Lost Touch with Your Interests? Here’s How to Find Them Again (And Use Them to Guide Your Career Change)

Photo by Alice Dietrich on Unsplash

So, you’re thinking about a career change. Maybe you’re sick of your job, maybe you’re burned out, or maybe you just know deep down that you’re meant for something different. But then you hit a roadblock:

“I don’t even know what I like anymore.”

Losing touch with your interests is completely normal. Life happens. You get busy, you focus on work, you prioritize other people’s needs, and before you know it, the things you once loved are collecting dust somewhere in the back of your mind.

And that’s okay! But if you’re trying to figure out what’s next for your career, rediscovering your interests is a great way to start. The good news? You don’t have to have it all figured out today. Let’s take this one step at a time.

Why We Lose Touch with Our Interests (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

If you can’t immediately name what excites you, don’t panic—it doesn’t mean your passions have vanished. It might just mean your brain has been in survival mode for a while.

Between work responsibilities, and the mental load of daily life, your brain naturally shifts into efficiency mode, prioritizing what’s urgent (deadlines, bills, emails) over what feels optional (creativity, curiosity, play). Over time, this habit of focusing on immediate demands can dull your connection to what excites you, making it harder to recall what once lit you up. But the good news? Your brain is incredibly adaptable. With small, intentional shifts, you can start rewiring it to rediscover and reignite your interests. Whether it’s revisiting past passions or experimenting with something entirely new, engaging in curiosity-driven activities helps rebuild those neural pathways

So, instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, let’s actively reconnect with what excites you. Because rediscovering your interests isn’t just about having fun—it’s a powerful way to uncover what’s next in your career.

How to Reconnect with Your Interests (Even If You Feel Totally Lost)

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Think back to a time before your career took over your life. What did you love doing when you had more time? What made you light up as a kid or teenager?

• Did you write stories just for fun?

• Were you always the one organizing events for your friends?

• Did you spend hours doodling, building things, or getting lost in nature?

These past interests can give you huge clues about what still lights you up today. And yes, even if it feels silly, it’s worth exploring.

The takeaway? Your past can point the way forward.

Take a Break (Your Brain Needs It!)

If you’ve been running on autopilot for years, you might not even have the mental space to reconnect with your interests. So before you try to force it, give yourself permission to rest.

Taking a break from work stress helps your brain reset, making it easier to access creativity and self-reflection. So go for a walk. Sit in a park. Take a weekend off. Let your brain breathe.

Sometimes, the clarity you’re looking for only shows up when you slow down long enough to listen.

Try Something—Anything

Here’s the fun part: Try something you’ve never done before! It could be something as simple as learning to cook a new dish, trying yoga, or signing up for a coding class. New experiences shock your brain into exploring new interests.

Did you know that neuroplasticity (that fancy word for how our brains change) shows that trying new things actually helps you unlock hidden passions? You might just stumble on something that reignites an old interest—or sparks a brand-new one.

In other words: You don’t find your interests by thinking about them. You find them by DOING.

Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash

Ask Your People (They Know You Better Than You Think)

Sometimes, we’re so caught up in our own heads that we can’t see our own strengths and interests. That’s where your friends, family, and coworkers come in.

Ask them:

• “What do you think I’m naturally good at?”

• “What do you always come to me for help with?”

• “Have you ever noticed me getting really excited about something?”

Getting external feedback can actually help you identify hidden passions and strengths. So don’t be afraid to ask!

How to Use Your Rediscovered Interests to Guide Your Career Change

Okay, so you’re starting to remember what excites you. Now what? Here’s how to turn that insight into career clarity.

Look for Patterns

After exploring your interests, take a step back and look for themes. Do they all revolve around creativity? Helping people? Problem-solving? Adventure?

These patterns can point you toward the types of careers that would energize you.

Identify Transferable Skills

As you rediscover your interests, look at the skills that come with them. Maybe you’re passionate about helping others, which could translate into coaching or mentoring. Or perhaps you love organizing, which could lead to a career in project management. Your skills are more transferable than you think.

Align Your Values with Your Career (No More Settling)

Your interests are tied to your deeper values. If sustainability or helping others is your jam, find a career path that aligns with that. This is your time to stop settling for jobs that drain you and start focusing on work that feels aligned with your soul.

Pursuing work that aligns with your values can help you avoid burnout and feel a sense of fulfillment. 

Start Small (No Big Leaps Required)

You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow. Test the waters first. Start a side project, volunteer, or do some informational interviews. Gather real-world data before making any big decisions.

The Bottom Line: Your Interests Aren’t Gone—They Just Need a Wake-Up Call

If you’ve lost touch with what excites you, don’t panic. You’re not uninspired—you’re just out of practice.

The best way to start? Give your brain the space, novelty, and real-world experiences it needs to wake up. The more you explore, the clearer your next career move will become.

And remember: you don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Take your time, explore, and have fun with the process.

When you follow your interests, you’re not just changing careers—you’re creating a life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and full of joy.

So here’s your challenge: Pick ONE thing from this list and try it this week. Take a class, dust off an old hobby, or just take a walk and let yourself dream.

👉 And if you need a little extra help figuring out what’s next, book a free discovery call with me, and let’s map out your next steps—together.