Once the party season is over, we move quietly into January 2014 where millions of people around the world will be setting themselves resolutions for the year ahead. It might be to give up smoking, it could be to spend more time at the gym in an attempt to get fit and healthy, or maybe that they want to learn a new skill.
You’re never too old to learn something new, and with increasing numbers of people finding themselves out of work or in competition to find a new career; a few new skills for the CV wouldn’t go amiss. Alternatively, it might just be that you want to learn something new to grow personally, picking up a few new skills so you know what your children or grandchildren are talking about, or just to keep up with modern trends. One such example is to enroll on one of the many Microsoft classes that run in a wide range of locations to help people to improve their computer literacy.
In an era where technology and the Internet are everywhere, it’s becoming increasingly important that people understand how to use a computer and the various different platforms. The web is becoming one of the most popular forms of sourcing news and information, with newspapers even closing their publishing departments and producing the news online.
Social media is also playing a major role in the web revolution, with people choosing to connect over sites like Facebook and Twitter as opposed to picking up the phone to speak to their friends and family. It’s now a case of being left behind if you can’t use the Internet – or a computer – especially in the world of work, where the majority of communication both internally and externally is done via email, so what better time to enroll in a class than New Year.
A lot of people still don’t know how to drive, or may never have had to previously. If you live in a town or city, you might have everything you need on your doorstep and learning to drive has never been a necessity. However, it’s important that you broaden your own horizons and head away from your comfort zone in order to develop and see the world. Some people choose to go travelling, others head overseas to far flung parts of the world, but just getting away from the everyday grind can help you to relax- even if it’s just for a few days. You might be able to get on a train or bus in the city, but when you head to the country you often find that these public transport services suddenly stop, meaning you can’t get there without the use of a car.
Learning to drive doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you learn in your own time with an instructor you trust. The most important thing is not to rush it or expect to be a perfect driver overnight. Once you’ve passed your test, you’ll be grateful for the freedom and independence that comes with owning and being able to drive your own car.
Another option is to finally bite the bullet and learn to play that musical instrument that you’ve always talked about learning. Some people start to play instruments at school and then lose interest or run out of free time, but playing music can be a great recreational activity that has been proven to help people relax – ideal for an evening after a long hard day at work.
This article was written by Amanda Walters, an experienced freelance writer and regular contributor to Huffington Post. Follow her here: @Amanda_W84
New Year, New You – Things to Learn in 2014
