Learning new skills is vital to your career and overall development. How else would you evolve, improve the way you work and boost your performance? However, while we are all well-aware of the value of lifelong learning and how important it is to keep yourself up-to-date with current practices, it’s often difficult to find the time to do it.
The fast pace of life and everyday responsibilities do not allow for much personal time, how much more for learning! I mean, how many times have you said to yourself you need to learn something new and just couldn’t muster enough time to it?
If you think you are too busy to do anything, these tips will help you find the time because its high you started working smart.
Check your Schedule
Sleep and work take about 16 hours of your day. Then you have to either take care of kids or go for weekly services at your church after work — that’s if you’re the religious type. When all that is done, there just a few hours to do anything else.
The first step to making time is adjusting your schedule to your needs. Check your current daily schedule and find an open spot to fit into your learning activities. So let’s say you finish work at 5 pm, you can easily make room for a graphics or a web design class, maybe at 5:30 to 6:30 before heading back home. Alternatively, if you can’t do afternoons, you can make a good use of your lunchtime.
Prioritize
If you want to be good at something, then you have to work for it. If you can’t prioritize your daily schedule and track what your activities, you won’t be able to get what you want. The most effective way to prioritize is by asking yourself which of your daily activities are the most urgent and important and work on those first. Similarly, you can choose to delegate some of your responsibilities to your spouse or a trusted friend.
Prioritizing is all about doing what’s most important to you. So promise yourself that you won’t schedule anything else at that time of the day. Just keep that time to yourself and concentrate on what needs to be done. It’s also important to eliminate distractions so you’re able to focus on learning.
Do Not Procrastinate
Ignoring your desire to do nothing at all can be difficult. Especially when you go back home, and you are exhausted from work, the only thing you want to do is get comfy on your couch and watch some TV or take a good nap.
But while doing so is very tempting, that’s when you need to get up and going. Don’t let the monster of procrastination get you until you finish what you are supposed to be doing. Wen you’re done with our web design practice, you will have plenty of time to relax, watch a movie, or catch up with your friends.
Use your Commute Period
If like most Lagosians, you have a long commute — one in which you’re not driving, try to learn new skills then. If you board commercial buses, the daily traffic gives you an opportunity to spend time learning those skills. You’d realize that when it’s time to alight, you’ve must gotten enough knowledge and can rest immediately you get home.
It’s easier if the learning materials are readily-accessible while you’re on the go. Download videos, podcasts, buy books, and take them along with you every single day.