Should I teach myself something?

If you’re anything like me, you have the wonderful ability to set yourself a long list of things you want to do, learn, or achieve, yet never get around to, for what feels like an endless amount of reasons. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can do it. And you should.

There really is no better feeling than learning something new. It’s such a major feeling of accomplishment that it’s what keeps the motivated people among us learning more and more. New languages, computer skills, Economics, Politics and the entire Universe is at your hands if you put the time in, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t. Sure, there are things that temporarily get in the way, like a job, or your education, or just life in general, but none of these things take up 100% of your life. Think about how much time you spend watching TV a day – how much could you have learnt in the last year alone if you hadn’t done this?

Now don’t get me wrong, you have all the right to watch as much TV as you want. You’ve earnt it, you worked hard, and the idea of doing much else after a hard day at work probably seems like a stretch. But I promise you, as soon as you dip your toes into teaching yourself something new, you will realize it isn’t the stressful experience you expected.

For example, if you want to teach yourself a new language (I’m learning German right now, it’s a challenge, but extremely rewarding), an app called Duolingo exists, that lets you spend as much or as little time a day as you want (10 minutes a day minimum is recommended) learning the language, with it being taught in a fun, non-repetitive way, where your progression is rewarded, and you can set yourself goals like ending the year being 50% fluent in Spanish (the app will give you regular updates on where you are).

Maybe you don’t know what you want to learn? Well, for some suggestions, maybe pick up a second hand instrument and learn how to play it? Or what about learning how to code, in order to make programs, apps or websites? Cooking, DIY, art, self-defense, dance, sports, science, geography, or anything else you wished you’d paid attention to in school. Pick up a book from a local library, watch a video, or read an article (Pocket and Flipboard are great, free apps for this).

The world is your oyster. Go read it.