4 Ways to Continually Learn and Grow

As children, we are constantly learning and failing. We fall off bikes, scrape knees, and make mistakes. But as adults, we tend to stick to areas of core competency and stagnate. This can lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction in both our careers and personal lives. To keep ourselves engaged and motivated, it’s important to continually form new and unexpected neural connections. The internet age makes it easy to learn from other people, allowing us to have a model to follow and support to help us along the way. Here are 4 tips for doing just that:

1. Try a New Healthy Habit for 30 Days
Setting lofty, unachievable goals for improving our health can be discouraging and overwhelming when we don’t meet them. Instead, try a 30-day project and focus on nurturing one habit intensely for that time period. Eating local for 30 days or not watching TV for 30 days are examples of healthy habits you could try. Blogging about your experience can help you commit and try on the new habit for size. Google “30-day project” to find inspiration from fellow bloggers, and invite your friends to participate for support.

2. Learn About the World
Many of us do not consume a lot of global news. Reading summary sites like The Week can provide insight into what’s happening around the world, but we can also learn from people. Travel blogs like Gadling, WikiTravel, Lonely Planet Travel Forums or Quora allow us to ask questions and learn about new communities. Matador Travel is a social network and travel blog site that connects people worldwide.

3. Learn How to Be More Entrepreneurial
Nearly everyone can benefit from entrepreneurial skills these days. The best way to learn these skills is to find a thought leader within a niche that interests you and learn from them. Corporate blogs and social media feeds make this easier than ever. By studying the corporate blogs of brands such as Stonyfield Yogurt or reading Amazon’s Website Case Studies, we can learn from the success of others.

4. Learn How to Make Something New
Take a step out of your everyday comfort zone and make something totally new. Learn how to hack your Ikea furniture or turn everyday objects into a robotic arm. Follow lifestyle blogs or visit sites like Pinterest for creative inspiration. Many bloggers post their experiments online with how-tos, making it easy to learn and try for ourselves.

The Takeaway:
Learning something new, no matter how small, can refresh our brains and give us a sense of renewal and inspiration. By continually learning and growing, we can avoid stagnation and live more fulfilling lives.