By: Ken Austin
When you are stuck in a rut it can be one of the most demotivating and depressing experiences you will ever face. When you're going nowhere fast and the world is changing around you, the common feeling is one of being trapped. We often feel trapped when we stop learning and experiencing new things.
Do you feel trapped? Stuck? Demotivated? Helpless?
► When we are born we begin our learning journey, discovering the world around us through our experiences.
► As we grow older we crave growth and further development and we seek to further our own knowledge and experience.
► When we attend school we learn many skills including numeracy, literacy and social skills.
► When we attend other classes, such as self defence classes, computer courses or language classes we do so because we enjoy new and varied experiences.
So, what happens when we stop learning? When we leave school, get a job and settle down. Do our needs for mental stimulation subside? The simple answer is NO. Some of us are lucky enough to find jobs which challenge us to keep learning, developing new skills and talents. What of those who do not find their job so interesting? What of those who are stuck in a pattern of "wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed"?
We may become demotivated, unhappy or even depressed. We need to bring new experiences into our lives, we need to give our lives a purpose. When we cease to develop we stagnate, our brains must be stimulated. The less we use our brain, the faster its capacity decreases.
Here are some ways to ensure you do not stagnate:
Set goals
When we set goals we give ourselves something to achieve, a purpose. If you do not have a goal, or are not working towards a specific goal you should start now. Setting, and striving to achieve goals is a great way to stay motivated.
Always be learning
Set out to discover new things, keep challenging your mind. Read books and aim to learn at least one new thing per day. The internet is a fantastic tool to aid research.
Experience new things
Pick something you've always longed to do and DO IT. Then once you've done it, do something else. Enjoy life, it is your personal responsibility to do so - nobody can wave a magic want for you, it starts with a choice which is then followed up with action.
Overcome your weaknesses
What are your biggest challenges in life? Identify your weaknesses and learn how to overcome them.
Exercise
Whether you choose to jog a few miles a day or go for a long walk at the weekend, a healthy lifestyle is essential for a healthy mind.
Meet new interesting people
Simply meeting new people and getting to know them is a great way to learn new things.
Help others
We all get a sense of wellbeing when we go out of our way to help somebody for no reason other than to be nice.
The world is changing all around us, we must grow with it or be left behind. We should always be learning new things, this way we keep our brain in great shape and achieve a sense of well being. There is always something new to learn, new things to experience. When you find yourself standing still while your life is going nowhere fast, do something about it.
