It’s time for the Year of You!
As the kids return to classrooms, you may be wondering what the school year will hold for you. Picking up more work hours, volunteering, or joining a fantasy book club could be on the docket. This year, consider an intentional approach to expanding your knowledge base by designing a year of learning. You can spend time learning French, which you always write down in January resolutions but never quite get around to, try out a new hobby, or brush up on a new skill for work.
Ask yourself these questions to explore how you want to organize your year.
- How many hours do you want to spend learning a week? What time of day feels best to you?
- What topics, themes, or skills do you want to explore?
- How will you split your time?
- Will each month have a particular skill, or will you choose three focuses for your ‘school year’?
How can you create support? Whether support is an accountability partner, a group of friends learning the same thing, a coach, or a class you pay for, accountability can be game-changing.
Another question to ask yourself is how you will learn. Knowing your learning style will help you get the most out of your year. Here are a few learning options:
YouTube and books:
Anything you could want to know is either on YouTube or in a book. Libraries offer audiobooks, e-books, and even scholarly journals. With a library card and an internet connection, you can go far in discovering new possibilities about your chosen course of study.
Online courses:
Places like MasterClass and Udemy have made learning from experts even easier. Courses can range from a few videos to an expansive catalog. Diving deep into online coursework is excellent for creating a basic foundation of knowledge.
Workshops and conferences:
Look at your local community calendar of events, and you might be surprised by what is available near you. Conferences are like drinking out of a water hose; you’ll leave informed, and inspired, albeit a little tired.
Conventional schooling:
If going back to school has been on your mind, many online and part-time options are available.
Military scholarships are accessible, and a few credit hours at a local community college can chip away at the degree you desire.
Whatever you choose, may your year of learning bring you joy, new skills, and (of course) fancy gel pens.