Do you ever wish you had more direction or purpose in your daily life?
I call mine The Cozy Curriculum: a simple way to choose something new to learn, explore, or practice each month.
Think of it as going back to school for the fun parts only. You choose the subject, set the pace, and follow whatever sparks your curiosity.
A personal curriculum is simply a self-directed plan for learning about the things you're genuinely interested in, not because you have to, but because you want to. Your “classes” might be hobbies, creative skills, books, food, gardening, history, travel, or a subject you've always wanted to understand.
I like to choose one focus each month and give myself time to really explore it. That's what I call The Cozy Curriculum.
A few years ago, I chose sourdough. That curiosity eventually led me to grinding my own flour, and today making bread and muffins from freshly ground flour is simply part of my weekly life.
More recently, I spent a month learning copywriting and came home from the library with stacks of books. Then I found myself fascinated by frequencies and how they affect us. (Nerd alert!)
That's what I love about this idea: one month of curiosity can introduce you to something that becomes part of your life for years.
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What Is a Personal Curriculum?
A personal curriculum is less about achieving a goal and more about following your curiosity with intention.
Instead of trying to improve every area of your life at once, you choose one subject or skill and give yourself permission to explore it for a month.
January might be sourdough. February could be watercolor. March might be growing herbs from seed.
There are no grades, deadlines, or requirements; you aren't trying to become an expert. You're simply creating space to learn something because it interests you.
Without that little bit of intention, it's surprisingly easy for an entire year to pass without trying something new. A personal curriculum gives you something to anticipate while still fitting beautifully into a slower, more intentional life.
Want a Simple Way to Plan Yours?
You can absolutely create a personal curriculum in a blank notebook. But if you'd rather spend your time learning instead of setting up pages, I created the Cozy Curriculum Planner to give you the structure.
The 17 reusable, printable pages help you choose your monthly focus, gather your ideas and resources, plan your weekly focus, and keep track of what you're learning.
Start at Your Local Library
One of my favorite places to begin a new monthly theme is the local library.
Grab your favorite drink and go with a loose idea of what you'd like to learn, but leave room to wander.
Maybe you arrive looking for a book about watercolor and leave with one about botanical illustration. Maybe the gardening shelf inspires you to grow herbs from seed. Or a cookbook sends you down an unexpected rabbit hole into sourdough, regional cooking, or preserving.
Check out a small stack, take it home, and spend the next few evenings reading, experimenting, and jotting down whatever catches your attention.
You don't need another subscription or expensive course to start learning something new. Sometimes all you need is curiosity and a library card.
12 Personal Curriculum Ideas to Try
- Learn watercolor painting
- Bake your first sourdough loaf
- Grow a kitchen herb garden
- Learn the basics of photography
- Discover the history of your hometown
- Learn to knit or crochet
- Explore seasonal cooking
- Learn conversational French
- Start a nature journal
- Study interior design
- Learn flower arranging
- Read your way through classic literature
How to Create Your Own Personal Curriculum
1. Choose Something You're Curious About
Don't start with what you should learn. Start with what you keep wondering about. Choose one main theme for the month so it feels exciting rather than overwhelming.
2. Gather Your Resources
Visit your library, choose a few books, bookmark a tutorial, find a podcast, or gather the supplies you'll need. You don't need an entire course of study, just enough to get started.
3. Make a Simple Plan for the Month
Decide what you'd like to explore each week. You might read during the week and experiment on the weekend, or devote one cozy evening each week to your theme.
Keep the plan loose. The goal isn't to finish a syllabus. The goal is to follow your curiosity.
4. Reflect, Then Choose What's Next
At the end of the month, jot down what you learned, what surprised you, and whether you'd like to continue.
Some themes will simply be fun for a month. Others may become hobbies, rituals, or skills you carry with you for years.
Ready to Start Your Cozy Curriculum?
You bring the curiosity. I've already created the structure.
The Cozy Curriculum Planner is a 17-page printable system designed to help you turn something you're curious about into a month of intentional learning.
Use it to choose your theme, collect ideas and resources, plan your weekly focus, capture what you're learning, and track your progress, without having to create a planning system from scratch.
Print it again and again for a new theme every month.
Get the Cozy Curriculum Planner → $12
Make the Experience Part of the Fun
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Pair your theme with a cozy ritual such as tea, candles, or soft music
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Share your theme with a friend for accountability
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Create a visual board or collage to keep your theme top of mind
Keep your library books in a basket near your favorite chair, make a cup of tea before you study, or give yourself one screen-free evening each week to explore your theme. The point isn't to turn learning into another obligation. It's to make curiosity feel like a pleasure again.
So, what will your first monthly theme be? I’d love to hear it. Let’s learn and grow together this year.
FAQ: Creating a Personal Curriculum
1. What is a personal curriculum?
A personal curriculum is a self-directed learning plan built around your own interests, hobbies, and curiosity. Instead of following a traditional school curriculum, you choose what you want to learn and explore it at your own pace. Your personal curriculum might include creative hobbies, practical skills, books, gardening, cooking, history, languages, or anything else you've always wanted to learn.
2. How do you create a personal curriculum for adults?
Start by making a list of subjects, hobbies, and skills you're curious about. Choose one topic to explore for the month, gather a few resources such as library books, podcasts, tutorials, or classes, and create a simple plan for how you'll spend time learning. At the end of the month, reflect on what you enjoyed and decide whether you want to continue or choose something new.
3. What are some good personal curriculum ideas?
Your personal curriculum can include anything you're genuinely interested in learning. Try watercolor painting, sourdough baking, gardening, photography, crochet, seasonal cooking, flower arranging, nature journaling, local history, classic literature, interior design, or learning a new language. The best personal curriculum ideas are the ones that make you excited to keep learning.
4. How is a personal curriculum different from goal setting?
Traditional goal setting usually focuses on reaching a specific outcome, while a personal curriculum focuses more on curiosity, learning, and exploration. You can still set small goals, but you don't have to master a skill or achieve a particular result. The purpose is to create space for personal growth and make learning an enjoyable part of everyday life.
5. Can I use my local library to create a personal curriculum?
Absolutely. Your local library is one of the best free resources for creating a personal curriculum. Browse books and magazines related to your monthly theme, ask a librarian for recommendations, and look for workshops, classes, digital resources, audiobooks, or other learning opportunities. You may even discover your next monthly theme simply by wandering the shelves.
6. Is there a printable personal curriculum planner?
Yes. The Cozy Curriculum Planner is a 17-page reusable printable designed to help you create and follow your own personal curriculum. It gives you a place to choose your monthly theme, organize what you want to learn, plan your weekly focus, capture ideas, and track your progress. You can print the pages again for a new theme each month.
What Will You Learn Next?
Your personal curriculum doesn't need to be impressive or productive; it simply needs to make you curious enough to begin.
Pick something you've always wanted to learn. Visit the library, bring home a stack of books, and give yourself a month to explore.
You never know which small curiosity might become part of your life for years.
And if you're ready to begin, I've already created the pages to help you do it.