Going in to this trial I had visions of picking up a few new skills, most of which wouldn’t really be useful. In reality, this last month went by in a blur and I barely worked on two things. While I did consider a few things throughout, it wasn’t quite the result I expected.
Tuning Trials
With this trial coming to a close, I am not entirely happy with the results. I can at least look back and apply lessons learned to the future. One of the core problems I see with this trial is setting the rules too loose. “Learning new skills” was far too broad to have solid compliance.
I find I have the best time and adhere best when I need to follow a simple straightforward guidelines. Having a specific rule to follow removes any thinking about what I need to do.
Something else to consider is how it’s easier to remove something to life than to add it in. Making the time to learn these skills just wasn’t on my priority list, even as a trial. Not to say I’ll never try anything that requires adding to my life, some of my favorite trials fall here, but I need to consider the timing of doing so.
A Life of Learning
Though this trial was not necessarily a success, throughout my life, I’ve been fascinated with learning. Even beyond schooling, I’ve continued learning in a variety of areas. I am energized diving into a subject and gaining a deeper understanding be it philosophy, cooking, music, physics, or really anything else that sparks my interest.
In recent years, I’ve really enjoyed learning from reading. I like to find lessons learned in all kinds of books, including fiction. A goal of mine this year is to read 40 books, including 12 specific ones from a variety of genres. After finishing a book, I write a few things I learned from it. That way, I not only tend to remember better, but I have a place to look back and review those lessons.
Even without a specific goal, I find learning in a variety of ways. By observing and making note of my actions, I can work on improving a skill, process, or routine.
What’s Next
Since late last year, I’ve been carrying around some holiday weight that I am hoping to drop. I’ve long heard the benefits of intermittent fasting, and even tried to start a few times. My problem was I’d always slip up over time.
Perhaps I cheated a bit, and actually started this early last week, but didn’t want to avoid starting while also finishing out the trial above. Pairing fasting with watching my calorie intake is bound to lead to some positive results.
Trying Out Before Buying In 