Human beings are learning on a near-constant basis, and with the world rapidly changing, we have little choice but to adapt every day. But while learning new skills can seem challenging, it is actually a great way to keep your mind focused. Learning also gives you purpose and improves your personal and professional abilities, and increases your job prospects.
Whether you are learning new skills for work, or for personal growth, the process of educating yourself is an incredibly rewarding one. We look at the reasons why learning new skills is good for your health.
Learning is On-Going
People are always learning something and adapting to their circumstances. Those who refuse to learn are less likely to acclimatise themselves to their changing environments, and will fall behind at school, work, and eventually, at life.
Think of it this way: ten years ago, we didn’t have smartphones and barely any social media platforms. Now these tools have become the primary ways of connecting with others. Without learning how to use them, people wouldn’t be able to communicate with each other. Because of the rise of these technologies, many people have found themselves in a new job field, all because they were willing to learn new skills. And though it looks like the digital sphere has only brought on more work, it has also created opportunities to build productivity apps like ClickUp that help people prioritize their time and work.
Without the human ability to want to learn more, the world wouldn’t have advanced to the stage that it has. Be open to learning new things and you will find yourself improving in every aspect of your life.
Learning is Good for Your Career
Without learning new skills, people would not be able to acclimate to changing work situations. By learning something new, not only do people broaden their career prospects, but they also become more adaptable.
Until a handful of years ago, accountants were using printed ledgers for their tasks, but now, by taking a simple Excel course online, they have access to a far more compact and easier method to work. The people who are succeeding in this field, are doing so because they are ready to develop their existing abilities by trying new things.
Employees hoping to improve their skills needn’t simply work within their chosen fields. Writers can choose to learn about graphic design software or learn coding, as that will give them an added skill adjacent to their field, making them more valuable in their workplace. One might not be as proficient in the new ability as someone who has learned it over the course of their life, but it will be beneficial to know an added skill that may come in handy in emergencies.
Versatility has become an important skill to have, according to HR managers, whether they are hiring marketing writers, software developers, or truck drivers. Excelling at one ability is all well and good, but additional skills can greatly improve your career prospects. Doing better at work, and being praised for it, will undoubtedly make you feel better about yourself.
Learning Improves Self-Confidence
Within the work environment, learning new skills can greatly help build your confidence. Not only will you become more focused due to the learning process, but because you have a new skill under your belt, you will be able to take on new tasks at work. This will make you look more proactive, which is something employers put a great deal of store in. Having a new skill will also improve your ability to communicate, as you will be able to talk fluidly about a subject that you didn’t know about before.
Learning management skills when you are still in the lower rungs of a company will most definitely build your confidence and give you the tools to climb the corporate ladder. These skills may not come in handy immediately, but they will help you communicate better and give your colleagues and managers a positive impression about your abilities.
And this confidence continues within the personal realm, as well. If you are learning skills for your personal improvement, you will feel better adjusted in social situations. For instance, learning Vedic maths may not have any direct relation to your work, but it will help you do complex calculations quickly, a skill that you can use in daily life, and to impress your friends and family. Being praised for calculating quickly will build your confidence over time.
How to Learn a New Skill
Before beginning the process of learning a new skill, decide why and when you want to do this. Do you need these new skills for work? For a personal project? What reward do you expect for completing this task? Don’t take on a learning project if you don’t have the time, as that will only stress you out, which is not the point of this exercise. Additionally, if you don’t have the time, you won’t be able to concentrate on the learning process, which will lead to you not learning the skill properly.
Once you do make the decision to learn the skill, develop a routine for learning. If you like, you can plan out your learning process with a timeline maker, so you know when your classes are, what deadlines you need to be aware of, and when the course will be completed.
Don’t give yourself elaborate goals for your learning process. You cannot master an entire language in six months, but you can be proficient enough in it to get by on a vacation. And when you are testing out your new abilities, do so in smaller, comfortable environments. Have you taken a business correspondence course and learned to write a great welcome email? Send a test email to a friend, or a colleague, not to the whole company or an external client. By testing out your abilities in comfortable areas, you will receive constructive, and often positive, feedback that will motivate you to continue learning and to improve yourself.
Keep Learning
Learning is a life-long process and it can seem daunting at times. But there are so many benefits to learning something new—both at home, and at work—that it is undoubtedly an excellent project to undertake. Remember that you are learning to benefit your life and your work, so do not be too hard on yourself. Stay positive and look forward to the learning process. That will help you enhance your abilities and build your overall confidence.