13 EASY WAYS TO CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

by: LAURA VANDERKAM

from: Fast Company

1. START CARSCHOOLING

Save mindless pop music for your evening commute. In the morning, commit to listening to new podcasts or audio books that stretch your mind. Since you won’t have time to find them in the morning rush, build in a few minutes on Sunday night to download listening material for the week (check out OpenCulture.com for some free audio versions of classics).

2. GET A LEARNING BUDDY

Find an accountability partner who will check in every Friday to find out one "fun fact" you learned during the week. This relationship will probably become competitive, and that’s the point.

3. USE BITS OF TIME

If you’ve got 10 minutes, you could mindlessly check social media, or you could watch a Khan Academy video, read a segment of a classic novel via DailyLit, or check out random knowledge via Now I Know.

4. CREATE A POWER HOUR

There are 168 hours in a week. You can dedicate one of those hours weekly to participating in a webinar, attending a lunch-and-learn if your company offers them, or reading something thought-provoking (check out on Twitter for ideas). Once a month, carve out an evening or weekend morning for working on a longer course. Peruse Coursera, CreativeLive, or Lynda for ideas.

5. SUBSCRIBE TO SOMETHING MEATY

I don’t always manage to read The Economist, but when I do, I’m intrigued to learn about the political climate in Azerbaijan, or Gabon, or other places I sometimes forget exist. The weekend edition of a major newspaper could serve the same function, or a publication on industry research. Commit to reading cover to cover for a few weeks, and see what happens.

6. VISIT THE LIBRARY (OR A BOOKSTORE) AT LUNCH

Even if you don’t have a library card or you don’t buy anything, seeing the titles and flipping through those that sound interesting can expand your frame of reference. Getting out of the office and into someplace stimulating is good for the brain, in any case.

7. READ A NEW DAILY ROUNDUP

Do you get daily newsletters you don’t remember subscribing to? Unsubscribe from the ones you don’t read, and find a new roundup that you will (I’ve been readingtheSkimm to keep up with current events).

8. START A WORK BOOK CLUB

Social book clubs are more fun, at least as measured by wine consumption, but herding busy people together one evening a month is often difficult. You have to go to work, so you may as well embrace the possibilities. Choose slightly obscure selections, and you might be able to convince the author to call in.

9. TALK TO SOMEONE NEW

Then—this is key—actually listen to him or her. Often in conversation, we’re so obsessed with making our points, or plotting our escape, that we miss something that could be interesting. Figure out whatever your conversation partner is fascinated by, and learn what you can about the topic.

10. PLAN A FANTASY VACATION

In the course of researching itineraries through French wine country, you’ll learn a lot of geography, history, and culture. Of course, you’ll learn even more if you actually take the trip!

11. WRITE THAT WHITE PAPER

As you research and write a longer work in your area of expertise, you’ll reread old resources and find new ones. To motivate yourself to go the distance, try doing a mini version of National Novel Writing Month, the program that has people writing around 1,700 words a day for 30 days to produce a 50,000-word book. All you need to do is notch 170 words a day to produce a 5,000-word white paper in a month (with the bonus option of waving it around come review time).

12. EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF DATE NIGHT

Do you and your spouse see a movie and then get drinks at the same place every week? Try a one-night cooking class, or brewery tour, or visit an art gallery instead. Besides learning something new, the novelty might bring you closer.

13. WATCH TV THOUGHTFULLY

About 80% of people watch television on a given day, so upgrading your selection is an easy win. Peruse Netflix’s documentaries for options—you'll feel relaxed andsmarter.