How are you planning to learn a new skill this year?

Continuous learning is a concept that is centered around prioritizing ongoing development and improvement. Learning that is self-motivated is the most fun and valuable. If one thing has propelled my personal and professional growth, it has been learning something new continuously.
 
In this blog post, I will share how to approach learning as part of your everyday life and plans.
 
Know why you want to learn

As with all of our plans, it is very important to know why you want to learn something new. Your learning goals motivate you to learn and apply the skills you acquired. At the end of every quarter, I reflect on what I learned and plan for the new things I want to learn. As part of this exercise, I think about where I want to go next and what skills will help me succeed.
 
Questions to consider

• Why is learning important to you?
• What have you enjoyed learning in the past and why?

 
Do your research 
It is impressive to see how accessible learning is to us in this day and time. There are so many fantastic courses that are available online for free or at a very low cost. And for those of us who are privileged to invest more in our learning, there are many amazing options to choose from. When I talk to people about their careers, I also ask them what they have learned recently. It gives me a sense of skills that others have that might be interesting to me.
 
Questions to consider

• What skills do you want to learn this year to achieve your next career or personal milestone?
• What courses, books, or resources are available for the skills you want to learn? 

 
Create your plan
Integrating learning into your plan is crucial. I firmly believe that we will only do things that we make a plan for. I always make sure to schedule the time and plan for the money I want to invest in learning. If you already have your resources reserved, you are reducing the barrier that you might face when the time for learning comes. It also helps to have a longer-term plan for what you want to learn. This will help you ensure your learning is aligned with the goals you want to accomplish this year and beyond.  
 
Questions to consider

• When will you take the course or read up on the skill you want to develop?
• How much do you need to plan for in your budget? 

 
Find a Learning buddy
A lot of research shows that we are more likely to work towards a complex goal if we have accountability partners. I love to learn and enjoy being an accountability partner to people around me. We learn together, share knowledge about the learning process, encourage ourselves when discouraged, and celebrate our learning accomplishments.
 
Questions to consider

• Who are the people in your life who enjoy learning? 
• How can they hold you accountable? 

 
Take Action
Now that you have a learning plan and an accountability partner, it is time to go out there and get started. It is essential to keep your commitment to developing yourself personally and professionally. Take the time to learn something new, apply your skills, and amplify your learnings by sharing them with people around you.
 
Questions to consider

• What skills do I want to learn in the next three months? 
• How will I celebrate accomplishing my learning goal?

 
Final Thoughts: MC's Journey 
Over the past 13 years, I have consistently made learning a part of my personal and professional life. No year goes by without me learning a new skill. My sister often jokes about me working on more titles and certifications. It has become a part of my life. 2023 started very differently than I imagined. However, I am still very committed to my learning goals. In April, I will be attending a Leadership course that I am very excited about.
 
Great Resources
Check out my other blog posts about learning

• What are you learning this year?
• Build your Toolkit: Learning New Skills
• Video: Continuous Learning as a Tool to Build your Career
• How to be a life-long Learner
• 5 Professional development tools that everyone needs