The excitement of a new year ushers in a world of possibilities. What are your plans for 2021? While travel and socialising are still a time away, consider honing a new skill that will not only ignite a passion but also help stimulate your cognitive skills. While enjoying your golden years, learning to do new things can take your quality of life to the next level. Here are six new skills to consider for adding fun and productivity to your life, many of which can be done online or with a group of friends.
Speed-Reading
Learning to speed-read can come in very handy. Of course, there are times when you will prefer to just relax and take your time with a good book. This not only helps you finish a book faster; it trains the brain to comprehend and retain more information. You could explore The PX Project which has increased participants’ reading speed by an average of 386 percent.
Cooking
Would you like to be a master chef and treat your family and friends to a gourmet spread? Everyone wants to, but not everyone is willing to take the time. Cooking is an art that teaches patience and develops and exercises your creativity. There’s no limit to the variety of foods you can master, and you can expose yourself and your loved ones to many different cultures. It’s also an inexpensive way to reduce stress. You can even make some money on the side if that’s something you’re into.
Learn to Make Videos
Videos are a great way to document the lives of you and your people. Whether you’re making home videos to watch with the family each year or creating a collage of friends and events that will bring nostalgia for years to come, being able to make quality videos is a fun skill that can keep you engaged. You can find tutorials online or you could play around with online resources like animoto.com or lumen5.com. If this is something you enjoy you could also consider enrolling for an online course.
Gardening
Like many of the other skills on this list, gardening is well-known for alleviating stress and improving overall health. You could start a small terrace garden with home grown vegetables and herbs. Growing your own food is a way for you to eat as fresh and healthy as possible. Alternatively, it could be for aesthetics only. You don’t need a huge expanse to begin gardening. You can start by planting in a small container and go from there! You could also start an indoor landscaping project around the house, which could follow a theme from aroma therapy to a miniature Japanese garden.
Learn to Play an Instrument
Besides just being really fun, learning a musical instrument has amazing cognitive benefits and can be a mental health booster. While learning any instrument is beneficial, certain instruments work certain parts of the body and brain. Research various instrument options with your unique personality and goals in mind, or visit a music store in your area to determine which one suits you. You can find free tutorials on YouTube, take online lessons, or look for local traditional classes if you want to add a socializing aspect to the learning process.
No matter your age, learning new skills will enhance your life and improve your health. Look online or locally for opportunities to learn these or any other interesting activities available. Consider making this your 2021 goal and share the joy of mastering a new skill with your family and friends.