Curiosity Curriculum: How to Create Your Own Personal Curriculum

I have a close friend who is in his 60s. He’s been retired for more than a dozen years, and he’s one of the most intelligent people I know.

But I think, more importantly, he’s one of the most curious people I know.

He has an enviable and seemingly insatiable curiosity. The most random things pique his interest and, when they do, he’ll disappear down a rabbit hole for months, learning everything he can about that particular thing.

I’m not sure if his intelligence enables his seemingly innate curiosity, or if his curiosity has made him so intelligent. I suspect the two feed each other.

But what I find most interesting is how engaged he has remained in life throughout retirement. He’s not just interesting to talk to; his mind seems as sharp as it was when he was working, and it hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

And that has piqued my curiosity.

I’ve always believed strongly in the importance of keeping our minds active as we age. Learning, challenging ourselves and staying intellectually engaged are all things I want in my arsenal for supporting brain health as I get older.

Which brings me to a surprisingly interesting corner of TikTok that I recently stumbled into:

Personal-Curriculum-Tok.

Wait… You Can Make Your Own College Course?

A personal curriculum is exactly what it sounds like: creating a course around a topic that interests you and essentially teaching yourself.

Think of it as a self-directed college course—with one important difference.

You get to choose the class.

Disclosure: I happen to love structure. I love creating it. I love following it. The syllabus was probably my favorite part of a college course, even when I wasn’t particularly excited about the class. I loved seeing what was coming, understanding what was expected of me and having a list of things I could check off.

If all of that sounds absolutely awful to you, a personal curriculum may not be your thing.

And that’s okay.

The whole point is that it’s personal.

Once I learned about the concept, my mind went into overdrive. I started making a ridiculously long list of things I wanted to learn about—not just casually but actually explore in a structured way.

Here are just a few:

• Fermentation — the history, why it matters, different varieties, DIY projects and more.

• AI — the future of it, the dangers, creative ways to use it, the downsides and where all of this might be headed.

• Naturopathic Medicine — its history, plant-based medicines, DIY practices and how approaches differ around the world.

• Color — a study of different shades and hues, organized around the seasons.

• Seasonal Living — how our routines, habits, food, activities and even our mindset can shift with the seasons.

• Salt — because if you don’t know about the history and drama surrounding salt, I suggest taking a tiny peek behind that curtain.

• Sand — yes, sand. Believe it or not, there is a global shortage of certain types of sand. There are sand gangs. There is international drama. Apparently, the world of sand is wild.

• Witches — the Salem Witch Trials, the history of witchcraft, modern-day witches, folklore and more.

• Vampires — history, folklore, different types and how our ideas about vampires have evolved over time.

And that’s only a fraction of the topics I’m currently creating courses around. The more I thought about it, the longer the list became.

Apparently, I have a lot of things I want to know.

Your interests can tell you a lot about the life you want to build next. If you're feeling a little unsure about what comes next—or simply want to explore what matters to you now—this free Purpose Reset Workbook a good place to start.

How to Create Your Own Personal Curriculum

There really isn’t a right or wrong way to do this. That’s part of what makes it so fun.

But if you want a little structure to get started, here’s what I’m doing:

1. Start a list.

Write down every topic that even remotely piques your interest.

Don’t worry about whether it’s practical. Don’t worry about whether it’s "important." And definitely don’t worry about whether you can explain why you want to know more about it.

If you’re curious about it, put it on the list.

You can always decide later if it should stay on the list.

2. Decide how long you want the course to be.

Not every topic needs to be exactly a semester or quarter long.

For example, my Color curriculum is going to be a full year because I want to explore color through the seasons.

My Vampires course, on the other hand, will probably be a quarter-long course—and I’m planning to do it in the fall because, obviously, spooky season.

The length should match the subject and the amount of time you actually want to spend with it.

3. Decide how you want to learn.

This is where it gets really fun.

Think about the different ways you enjoy consuming information:

Books?

Audiobooks?

Podcasts?

Documentaries?

Movies?

Articles?

Websites?

Online courses?

Academic papers?

YouTube?

Then start building your source list.

I use AI to help me find and organize potential sources much more quickly. It can be incredibly useful for uncovering books, podcasts, articles, documentaries and other resources that I might never have found on my own.

I still decide what makes the final cut.

4. Make it interesting—not just educational.

This is important.

You aren't creating a graduate-level academic program. You're creating something you actually want to do and are excited to learn about.

I try to keep my source material free whenever possible, but I also want a mix of formats and experiences.

Maybe there's a great audiobook.

Maybe there's a fascinating documentary.

Maybe there's a podcast episode that sends you down an entirely new rabbit hole.

Maybe there's a website run by someone who is completely obsessed with the subject.

Follow the interesting stuff.

5. Add some side quests.

This might be my favorite part.

Look for activities and projects that let you experience the subject rather than just read about it.

For my Color curriculum, I'll be doing art and craft projects based on the colors I'm studying. I'll watch movies that are particularly known for their use of color, like Pleasantville and The Grand Budapest Hotel. I'll go on color walks where I look for one specific color.

For other topics, the side quests might be less obvious.

For my Witches course, maybe I'll do a puzzle featuring a witch image. Maybe I'll create a mixed-media art piece. Maybe I'll cook something associated with a particular tradition. Maybe I'll visit a place with historical connections to witchcraft.

And when I'm completely out of ideas?

I'll ask AI.

That's one of the things I love about using AI for this. I can tell it what I'm studying and ask it to come up with unusual, creative ways to interact with the subject.

6. Decide whether you want learning objectives.

This is where I depart from the traditional college course.

Personally, I don't want specific learning objectives.

I don't need to finish my Color curriculum being able to explain color theory to someone else. I don't need to pass a test on the history of salt. I don't need to demonstrate competency in vampire folklore.

I just want to know more than I did before.

And maybe have something interesting in my back pocket to bring up in social situations.

But maybe you love goals and measurable outcomes.

Great. Add them.

Maybe you want to finish each course with a final project. Maybe you want to keep notes. Maybe you want to write a paper. Maybe you want to give yourself a final exam.

Or maybe you just want to follow your curiosity wherever it leads.

There are no rules.

That's the beauty of a personal curriculum.

Why I'm So Geeked Out About This

I'm not sure where this experiment will take me.

Maybe I'll stick with some of these courses and abandon others halfway through. Maybe I'll discover that I love learning about something I never expected to care about. Maybe one rabbit hole will lead to another and I'll end up with a completely different list a year from now.

I'm okay with all of that.

Because I think there is something really valuable about deliberately staying interested in the world.

Especially as we get older.

Retirement doesn't have to mean slowing down intellectually. And learning doesn't have to mean going back to school, earning another degree or mastering something useful.

Sometimes it can simply mean following a question.

Why is there a sand shortage?

How did people start fermenting food?

Why do certain colors make us feel certain ways?

What actually happened during the Salem Witch Trials?

Is AI really going to take over the world someday?

You don't have to know where the question will lead.

You just have to be curious enough to follow it.

And that's exactly what I'm doing.

I'm currently geeking out over the whole concept and partnering with AI to build my courses. I'll probably start one of my spooky-season courses soon, and I'll definitely be starting one of my yearlong seasonal curricula in January.

Apparently, retirement is going to require a syllabus.

If you're interested in what some of my curriculum look like, let me know. Perhaps I'll post the one's I've created on the site.

Ready to Reset Your Second Act?

You don’t have to figure out your next chapter all at once. The free Second Act Reset Guide gives you simple prompts and exercises to help you reflect on where you are, what matters now, and what you want next.