new-tricks-how-curiosity-rises-with-age-mjm88b3kr - UCSB News (2025). How to Become a More Curious Person, According to New Research. UC Santa Barbara.
https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021917/how-become-more-curious-person-according-new-research
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