Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a learner + researcher at heart. I must have passed at least some of those genes on to my kids, because their favorite Christmas gifts have always been books.
When it comes to life, parenting, relationships, learning about essential oils, doTERRA as a business … you name it … there’s usually a book or a podcast you can use to learn more about the subject.
I’ve become a master at finding the niches of time in my day that can do double-duty. Times where I’m doing mindless tasks that allow me to learn at the same time.
Holding a book takes your hands, but you can also use audiobooks & podcasts when you need to be hands free. Just to give you ideas of when you can sneak in some learning, here are some of the times of day that have worked for me:
while prepping breakfast/lunch/dinner
while driving
while doing laundry
while cleaning
while exercising
in the shower (using a suction cup bluetooth speaker)
while doing my hair + makeup
in bed before going to sleep
on a walk
I easily average 2 hours a day listening to a podcast or reading a book. Find those niches of time & they will really add up.
I enjoy reading for entertainment, but I love evolving my mindset through podcasts + books that help me to gain perspective around things I struggle with. I have found - & so will you - that you look at things differently as you gain insight from those whose strengths are your weaknesses.
Feeling stuck? Listen to a podcast.
Feeling depressed? Listen to a podcast.
Need a different approach to something? Try a book around that subject.
I love taking notes & marking up + highlighting my self development books. Many times I transfer my notes into Google Docs for easy access by subject so I can find them later. If I’m driving & listening to a podcast & hear something golden, I’ll quickly note the time within the podcast that I heard it. When I get home I can jot my notes down so I can use that nugget later.
“But I don’t have the time … “
If you aren’t sure you have time for self development in the form of podcasts, books or audiobooks - here are some ways you might be able to free up some time.
What if you cut back on:
TV/Netflix
Social Media browsing
reading/watching the news
To put this in perspective, did you know the average American spends at least 11 hours per day watching TV and/or interacting with Social Media?
Another interesting tidbit: the average home that earns less than $25,000 a year, watches 7 hours of TV per day.
What if you were to trade in just 1 hour per day of watching TV, & did some personal development instead? Those accumulated hours would change your life.
