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Stretching just good for your body. It's good for your mind, too. Learning new things builds connections between brain cells, helps prevent dementia and makes you more interesting to everyone, including yourself.
So what are you going to do to make yourself more interesting in 2010?
Begin with What Interests You
Write down everything you'd like to learn and do, and prioritize your list with which ones excite you most and are most feasible. Choose only one activity to pursue so you stay focused and don't spread yourself too thin, as this will only cause anxiety.
Set a Goal
Goals are essential for turning intentions into action. To be effective, goals must be attainable. That's why it's important to choose only one activity to pursue at a time. Goals also must be realistic, which is why feasibility was an important consideration when you prioritized your list. And goals must be specific and timely so you can determine if and when you've accomplished them. For example:
Whether you decide to make your new subject a life-long pursuit or to try out another activity on your list, just keep on learning and you'll always be interesting.
So what are you going to do to make yourself more interesting in 2010?
Begin with What Interests You
- Do you love to travel? Take a tour led by a university professor who's an expert in the culture, history or geography of the region. If photography is your passion, find a guide who knows the best-kept-secret places to photograph. Or maybe you'd like to join an RV caravan tour of historic sites or national parks.
- Need to stay close to home? Take non-credit history and culture courses at a community college. Learn to dance, act, draw, weave, or some other art or craft. Pick up a new language. Delve into science's mysteries.
- How about relaxing your body and mind? Try learning meditation, tai chi or yoga.
- Maybe you'd like to combine learning with socializing? Join the club! Or join a team and learn a new sport.
- Tired of your job? Earn a degree that can lead to a new career.
Write down everything you'd like to learn and do, and prioritize your list with which ones excite you most and are most feasible. Choose only one activity to pursue so you stay focused and don't spread yourself too thin, as this will only cause anxiety.
Set a Goal
Goals are essential for turning intentions into action. To be effective, goals must be attainable. That's why it's important to choose only one activity to pursue at a time. Goals also must be realistic, which is why feasibility was an important consideration when you prioritized your list. And goals must be specific and timely so you can determine if and when you've accomplished them. For example:
- What is the goal? "To learn to play the guitar."
- How will you pursue it? "I'll buy a used guitar and sign up to take lessons at X music store."
- When you will begin? "I'll buy the guitar and begin taking lessons no later than January 30."
- How long will you continue? "I'll take lessons for 6 months and evaluate if I want to continue."
Whether you decide to make your new subject a life-long pursuit or to try out another activity on your list, just keep on learning and you'll always be interesting.
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