Staying Curious

 “I am so over this life,” she said to me. “Sure, I have an okay job, an okay boyfriend, an okay apartment, things are okay. But is it okay? A life of okay-ed- ness? Things are just meh. Mediocre. Average. I am bored at work all day. I am bored when I come home at night. Same thing. Different day. Is this all there is?”

Let’s be clear. The dull background of everyday life can seem mundane. Work is work. But it doesn’t have to be miserable! No matter what position we are in, no matter how routine it is, we can turn a dull job into one that satisfies.

How so? We get curious.
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Curious minds can make life interesting. When we stay curious, we stay engaged. When we stay engaged, we are more content with everything. Get curious about each task involved in your job. Break it down into small parts and then ask yourself:

• Is this step necessary?
• Can it be done faster or better?
• How quickly can I get it done?
• What else could I do to make this task add more value?

 
Instead of always trying to cut corners and spending a lot of energy trying to avoid having to do any actual work, try getting curious. Think about finding ways to accomplish more on the job.
 
When you are going about your day to day errands, you can start by getting curious about the people you interact with. Pay genuine attention to the supermarket clerk, and go beyond just the surface level convo of “how are you today?” When you interact with people at the doctor’s office, the bank, on the street, try this:

• Think about them as if they were the most interesting person you have ever met.
• Look them in the eye, take a second, and smile.
• Genuinely ask them how things are going.
• Give them a compliment.

 
You can also stay curious by doing whatever needs to be done with focused, concentrated attention. Take a boring, routine task like washing the dishes, dressing, or folding clothes and get curious. Pay attention to every step in the task. Next time you are washing the dishes, notice the little things:

• What soothing sound the water makes.
• How your hands feel scrubbing across the dish.
• If you are feeling relaxed and at ease.

 
Life becomes more rewarding if we approach the most routine tasks with curiosity.  

Now, I would love to hear from you! In the comments below, tell me - what are things that, once you've approached them with curiosity, have become more fun?