Key takeaways:
- Fall is an ideal time to learn–Psychologists say there are long-held associations with “back-to-school” that make it the perfect season for learning and improving mental health.
- Narrow down the skill you want to master–While ambition is a positive thing, too much of it can hinder our efforts. It's important to choose only one or two areas of focus.
- Develop a “micro-learning” routine–Break learning into short sessions (such as 20 minutes each day) and pair new learning activities with current habits (like adding a topical podcast to your daily morning walk).
- Take advantage of free resources–In our hyper-digital environment, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to learn new things. Use apps like Coursera, Duolingo, or Skillshare to pick up new proficiencies. Even Harvard offers cheap online courses!
- Create a “skill builder” digital space–Use Shift to design the perfect space to facilitate learning. Build your ideal digital environment with the websites, apps, and tools you need to master your new skill–without distractions.
Fall is that time of year when pumpkin spice invades, it feels like football is everywhere, and many of us get back into a routine. The truth is, for those of us who went through the traditional education system, there is a certain “back-to-school” feeling that comes with the season–making it the perfect time to learn new things!
Wouldn’t it feel amazing to treat your friends to a gourmet meal that you learned to cook? Or perhaps you need to brush up your AI skills and finally revamp that resume. No matter what skill you want to master, the coming months offer the perfect opportunity to get serious. This article will walk you through the key steps that make skill building as delightful as jumping into a pile of crunchy leaves.
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Read MorePick one skill (not five)
First things first: let’s narrow it down. If you try to master several skills at once, you’re going to feel like your brain resembles a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. So, keep it simple. Choose one high-impact skill like coding, design, photography, or yoga.
Start by thinking through what you want to gain from a new skill. Are your goals primarily around career or personal development? Or, maybe you want to explore some more creative outlets or just bring more joy into your life. All of these options are worthy and important! But it will be difficult to reach the goalpost on any of them, if you’re working toward all of them.
If you pick coding, your career might skyrocket into the tech stratosphere (or at least you may be qualified for a more interesting role). Want to explore photography? Imagine capturing the beauty of nature with a camera instead of your smartphone (bonus points for Instagram likes!). Or maybe cooking is your jam—think of homemade ravioli at your next cozy autumn get-together. An entrepreneur might want to master LinkedIn Learning to expand their business prospects. Just remember, keep it small and measurable. You’re not training for the Olympics here—just a fun fall learning journey.
Design a micro-learning routine
Now that you’ve picked your skill, it’s time to design a micro-learning routine. Think of it as crafting a delicious recipe for personal development—mixing structured learning with routine micro-habits to keep the experience flavorful.
Experts suggest aiming for short sessions: 20–30 minutes daily or 2–3 hours weekly. You can easily sneak these into your day by anchoring them to existing habits. Sip your morning coffee while watching a tutorial, or take your dog for a walk while listening to a podcast about your chosen skill.
You’ve probably noticed that when you walk into your favorite coffee shop to work, it’s like a switch flips in your brain–instant productivity! This is because certain visual cues prime our brains for activity. This is the science behind why pairing new learning exercises with certain habits will make them more likely to stick.
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Read MoreAnd don’t forget about the treasure trove of free resources! YouTube is like an endless buffet of information on almost any topic (as long as you don’t go down a rabbit hole of cat videos). YouTube is especially helpful for short, hands-on tutorials (such as knitting techniques or AI prompts). You can also explore digital tools like Coursera and Duolingo to find structured learning options that won’t break the bank. In addition to those three options, our favorite cheap (or free) online learning resources are:
- edX–Similar to Coursera, edX provides access to courses from universities like Harvard and MIT. You can audit courses for free or choose to pay for a verified certificate.
- Khan Academy–It’s not just for kids! A completely free resource that offers a wide range of subjects, from math and science to arts and humanities. It’s perfect for learners of all ages.
- Udemy–While many courses come with a fee, Udemy frequently offers discounts and sales, making it possible to find quality courses at very low prices. Look for courses that have high ratings and reviews!
- Skillshare–Offers a free trial period where you can access a plethora of creative and business courses. After the trial, a subscription is available, which often includes discounts for new users.
- Harvard Business Courses–You might be surprised to learn that Harvard provides a selection of free short courses on various business topics through its online platform. You can find topics like “negotiating salary” or “resilient leadership” that are ideal for quick learning.
Add accountability and fun
We’ve all had a project or initiative that quickly became no fun. How much did you look forward to working on it? The truth is, if you can’t insert some fun into your learning efforts, you aren’t going to get very far.
Make sure you build in ways to spice things up with some accountability and fun! Join a study group or online community on platforms like Discord, Reddit, or Slack. Nothing says “I’m serious about my new skill” like sharing your progress with strangers on the internet! Plus, it’s a great way to hold yourself accountable and get hacks you never would have known about. You can find a niche group for almost any topic, so take some time to explore the space that’s right for you.
You can also share your journey on social media or keep a personal journal. There are so many positive effects of journaling, so it’s worth trying out anyway. Studies show that keeping a personal journal–especially during times of transition–leads to a 25% increase in overall happiness, a 30% reduction in depression symptoms, and a 40% reduction in anxiety. Sharing progress on social media can help to hold you accountable, but it can also open you up to non-helpful feedback from people like your aunt’s childhood bestie. So, weigh the pros and cons there.
And, nothing feels better than a little external motivation when your brain is screaming, “Let’s binge-watch Netflix instead!” To make things more exciting, gamify your progress with badges, streaks, or trackers. Apps like Strava and SuperBetter make it feel like you’re leveling up in a video game instead of just, you know, studying. SuperBetter can be a great helper for overall personal development and mental health, but there are apps for nearly every learning journey. You can always stick with a good, old-fashioned reward like an ice cream sundae, too.
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Read MoreStack your digital tools
Let’s talk about tools. Organizing your digital resources is key to keeping your learning space tidy. Just like your physical working space, you’ll perform better if you have a dedicated digital area for meaningful work. Shift users have been known to create a “Skill Builder” space with platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, Notion, or Google Drive. Once you’ve narrowed your learning scope and chosen a few of the most valuable resources, you can add them all in one space.
For example, if you are trying to learn more about personal finance, you may design a Skill Builder space with:
- Your banking websites
- Google Sheets (where you keep a budget)
- Apps like EveryDollar or PocketGuard
- Any of the resources you might be using in a LinkedIn Learning Personal Finance class
- A Reddit sub-reddit where you participate in conversations
It’s like creating your own learning fortress—away from all of the digital clutter of your regular daily life (ie, you can create other workspaces for your job or your home life). Then when you sit down to engage in “learning time”, you won’t be bombarded with Outlook emails or tempted by Instagram notifications. Don’t forget to include the digital tools that create accountability and track your progress. Having everything in one spot will make it easier to dive into your new skill without getting lost in the chaos of the internet.
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Read MoreSo, what are you waiting for? Pick your skill today and build a tiny 30-day learning experiment. By the end of the year, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come! Whether you’re whipping up a culinary masterpiece or coding our next favorite app, autumn is the perfect time to embrace the joy of continuous learning.
