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Many of us may face the odd day of apathy, but what should we do when those listless feelings linger for weeks on end?

This month, I was moved to hear from a reader who fears he has lost his 鈥渮est鈥�. 鈥淚 would once wake up excited by the day ahead,鈥� he tells us. 鈥淣ow I fail to engage with anything.鈥� It may feel hard to fight this emotional inertia, but the scientific literature offers some tips to nudge ourselves out of these ruts.

It is only recently that researchers started studying zest as a psychological construct. According to one measure, people are asked to rate 鈥� on a scale of 1 (not at all like me) to 5 (very much like me) 鈥� statements such as 鈥淚 look forward to each new day鈥� and 鈥淚 want to fully participate in life, not just view it from the sidelines鈥�.

Losing one鈥檚 zest is often a 鈥� and if it coincides with other symptoms, such as altered sleep, disordered eating or suicidal ideation, it is vital to seek professional help.

It is perfectly possible to experience its absence without a clinical diagnosis, however. We may we are stagnating rather than flourishing 鈥� an unhappy state of being that deserves attention in its own right.

There are many possible causes for our ennui. According to , we need a sense of 鈥渟elf-expansion鈥� to remain happy in life. Once we become settled into adult life, many of us don鈥檛 give ourselves enough opportunities to seek novel experiences and learn new skills. Alternatively, we may find we have been placing too much importance on a single element of life, such as work, only to find that it can never offer the fulfilment we crave. (I have certainly been there.)

In either case, one of restoring our verve is to explore an unfamiliar activity. This may be a different sport, a social commitment like volunteering (pictured) or an intellectual pursuit like stargazing. The important thing is to step outside our comfort zone and embrace the challenge of the new.

Are you languishing in life? Here鈥檚 how to find your purpose again

If your life feels aimless and joyless, you may be languishing, says psychologist Corey Keyes 鈥� who reveals how it differs from depression and what you can do to flourish instead

Alternatively, we may look to incorporate into our day-to-day routines. This was the philosophy behind the Live More Project, a 10-week programme rolled out by Avondale University College in Cooranbong, Australia. The participants were given daily and weekly challenges, such as performing a random act of kindness, witnessing a sunrise, spending an evening by firelight or taking a digital sabbath. By the end of the programme, participants reported higher levels of flourishing, which included increases in engagement and optimism.

We can鈥檛 expect instant miracles. Give ourselves time, however, and the weakest flicker of enthusiasm may transform into a new lust for life.

Dear David, an evidence-based advice column, appears monthly. Drop David a line with your social dilemmas at davidrobson.me/contact. He will be talking about the laws of social connection at 快猫短视频 Live on 13 October:

David Robson is an award-winning science writer and聽author of The Laws of Connection: 13 social strategies that will transform your life

For other projects visit newscientist.com/maker