As a retired professor and author of more than 180 books, Anthony Fredericks, 78, says his brain is still firing on all cylinders. The key, he says, is one simple habit he practices every single day. It’s not a supplement, a crossword puzzle, board games, or a brain game. It’s curiosity.

Curiosity, Fredericks believes, is the most important habit for keeping the mind active with age. Backed by neuroscience and shaped by decades of experience in education and psychology, his rule is straightforward: stay curious, on purpose. Here, we’ll look at how Fredericks builds curiosity into his daily life, and how you can do the same. His routine involves small, specific actions that may help keep your brain sharper for longer.

How curiosity can keep your mind sharp

For Fredericks, curiosity is a daily discipline. He builds it into everything he does, from what he reads to how he spends his time. After decades in education, he says most people fall into patterns of thinking that feel comfortable but don’t challenge the brain. That’s why he looks for unfamiliar topics and perspectives each day.

Every morning, he spends a few minutes exploring a subject he knows little or nothing about. The more unrelated it is to his background, the better. Whether it’s ancient trees, paleontology, or British narrowboats, the goal is to stretch his thinking and make new connections. He writes down a few interesting facts and lets that discovery process feed his creativity.

He also asks open-ended questions, not to find the “right” answer, but to see where his thoughts go. This kind of divergent thinking helps him stay mentally flexible. “What if” questions, he says, open the door to creativity and keep his mind engaged in ways routine tasks don’t. These small, consistent exercises are what he credits for keeping his brain sharp and his productivity high during retirement.

Simple ways for retirees to apply the curiosity rule

The habits Fredericks practices can be easily adapted to any lifestyle. Here are a few tips you can follow to imitate him:

Learn something unfamiliar: Pick a topic that’s completely new to you, something outside your job, hobbies, or personal history. Spend five minutes reading or watching something on that subject and write down three things you didn’t know before.
Ask better questions: Skip questions with fixed answers. Try asking yourself something open-ended, like “What if I had to design my own city?” or “What if animals could vote?”. The point isn’t to solve anything—it’s to let your mind roam.
Change your scenery: Go somewhere you haven’t been before, even if it’s close by. A new park or an unvisited part of your neighborhood can give you a small sense of wonder, and that feeling of awe helps your brain stay curious and open.
Shake up your reading list: Pick books, articles, or podcasts on topics far from your usual interests. Read one chapter a day or listen for ten minutes.
Record your thoughts: Keep a small notebook or notes app and jot down what you’ve learned, questions that come up, or observations from your day. This will help reinforce memory and encourage reflection.

These small habits strengthen the mind over time and help keep it sharp as you age. Fredericks sees curiosity not as a trait, but as a skill you can build with daily practice.