New Experiences for Continued Learning
In my Get a Life Objective class, I brought up the idea of continued learning as a way to inspire creativity and new ways of thinking about your life and your career.
Let's get clear about what constitutes "continued learning."
What continued learning is NOT:
Reading the same newspapers, magazines and books you always read
Having discussions about the same old topics with the same two friends or colleagues
Attending classes and conferences where you already know most of the content being presented
Half-watching documentaries on Netflix while eating greasy snacks
What continued learning is:
Breaking out of your comfort zone and feeling uncomfortable
Being a complete novice in something new
Challenging your brain to grow, adapt, work in different ways and make new connections
I have been doing a lot of "continued learning" this month, mostly in the form of workouts. I'm learning the ways of yoga, including a hot power fusion variation (see sweaty evidence below). I even tried a mixed martial arts class at the UFC gym--boxing gloves and all!
I noticed that immediately afterward I am exhausted but exuberant. My brain has come alive in new ways.
With the extra energy I've created, my inspiration to knit, read and write has returned.
And I am inspired to get better at the things I've tried so far (balance is not a strong suit for me!).
How do you engage in continued learning?