“I always wanted to learn the guitar. Maybe THIS year.” Or…. maybe not.
It’s a shame how quickly we dismiss our heartfelt dreams and relegate them to the “someday” bucket list. Why is that?
We have many reasonable-sounding excuses. Work is hectic, there’s never enough time, the kids, the spouse, etc. Reasonable, sure. But true? Not so much. At HG, we call this excusing inner voice the “chicken” and, boy, does it keep us playing small. Instead of branching out and learning a new skill, hobby, or anything fun and out of the ordinary, we choose the activities that are safe and familiar – movies, dinner, happy hour. Then we wonder why we feel bored and stagnant in our lives!
This year, lose the excuses and set your sights on something more fun and fulfilling.
A commitment to learning is a commitment to your own brave evolution and improvement.
January is the perfect time to give yourself the gift of a new hobby, skill, or activity that you’ve always been curious about. The possibilities are endless! Consider gourmet cooking, speaking a foreign language, guitar, singing, painting, sculpting, photography, making films, writing stories, running, surfing, tennis, biking, golf, swimming, learning yoga, scuba diving certification, fishing, sailing, juggling, swing dancing, learn to Dj with real records, become a drink mixologist, water ski, make jewelry. Surprise yourself! Impress yourself.
Learning something new will keep your life and mind fresh and ready for new challenges. Even when work is hectic, learning something new can bleed new energy into your personal, as well as, corporate life. Even your boss will take notice when you walk into the office with your head held high (knowing you finally made the perfect old fashioned), ready to take on even more challenges.
So, if you’re primed to learn something new, follow these five simple steps.
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5 Steps to Learning Something New
1) Brainstorm.
Write down all the activities, skills, or abilities you wished you had time to do or you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t. Rate them in order of importance.
2) Choose your activity.
Really look at your list and decide what you want to make happen. What would make you happy and proud? This is supposed to be fun and fulfilling for you. If you feel like it’s work, you will resent it.
3) Answer: “Why are you not doing it?”
It’s something you would love to do and it would make you happy, but for some reason it’s last on your priority list. What is holding you back from learning this new skill or doing this activity? Time? Money? Fear? Face why you’re not doing it and remember, it’s just an excuse.
4) Make a plan.
Find time in your schedule to fit in your new activity every week. Start today. Make promises to do your activity. Implement consequences if you don’t fulfill your promises. If you don’t enjoy your activity, you are allowed to change it! This is not high school. This is about learning how to do something you’ll love.
5) Declare an end result.
What do you want to accomplish by the end of 2019 with your new activity or skill? For example, if you are learning how to cook, plan a big Labor Day dinner party with close friends where you cook the entire meal.
The possibilities are endless! Get to it!
Love,
Lauren
P.S. Learning is important in all areas of life, especially in your career. Perhaps this year, you want to learn how to master your time. If that’s the case, join head coach, Laurie Gerber, at the NYC General Assembly on February 19th from 6:30-8:30PM. She will teach you how to organize yourself, plan brilliantly, and most importantly, find ease in everyday activities as well as your most heartfelt endeavors. Join here.