How to Stay Curious in Overwhelming Times
Charlotte Stone July 24, 2025
In a world of nonstop demands, learning how to stay curious in overwhelming times can literally boost your mental resilience and spark positivity. If you’re feeling mentally crowded, this guide offers clear tips and proven strategies to keep curiosity alive.
1. Why Curiosity Matters More Now
- Curiosity lowers stress and boosts mood.
Research during the COVID‑19 pandemic shows that people with higher trait curiosity and active information‑seeking reported better daily well‑being and less loneliness. - Positive emotions expand your mind.
According to Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory, curiosity—as a form of positive emotion—widens your thinking and builds long-term psychological strength. - Enhances adaptability.
A curious mindset shifts rigid, negative thinking into open exploration—helpful in uncertain environments.
2. Cultivate a Curious Mindset Daily
A. Distance Yourself From Overwhelm
Begin with a “sage mode” —observe your thoughts from a third-person perspective. That detachment helps you avoid making anxiety your default state.
B. Practice Small Playful Moments
Take micro‑breaks to “lemonade” stressful situations: change your coffee routine, try a quick improv game or a 5‑minute silly sketch to lift tension.
C. Ask Questions — Often
Just 5 minutes of asking yourself “Why?” about daily routines—like why you choose one commute route over another—can spark fresh insights.
D. Keep a Curiosity Journal
Every day, jot down two things that interest you. They could be a song lyric you liked, a news snippet, or a random idea—small sparks are powerful over time.
E. Slow Down to Let Wonder In
Stop scrolling and spend 60 seconds noticing something—leaf patterns, kitchen tiles, your own breath. Slowing down widens perception and rekindles curiosity.
3. Structured Habits to Sustain Curiosity
| Habit | How It Helps | Quick Start |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly “Try-It” Challenge | Adds novelty and small wins | Once a week, learn a cat fact or cook an unfamiliar spice dish |
| “What If?” Brainstorming | Powers divergent thinking | Take any problem and list 10 “what if” ideas—no judgment |
| Mindful Moments | Strengthens focus and attention | Read a paragraph of a book, slowly, noticing texture of paper |
| Curiosity Walks | Boosts creativity and movement | Walk for 15 minutes, exploring neighborhood, with no set goal |
| Monthly Learning Project | Builds long-term engagement | Choose a theme (e.g., bees, astrophysics) and explore online |
4. Overcome Major Overwhelm
A. Limit Cognitive Load
Schedule one curiosity activity a day. Stop multitasking when overwhelmed—ironically focusing on one curiosity thread actually reduces stress.
B. Focus on Positive, Open-Ended Info
Instead of doom-scrolling, focus on uplifting or neutral topics. Research shows seeking positive information reduces loneliness and uplifts well-being.
C. Embrace Uncertainty as Fuel
Curiosity thrives in uncertainty. When a question arises, treat it like a puzzle rather than a threat. That shift alone can calm racing thoughts.
D. Use Community to Spark Curiosity
Talk with people who ask questions, not just broadcast opinions. Curiosity in conversation builds empathy and insight.
5. Reinforce Your Curious Habit Loop
- Cue: A notification or blank moment alerts you.
- Routine: Do one micro-curiosity action (journal, blink at a cloud).
- Reward: Sense of novelty, small joy, mental break.
Over days, this loop becomes your brain’s go‑to escape from overwhelm—without extra time or pressure.
6. Real-Life Examples
- Work: Instead of fixating on a report’s deadline, ask “what interesting insight could I discover here?”
- Home: Rather than scrolling news, pick a topic you’ve never explored—like mushroom farming—and spend 10 minutes researching it.
- Parenting or Partnering: When a loved one complains, ask about their why—not to fix, but to understand. That sparks connection through curiosity.
7. Onboarding Curiosity for Teams
In workplaces overwhelmed by deadlines:
Open meetings with a “question of the day” (e.g. “What’s a fun cult film you recently enjoyed?”). This five-minute ritual shifts employees from task-focused thinking to more expansive thought patterns while revealing unexpected connections between team members. Choose questions that are engaging but not invasive, and rotate who poses them to give everyone ownership in shaping conversations.
Create a shared Slack channel for weird facts or one-sentence discoveries. This asynchronous format celebrates bite-sized insights that people naturally encounter, creating a continuous stream of micro-learning opportunities. The low-pressure approach encourages participation from introverts and busy team members who might avoid formal presentations.
Rotate “curiosity spotlight” where one member teaches the rest a mini-lesson monthly. Keep sessions brief (15-20 minutes) and focused on something the presenter is genuinely passionate about. This reveals hidden talents while exposing others to new perspectives they might never encounter otherwise.
These practices reinforce an open-minded culture and protect against intellectual stagnation in high-pressure environments. By embedding curiosity into regular workflows, organizations create workplaces where questioning and exploring ideas becomes natural—leading to more innovative solutions and engaged employees.
8. Tracking Progress and Avoiding Burnout
Weekly check-in: Rate your curiosity level from 1–10. But go deeper than the number. What made you lean in this week? Notice the difference between genuine intrigue and going through curious motions.
Reflect monthly: Which curiosity actions energized you most? This isn’t about what you think should have been interesting, but what actually was. Look for activities that felt effortless rather than effortful—these are your curiosity strengths.
Adjust: Drop what feels forced; double what feels energizing. Curiosity dies when it becomes another productivity checklist item. If something feels like homework, stop. Instead, amplify what naturally draws you.
A curious mindset is not a force—it’s an invitation. Tuning into small sparks builds resilience quietly, without nagging motivational pep talks. Remember that curiosity has seasons—sometimes you’ll absorb everything, other times you’ll need to rest in familiar territory. Both phases are necessary.
Summary: Key Steps to Stay Curious in Overwhelming Times
To remind yourself:
- Detach from stress using sage-mode.
- Find daily sparks of play.
- Ask more questions.
- Take small curiosity walks or notes.
- Limit multitasking; embrace uncertainty.
- Build curiosity into habits and routines.
By following this guide, you’re not just surviving overwhelm—you’re turning it into a source of insight, resilience, and creative energy. And all it takes is the willingness to stay curious in overwhelming times.
References
Engel, N. (2019). The science of staying curious: neuroscience, mindfulness, and everyday habits. Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_science_of_staying_curious
Brown, S. & Korson, E. (2021). Curiosity in crisis: how maintaining wonder keeps us resilient. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2021/08/curiosity-in-crisis
Patel, M. (2023). Mindful exploration: boosting curiosity during stressful periods. Mindful.org. Retrieved from https://www.mindful.org/mindful-exploration-boosting-curiosity
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