What to learn and how much effort and time you have will be different for everyone and this is all about doing something for yourself, not being told to do it.

It can be difficult to feel motivated to ‘learn something new’ although when you actually give it some thought then I bet there are things you enjoy and have learnt without even realising it? 

Learning new skills and finding new interests / activities can help improve our fitness, both mental and physical health and can open up new possibilities and connections…

However, if you feel that you are stuck, lacking motivation and every day is the same struggle then finding something that interests you, that you enjoy, can help you to feeling more fulfilled and satisfied, as it is the act of learning that actually helps.

How many of us have been asked what our ‘hobbies’ are? Maybe on an application form or from someone we have just met? How many of us don’t really know what to say…Hmmm um I like…..

Knowing what we like to do is actually a start even if we’re not sure where to go with it or what to do next.

So, do you like cooking or baking, walking, crafting, knitting, colouring, painting, dancing…?

What you can do is take something you already like and pursue it – for example you might like to read? You could start to read about different subjects you wouldn’t normally read about, join a book club, start a book club or book swap, start writing reviews or start writing. This could be just for yourself to start with, a journal, a book of thoughts, ideas, worries? There may be a creative writing course for free on-line or at a local college?

The same idea can be used for any number of things – you like swimming? Is the pool open near you currently – possibly not, would you like to try ‘wild swimming’ there is a whole network of clubs and places that you can ‘wild swim’ and there has been countless studies advocating wild swimming for improving mental health. Have a look at these links for inspiration…

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/cold-comfort-how-sea-swimming-boosts-my-mental-health/

www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/get-active/wild-swimming-in-britain-the-best-places-to-swim-water-safety-and-how-to-get-started/

www.wildswimming.co.uk/

I have recently read this book The Blue Mind – how water makes you happier, more connected and better at what you do.

It is a really interesting read and includes the science of why we are ‘drawn’ to water and the benefits it has on us. So maybe learn to do a sport on the water or near the water, paddle-boarding, fishing, it may seem totally daunting at first and complicated, but the process of learning something new, the sense of achievement, the sense of adventure and the way that your mind is focused on a new task all improve your overall wellbeing.

There are countless free courses on line – the link below is to the Open University which offers literally hundreds of free courses, you can learn from home and in your own time.

www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

There are also numerous podcasts that you could listen to whilst driving, cleaning or walking which you may find inspiring? Have a look at the link below for more ideas?

www.verywellmind.com/best-motivational-podcasts-4769750

Now over to you, can you post any other ideas of what you have done or would like to do to keep learning?