The Curiosity Muscle - How Trying Something New Rewires Your Brain

GR
Aug 13
5 min read

Updated: Aug 14

The Science and Joy of Novelty in Midlife: Simple Ways to Experiment

Try. Tweak. Repeat.

So here we are—midlife. That sacred stretch of “in-between” where your knees crack louder than your playlist, you crave naps like you used to crave attention, and you're still trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up.

But guess what? That’s not a crisis. That’s a calling. (feel free to read that line again 😉)

This season isn’t about sitting still or playing small—it’s about curiosity, experimentation, and giving yourself permission to play again. Because believe it or not, trying something new doesn’t just make life interesting—it literally rewires your brain. (Science said it. Not just me.)

Your Brain on Novelty

When you step out of routine—even just a little—your brain lights up like it just had a triple shot of espresso. Novelty activates the dopamine system, the same feel-good circuitry that responds to rewards and anticipation. It's why learning a new skill or trying something unfamiliar can actually improve memory, motivation, and mood—even in midlife.

And before you roll your eyes and say, “Girl, I can barely remember why I walked into the kitchen,” hear me out.

New doesn’t have to mean skydiving or going back to school full-time. It can be small, soulful experiments that fit your real life (and your budget, your hips, and your attention span).

⚠️ A Very Relatable Word of Caution: The Double-Edged Sword of Novelty

Now listen—I’m a fan of shaking things up. Science says novelty gives your brain a boost, and I’ve felt that jolt firsthand. But I also have to confess…

Sometimes novelty gets real cute, real fast—then runs away with your whole routine.

I’ll finally get in a groove: waking up early-ish, remembering to drink water before coffee, staying on top of my “must do” list. Life feels good.

Then I try one new thing—say, deep diving into a new podcast series or experimenting with homemade oat milk—and suddenly I’m skipping my walks, I forgot I was meal-prepping, and I’m knee-deep in hyperfocus land (hello, possible midlife ADHD? Or just vibes?).

The dopamine hit of “ooh, this is new and fun” can easily turn into “wait, where did my week go?”

So consider this your gentle reminder: novelty is a tool, not a lifestyle.You don’t have to chase every shiny idea to keep growing. It’s okay to play—but it’s also okay to pause, reset, and get back to the stuff that keeps you grounded. Curiosity should stretch you, not steamroll your life. Let's continue....

Why Midlife Is the Perfect Time to Experiment

In your 40s, 50s, and beyond, you finally know enough to know you don’t know everything. And oddly enough, that’s a superpower.

Unlike in your 20s, you’re not chasing trends—you’re chasing truth.

Unlike in your 30s, you’re not proving yourself—you’re reclaiming yourself.

And now, you get to explore not to impress—but to feel alive.

That’s what makes the Discovery Layer of midlife so delicious. You’ve laid the groundwork (see: Post 1 & 2), and now it’s time to tinker, try, and tweak your way toward something that feels more you.

Tiny Tweaks, Big Shifts:

How to Work That Curiosity Muscle (Without Overwhelming Your Life)

Here’s the truth: trying something new in midlife doesn’t have to mean a whole life overhaul. You’re not trying to become someone else—you’re trying to meet yourself, again. Gently.

So instead of grand experiments or daily challenges, what if we gave ourselves bite-sized invitations to wonder a little, wiggle free from routine, and feel something spark?

Here are a few small, soul-nourishing ways to gently flex that curiosity muscle:

☕ Reclaim One Ordinary Moment

Pick one thing you already do—like brushing your teeth, making your morning cup, or scrolling in bed—and try doing it a little differently.

Light a candle during your evening wind-down. Switch up your mug. Put on a playlist that makes you sway your hips. Tiny tweaks = tiny wakeups.

Science says even small shifts in routine activate dopamine—the brain’s “feel-good” spark plug.

🖼️ Make Something with What You Already Have

DIY doesn’t have to mean glue guns and power tools. It can just mean putting your hands and heart into something.

Recently, I made a cork board for my office using wine corks I’ve been saving for years. (Yes, years. Don’t judge the wine intake, judge the creativity 😅). There was something oddly grounding about hot gluing those little memories into place. It wasn’t fancy, but it felt like me.

Maybe for you it’s rearranging a bookshelf, printing a photo, or finally turning that “junk drawer” into a cute little odds-and-ends tray. The goal isn’t Martha Stewart. The goal is connection.

🔁 Add One New Thing to a Familiar Place

Next time you’re at your regular grocery store or farmer’s market, grab one item you’ve never tried. A new fruit. A weird spice. A tea you’ve never noticed.

You don’t even have to know what to do with it yet. Let it be your mystery box moment.

(Bonus: the part of your brain that lights up when you explore new flavors also boosts mood and memory—so yes, that fig jam is basically brain food.)

🧠 Trade One Scroll Session for a Tiny Curiosity Detour

Let’s be honest: we’re all scrolling. So maybe once a week (or month), you swap one scroll session for something that piques your interest—like a 3-minute YouTube mini-documentary, a random Wikipedia rabbit hole, or yes, maybe even a TED Talk (short ones only—we’re not saints).

It doesn’t have to lead anywhere. It just reminds you that there’s more to explore than Instagram stories and laundry cycles.

The “Messy Middle” Is the Magic

Trying something new means you’ll probably suck at it at first. That’s kind of the point.

Midlife isn't about mastery anymore. It’s about momentum.

You’re not trying to win gold medals. You’re just trying to remember what it feels like to surprise yourself again.

You might burn the bread. You might forget the yoga moves. You might start a blog and spend hours figuring out widgets and newsletters (ahem). And all of it still counts as growth.

Because here’s the thing: You don’t find clarity by standing still. You find it by moving. Even if the movement is clumsy and slow.

My Midlife Experiments Lately?

Juicing green things and even red thing, love some and drinking the others anyway becuase I know the benefits
Writing this blog, even when I wonder if anyone’s reading
Learning how to trade a little in the market (send prayers)
Turning years of wine corks into a homemade corkboard because... why not?

All of it is stretching me in small, strange, beautiful ways. I don’t know where it’s going—but I do know I like who I’m becoming.

👉🏾 No email required, save this free Midlife Curiosity List to help get your brain muscles pondering!

Pin This for Later 📌

"Midlife isn’t a breakdown. It’s a breakthrough. And curiosity is the crowbar."Try. Tweak. Repeat. That’s the formula. No pressure, just progress.

✨ Feeling this? Share it with your girls who are also learning to live out loud in midlife. And if you’re stacking your curiosity muscle lately, drop a comment and tell me what you’re experimenting with. Let’s cheer each other on.

#MidlifePonderings #MidlifeCuriosity #CuriosityInMidlife #StackYourMidlife #ReinventionAfter40 #TryingNewThingsOver40 #BlackWomenInMidlife #GrowthInMidlife #NewTricksFreshStarts #MidlifeExperiments #CuriousNotCrusty