Learning a new skill is key to career reinvention. It breaks monotony at work by expanding your capabilities. In addition, learning new skills boosts your confidence at work and increases professional opportunities.
Photo credit: Nakaridore
Have you ever found yourself wanting to learn a new skill, but haven’t been able to find the time or motivation? Well, the old saying goes, "Use it or lose it." This is as true for our minds as for our bodies. If we don't challenge ourselves to learn new skills, we can fall behind and find that we're increasingly unable to keep up with the ever-evolving life.
Here are 7 simple and practical tips that I’ve used in the past when learning new skills:-
1. Visualize what you want
Achieving any goal requires motivation. And if you come up against a challenge, it helps visualize what you really want. The most successful people are those who are motivated by their own drive to achieve something greater for themselves. We all have dreams and goals, but most people don't take action because they lack motivation. What puts you on the path of achieving your goals is the ability to visualize what you want.
The journey to learning a new skill begins by visualizing your goal. Imagine the new skill is already yours. Visualize yourself practicing it, doing it well, having fun with it. Visualization is an extremely powerful tool. When you are visualizing yourself living your dream, you are much more apt to take the necessary steps to make those dreams come true. Use your imagination and envision the life you desire – this will help you make it a reality.
2. Learn online
There are a lot of helpful resources out there, you just have to know where to look. You can find thousands of free and paid courses taught by experts in all sorts of career fields. Remember to practice what you learn.
You can also learn online in these ways:
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Online Workshops – These are interactive and effective ways to learn and delve deeper into certain topics. They are most likely taught by experts and are a great way to build your professional network. They are sometimes referred to as webinars.
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YouTube videos - This is probably the quickest way to learn in today's day and age. It's a great way to supplement other forms of online learning through captivating visual content
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Forums: This is the type of learning where people with similar interests gather and share learning experiences. It could also take a QnA format where you find questions, answers, and discussions amongst people in that forum
3. Learning new skills by doing
This is one of the best ways to learn new skills. Instead of sitting in a classroom for hours, go out there and try what you've learned. Whether you're trying to create a piece of art, play music, or cook something new, practicing will help you master your skill even faster than just reading about it.
4. Learn from others around you
Learning from those around you can be a great way to pick up new skills without spending money. If you're interested in learning how to cook but don't have the money to buy fancy cookbooks, just ask someone who knows their way around the kitchen for some lessons. Of course, this method only works if the person you're seeking instruction from is willing and able to teach.
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5. Reading
If you want to improve your skills, take time to read books as a hobby. You can find many books that can help you in your search for knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to educate yourself. Most people tend to think of fiction when they think about reading, but nonfiction books are available on any subject imaginable. Nonfiction books can give you a lot of information about a particular subject and help expand your knowledge base about it. Now that we are talking about books, what's the last book you read? Let me know in the comments.
6. Make good use of your commute time
Commuting is a big part of most people's daily routine. Whether you drive, ride a public bus, train, or walk to work, commuting time can be a drag or a pleasure. It's a drag when you have to fight traffic and stress about getting to work on time. It's a pleasure when you use the commute to learn new skills. You could use this time to listen to audiobooks. Listening to a book is a great way to pass the time.
7. Learn to overcome procrastination
Procrastination is one of the most common reasons why people fail to accomplish their goals. It's also one of the most difficult habits to break. But you can beat procrastination with these tips: Admit it. The first step to beating procrastination is admitting that you have a problem. If you ignore it, you'll never be able to do anything about it. If there are certain tasks or activities that you always put off, make a list of them and try to identify why you're putting them off. For example, if you're not exercising regularly, ask yourself what's holding you back and how you can overcome those roadblocks.
Conclusion
In our pursuit of learning new skills, we break down the barriers that prevent us from broadening our horizons. It is possible to keep up with your current position while learning something new and exciting. By prioritizing your time, you can always find a way to fit in those fun projects and those take-home lessons. Whether you play music or paint, or studying another language, or reading a classic novel: it is never too late to pick up a new skill and engage and challenge yourself. With practice and dedication, you can become something greater than you ever imagined.
