5 Ways to Get Ahead in Your Free Time
Most professionals spend at least 40 hours a week (more or less) working towards being better and getting further in their careers. With the concept of work-life balance gaining traction, especially among Millennials entering the work force, there have to be ways to spend time away from the office while still bettering your skill set.
I have five incredibly simple cheats that help me use my free time to my advantage--without spending my weekends in the office or cranking out emails:
1. Take a splurge day
It may seem obvious, but take an entire day and do whatever the hell makes you happy. Sometimes I use my splurge day to eat all of my favorite meals. Once, after a particularly grueling travel schedule, I used my splurge day to sleep for 30 hours. Whatever you feel like your body needs to recharge and re-energize--do that.
Consider taking it one step further, and try unplugging for the day. Resist the urge to catalogue your (hopefully epic) day on social media, or sneak a peek at your incoming emails. A wave of new ideas and inspiration begins to flow when you aren't constantly looking down.
2. Go to a museum
Free time should give you a mental refresh. A great way to do this is to spend time looking at work that inspires, interests, or intrigues you. I find this type of work on a museum wall, and take great joy in visiting museums whenever I'm in a new city. Find your museum.
3. Write it down
Your free time should re-energize your thoughts. An important part of taking a splurge day is to write down your thoughts and ideas.
Throughout the busy workweek, you may not have time to entertain every thought that pops into your head. Take advantage of your time away from the office and pour your ideas onto paper. The practice is incredibly beneficial to creating, evaluating, and adjusting your work.
4. Be a mentor
Volunteering your time is a great way to better yourself, grow, and learn in your profession. When I started college at age 14 (yes, 14), I could have been intimidated. But truthfully, I was just eager to be around so many older people, who I knew had so much to offer. Mentoring a younger student or professional allows you the opportunity to share your knowledge and receive some in return.
5. Learn something new
Learning how to code, use Photoshop, or edit video, are all substantial uses of your free time, but I'm not just referring to skills directly applicable to your career. You can benefit just as much from learning how to knit or how to play an instrument or a new sport. Though these skills may not be directly applicable in the office, the ability to commit to a new task and learn is essential to success in all facets of life.
These are just some of the ways that I like to get ahead in my free time. What are some of yours?
This story was original found here 5 Ways to Get Ahead in Your Free Time