How to Learn Almost Anything

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If you are like me, you find yourself interested in almost all subjects. While you can’t be an expert in everything, you can learn about a lot of things you otherwise would know very little about.

The trick to learning about new areas, subjects, or fields is to get involved with them. More specifically, write about what it is you want to learn. When you are forced to write about something, you generally have to have a decent understanding of the subject in order to express your point in writing, thus learning in the process.

Think about lawyers, many of them become semi-experts in many fields. For example, to prosecute a criminal case a lawyer needs to know about forensics, bullet trajectory, and the psychology of criminals to name a few.

So if you want to learn about something, force yourself to write about it. Let’s say, you want to know more about the history of the United States. Well, the first thing I would do is get a couple of books (having varying sources always helps). Next I would start my own blog (blogger is a good place to start). Why a blog you ask? Well, if you have a blog, you can potentially have an audience and if you have an audience it is more likely that you will be more thorough in your research.

Speaking of audiences, learning new things is made easier if you imagine you have to teach it to some one. This is why the blog component is very important.

The same rules apply if you want to learn more hands on things such as fixing a car. Explaining in writing helps you understand whatever it is you want to learn better because it forces you to really think about it.

Break the Routine by Thinking Outside the Box

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Are you tired of living what I like to call the template life, do you want to think outside the box and gain new perspective? Are you sick of the daily monotonous drudgery that repeats itself day in and day out? You wake up, get ready for work, and drive to work while listening to some bland radio show. Once you get to work, you hit the cubicle, you spend the day trying to steer clear of the ridiculous office politics.

You get home after a long commute to be with your husband or wife, you have dinner maybe watch some TV and off to bed, get ready because tomorrow will be absolutely no different than today was and you are sick of it!

Well, the good news is that if you are reading this then you want to change the template. Yes, things can be different and better. And believe it or not you can start thinking more creatively and outside the box.

Human beings are creatures of habit; we need it because it provides us psychological security and a sense of purpose. However, it’s this same instinct that can sometimes prevent us from breaking the mold and achieving a different perspective in life. The first step is to break the routine, to do this there are a myriad of things you can do. Let’s start with the physical.

Change in Diet

Believe it or not, your diet has a lot to do with the way you feel and think. Sometimes thinking better or thinking differently is as simple as changing your diet. I used to have a huge breakfast as recommended by most doctors; however, I found that I couldn’t concentrate well in the morning. One day when I was in a rush to leave the house, I grabbed a banana and a cup of coffee, later in the morning I was feeling great. It was the change in diet.

Don’t forget to include a healthy source of protein; it is what feeds the brain. Without a source of protein, the brain would lose much of its ability to focus.

Break the Routine

Sometimes a simple break in routine can help you think outside the box. Just imagine, if everyday you stare at the same cubicle, the same car, the same people, this can be a drag on your ability to think differently. Do this, take a day off from work and go to the beach, go for a hike, or somewhere you usually don’t go, and do this by yourself.

Thinking outside the box doesn’t always happen when you are well rested and crisp. Sometimes the best ideas come to me when I’m tired and its 3 am and I’m still working on a project.

These minor tips can help, but I have found that people usually want to change their train of thought and think outside the box because they are tired or bored with their life. To this point, change in your life ultimately rests with you. If you are sick of your job, change it. If you hate the town you’re in, move. Don’t box yourself in, take the leap and do it.