Regardless of what industry you’re in (or want to be in), things change on a near-daily basis and you will want to learn something new every day in order to advance.
Whether it’s new knowledge or learning a better process for getting something done, it’s important to stay current to be competitive in today’s tough job market. If knowledge truly is power, then you should do your best to learn something new every day. It doesn’t have to be hard, or boring. And it definitely doesn’t have to take up a lot of your precious free time.
Here are several different high-level ideas to learn something new every day, for any person in any industry!
Books
A quick Google search for “Best Books for [your job role/industry]” will likely lead to lists of great suggestions for what to read next. Many industry thought leaders curate lists of books they’ve read and approve of, if you’re specifically looking to follow in the footsteps of someone you look up to.
Most people will claim that they don’t have the time to read, but consider fitting in 30 minute (or so) chunks of time while on public transit, during lunch, or before bed. You’ll painlessly complete a book before you know it! And if you’re trying to keep yourself honest, sign up for a reading challenge on Goodreads. Using this platform will help you set reading goals and track your progress!
If you drive to work, why not try audio books? They’ll take longer to complete, but make commuting time more productive.
Podcasts
A great way to stay up to date with industry best practices, or when trying to pick up a new skill, is by listening to relevant podcasts. Podcasts last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour (and all variations in between), which makes them ideal for quick knowledge gain when you can fit them in. A couple ideas for podcast consumption:
- Walking the dog
- Taking a shower
- Grocery shopping
- Commuting
Again, look to industry thought leaders and colleagues for suggestions, then branch out from there! It’s not hard to learn something new every day when you’re strategic about fitting your learning into your daily life wherever it makes sense.
Blog Articles
Another easy way to learn something new every day, in a limited amount of time, is to subscribe and read blog articles by companies you admire and industry thought leaders. There are so many skills to learn by reading guides written by people who have a lot of relevant experience.
As a productivity tip: don’t read blog articles as they’re emailed to you. Instead, set a certain time during the day for uninterrupted learning. There’s no reason why you can’t learn something new every day through blog posts – just be smart about it so you don’t neglect your other duties.
Online Courses
Have a free evening or weekend to devote to learning? It may be worth your time to check out an in-depth online course that will cover more than just the basics and new trends. Online courses are ideal for picking up new knowledge, and act as a foundation to build off of.
There are a few well-known websites and marketplaces to find online courses. Here are a few suggestions that can likely help regardless of your industry:
These websites charge either by each individual course, or offer unlimited access for a monthly subscription free. Some instructors are well known, others are new to teaching. Regardless of who you buy an online course from, do your research and seek out client testimonials!
Many accredited educational institutions are also offering their course material online, on websites like Coursera. You won’t get a certificate or degree (without taking tests and paying fees), but it’s a great way to learn something new without expensive tuition costs!
Mastermind Groups
Sometimes the best knowledge is picked up from other people on the same level as you. Mastermind groups are a new trend in learning and collaboration, that connect like-minded people together. Most pick a certain day each week (or a few times a month) to collaborate online or in person. Besides sharing stories, there may be a specific topic that a group member presents on to help others gain new knowledge. Some are paid, others are free. Find something that makes sense for you in your quest to learn something new every day.
Conferences and Events
Another way to learn something new is by attending industry conferences and other related events. Besides staying up to date on trends, best practices, and cool stuff to learn, you’ll have the chance to meet other like-minded people and expand your network!
Whether you want to be a better employee, or you’re trying to find a job in a new industry, there are so many ways to learn something new every day. You can fit any or all of these suggestions in, based on your schedule and existing commitments.
How will you learn something new every day? Or what have you been doing already? Share your experience in the comments to help someone else on a journey to becoming a more knowledgeable person!
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