Break Out of a Funk by Learning New Skills
By Lillian Brooks
One benefit of the pandemic for many people was the normalization of working from home, which helped workers save a lot of time and money on commuting. Learning a new skill or hobby is a fulfilling way to spend those moments, but how can you find the time and inspiration to become truly skilled at something new?
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Try something you've never done before, and embrace the idea of being a beginner again. If you don't think of yourself as creative, why not try cross-stitching or sewing clothes? Learning by following patterns helps you see what's possible, and you could find yourself gaining the confidence to try making your own creations.
If you weren't into languages at school but like to travel, now's a great time to learn a new language. Many people find learning at their own pace with apps such as DuoLingo a lot of fun.
Learning Can Be Fun With Friends
Having an accountability buddy can make learning more enjoyable and also encourage you to stick with it. Learning with friends helps you build a routine. Try signing up for dance classes at Sherwood Dance Academy or painting classes with a friend. You can go together, laugh at your struggles, and share pride in your achievements.
Do a Little Every Day
It takes time to become truly proficient at a new skill—and more than a little persistence. Spending a few minutes on the skill every day is the key to improvement. If you're learning a language and want to build your vocabulary, try a free site such as Memrise to refresh your memory and build knowledge. Logging in and doing a quiz for a few minutes once or twice a day will help you cement your new knowledge into your long-term memory.
The same applies to physical skills. Frequent practice improves timing and muscle memory. So if you're learning a martial art, practice at least two or three times a week. The key is to train enough to improve your skills without burning out.
Turn Your Hobby Into a Moneymaker
If you're the sort of person who struggles to do things for fun, why not make your new hobby a micro business? It takes discipline to do this, but it's satisfying when it works.
For example, if you've found a love for sewing or engraving, make things to sell online or at craft fairs. Creating an LLC for your new business can have advantages in terms of limited liability and better tax rules. Check the LLC guidelines for Oregon. Each state has its own rules, so seek some advice before setting up a company for selling your products and then work with a formation service to get up and running.
Learning New Things Can Be Fun
Spending your newfound free time learning new skills can be incredibly satisfying. If you're thinking of starting a new hobby, whether it's dance, arts, sewing, or learning French for a big holiday, it's more fun to do it with friends. You could even turn your new skills into a profitable business one day. A few minutes every day spent learning something new could turn you into a master in no time.
Our guest blogger, Lillian Brooks, is the founder of learningdisabilities.info. For years, Lillian worked as a special education teacher with a focus on teaching children with learning disabilities. She created learningdisabilities.info to offer information and understanding to parents of children with learning disabilities, as well as adults who are in need of continued support in order to succeed.
