There’s nothing wrong with using a bit of free time to just relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of life. But you should be using at least some of your free time to learn new things and expand your mind. Constant self-improvement can help you move higher in your career but it can also benefit you in your day to day life as well. To help you build the habit, here are a few of the best ways you should spend your free time and learn new things.
Learn a new language during your daily commute
Studying grammar and tediously repeating a list of vocabulary words doesn’t sound fun and it isn’t. But learning a new language can be tons of fun. There will be some time you need to spend on the tedious tasks of grammar rules and memorization but a lot of it can be fun.
For example, you could set up tutoring appointments to skype with a Russian teacher. If you have skype on your phone, you can set those sessions up to happen during your daily commute. Instead of staring out of the window or frantically worrying about whether or not you turned off the stove, use that time to talk with a native speaker and practice your skills!
Get Your Finances Under Control
Spending just a few hours a week on managing your personal finances can potentially save you thousands of dollars a year. There are too many of us who just avoid facing up to the reality or put it off until our problems have spiraled out of control and can’t be ignored anymore.
Instead, sit down at least once a week and look at your money. How much is coming in? Where is it being spent? How can you change your spending habits to improve your financial position? Develop strong financial habits that can help you take control of your money instead of letting money control you.
Learn a new skill
Today, you can find hundreds of classes online. Many of them are even free. Instead of browsing through even more cat memes, why not use the internet to add a brand new skill to your set. This is a great option if you have hopes of moving up in your career.
If you’re in marketing, for example, look for a certification course in digital marketing or another niche field that is in high demand right now. Once you’ve completed all the coursework, you can combine that with your work experience to position yourself as the strongest candidate for the job you want.
So even if you aren’t thrilled about the idea of giving up your precious free time to do even more work, the potential for a better job and better pay is well worth this temporary sacrifice.
Join a casual sports team
We all know we should exercise but the thought of running on a treadmill or lifting weights just seems too tedious to bother with. If you join a team, you can get that exercise while also improving other skills like coordination, endurance, strategic thinking, and teamwork. These are all great skills to have in life and the health benefits the sport offers are an added benefit.
There are a lot of great ways to spend your free time that can be highly rewarding and even fun. You can improve yourself, explore new things, and develop new skills all while enjoying the process. If you’re still not sure what you want to do with your free time, just start by trying out a few different things that catch your interest. If you try enough things, you’ll discover your next new passion soon enough. So, start exploring your options today!
