Learning something new is great for your brain and good for your spirit. You may even learn enough to start a business, build a side hustle or launch a whole new career. Start with something simple that will stretch your current skill set.
1) Learn to Write
Too often, the folks with the most interesting stories don’t share them because they lack confidence in their writing ability. If you’re a recently retired senior citizen and have an interest in sharing your own history, audit a basic English Composition course at a local college to build your skills and share your stories.
Perhaps you came of age at an interesting time. Maybe you went to Woodstock or marched with a famous historical figure. Your story has nuances that nobody else can sense and it needs to be heard. Take a risk and learn to write.
2) Study Dance and Movement
No matter how old you are, there are probably physical feats that you would love to try. Maybe you want to study ballet and learn to move slowly and gracefully. Maybe you want to build strength and flexibility but aren’t sure how to do yoga on your own. Maybe you just love music and want to dance well the next time you go to the club.
Learning to move your body through space doesn’t have to be all about formal motion. If you have always wanted to be on stage but aren’t sure about an acting class, take a stage movement or stage combat class. You may find that it’s easier to remember your lines with a sword in your hand!
3) Study Acting
If you love movies, why not study acting for film? As you build your skills, you may find that you can get gigs on commercials, or that you get voice work for radio or online promotions.
Film acting is a very specific industry. If you have already built up skills as a stage actor, you may find that it’s hard to dial back your physical reactions when you’re in front of a camera. Film acting also takes a great deal of patience; there are a lot of people working in a small space and if you’re the only person on stage, your ability to stay calm and comfy with lots of folks around you will take training.
4) Videographer
In addition to studying how to be in films, you can learn to shoot videos with the same tool you use to text, talk and play games. If you love your city or a particular activity, learning to shoot video on your phone could be the first step in starting a YouTube channel and sharing your expertise.
You can also become an ambassador for your city or for a cause that you love. If you adore animals, spend time each weekend at your local shelter helping puppies and kittens acclimate to humans. Get a video of them learning to play or walk on a leash. Get a selfie with each animal you get to walk and share your work on the social media pages for your favorite shelter. Animals can be your starting point as you build technical skills as a videographer.
5) Finance and Money Management
Money management isn’t a glamorous topic. However, learning to manage your money can be a great way to increase your enjoyment in life. For example, you can be secure in your savings. You can be empowered by learning to live on very little at least for a short amount of time to help you meet your goals.
Part of the joy of learning to manage your money is that you learn to focus. What do you really want? If you want to grow your own food, you can set savings goals to buy a house with some land. If you want to work as a paid actor, you may need to find a career that allows travel or build a business that you can do from anywhere. With a firm grasp on your monetary needs and control of your spending habits, your life goals easily become more manageable.
Learning new activities doesn’t have to be expensive. Learning can be quite lucrative. A free class can make it possible for you to start a YouTube channel, sell your photos, or get paid to work on the stage.
