Summary

The article suggests a new approach to New Year's resolutions by focusing on learning new skills and knowledge that are practical, enjoyable, and fulfilling for personal growth and career advancement.

Abstract

Instead of traditional resolutions that often lead to disappointment, the author proposes redirecting energy towards learning. This can include acquiring new skills like ebook formatting and SEO for professional development or satisfying personal curiosity about topics like blockchain and Web 3.0. The article emphasizes that learning new things, whether practical or fun, such as playing the guitar or learning a new language, contributes to personal growth and makes one a more interesting and well-rounded individual. The author advocates for embracing continuous learning as a means to transform one's life, suggesting that this approach can even make achieving health-related resolutions easier.

Opinions

Traditional New Year's resolutions can become unfulfilled promises, leading to feelings of failure.
Learning new, practical skills can be more fulfilling and directly applicable to one's life and career.
Acquiring new skills enhances marketability and opens up more opportunities.
Satisfying one's curiosity by learning about various topics is beneficial with no real downside.
Engaging in fun learning activities, such as playing an instrument or painting, promotes personal growth without the need for commercial gain.
Embracing a learning mindset can make it easier to maintain a healthier lifestyle and achieve other resolutions.
Continuous learning gives momentum that can sustain and even enhance personal and professional development.

A New New Year’s Strategy That Could Change Everything

This year, redirect your energy to something practical.

It’s a new year.

Or, if you’re reading this mad ramble several months from now, remember that any day can be the start of a new year.

Whenever you’re reading this, if you’re considering trying some traditional resolutions such as losing weight, quitting a bad habit, encouraging a healthy practice, or promising yourself that you’re going to call your parent more–then good for you.

And you know what?

You could very well be successful.

But for many people, New Year’s resolutions become unfulfilled promises, making many people feel worse. And while I applaud the idea of try, try again, I also suggest you may want to take a different approach this year.

Learn New Things

Anything new is good.

It doesn’t always have to be practical or applicable to your life right now, but I find it’s more fulfilling when it is. Your mileage might vary.

Consider.

Learn a Skill

This year I’m upping my ebook game. I’m studying how to format an ebook in a way that’s engaging, multiplatform, and efficient. I have several books planned this year, and I’m not going to leave money on the table by not making them available as ebooks.

I’m also going to learn more about SEO and methods for driving more traffic to my website.

You could learn a new programming language or how to start an e-commerce website.

Whatever you decide, having a new skill under your belt makes you more marketable and gives you more opportunities.

Resources are often available for free online. They’re only a Google search away.

Satisfy Your Curiosity

I want to understand blockchain and what’s coming with Web 3.0.

You might want to learn more about social media algorithms work. Or the history of the Spanish flu.

There’s really no downside to learning something new. If it’s something you’ve been wondering about anyway, here is your opportunity and encouragement to satisfy your curiosity.

Learn Something Fun

Want to learn the guitar? There are hundreds of YouTube videos with excellent beginner tutorials.

Want to learn Japanese? There are loads of Android and iOS apps to get you started. Many are free.

I’ve been watching a lot of watercolor videos. My new watercolor sets should arrive in the mail tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting in some practice.

There is no real commercial gain in any of this, but there’s a lot of personal growth.

Learning new things makes one a rounder, more interesting person.

Enjoy it.

A New Year, a Better You

Resolutions are fine and all, but you can up your game for the new year. You can do better.

Embrace learning, adding to your skillset, and becoming a more well-rounded person. These are the things that will transform your life the most.

Taking on this attitude may even make following a resolution such as building a healthier lifestyle more effortless.

Learning things gives you momentum. All forward momentum is good, and once you get rolling, it’s easier to sustain and even revise. Think less about goals and more about building skills, and you’ll often end up with both.

Hey, give it a go. It’s your year.

Cheers!

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About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2