Lately, I’ve noticed that time is a very valuable commodity…
The world moves at a chaotic pace, always trying to find a balance between life, work, success and love… etc. “Adults employed full-time report working an average of 47 hours per week, which equates to nearly six days a week, according to Gallup.”
With all this commotion, how on Earth can anybody find the time to learn something new? It’s important to find the time considering new skills are transferable and very valuable in the work place.
Here are a few tips for squeezing in a new skill after work or on the weekends…
1.) TAKE ONLINE COURSES:
There is an incredible amount of information available online, some of which is created by industry experts and prestigious academic institutions. You can take a course, webinar, YouTube instructional video on just about anything – from learning a new recipe to advanced physics.
If you’re looking to get certifications, places like Udemy, Coursera and even online portals from universities and colleges throughout the nation offer them for a small price (or sometimes, even free).
2.) VOLUNTEER:
Volunteering is a very effective way to gain new skills through hands-on experience in any field. Most assignments force you to meet new people and create valuable contacts while immersing you in project management scenarios that can help fill those time-gaps on a resume and get the edge needed for a new job opportunity.
3.) READ:
There’s nothing like a good book to broaden your horizons. Be it for leisure or educational purposes, reading has, and always will be, one of the best ways to access new information and perspectives.
On our list? What Color Is Your Parachute? 2018: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard N. Bolles
4.) SET REASONABLE GOALS:
Let’s not kid ourselves, we’ve all been there… A new year rolls around and we make all these empty promises with no real initiative to back them up. Part of the reason we set ourselves up to fail is because we aim too high and take on too much.
We wholeheartedly believe that small steps eventually lead to big changes, so – take it one step at a time. If you have a larger goal in mind, like playing an instrument or mastering public speaking, set smaller “sub-goals” to accomplish consistently and use the awesome feeling of success to propel you towards your next one.
5.) PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
Consistency is key. You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again. It’s difficult disciplining yourself to dedicate a bit of time each day but repetition is so important if you’d like to learn and retain new information.
6.) DO WHAT YOU LOVE:
You may need a new skill for work or maybe you’ve just always wanted to learn French for that future trip to Provence. Whatever it is, make any effort to learn something new one that you look forward to.
If you’re settling in for an online lesson, go to a cozy space or invest in supplies that make you excited to sit and use them (sounds ridiculous but it works!) If you have the option to take a class, get to know your fellow classmates and set up a time to go out and socialize.
All in all, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin… So, get to it!
Happy Learning!
– The CAREERXCHANGE® Team