Some people thrive on formal learning situations. But if this is not for you or you have family or other responsibilities you may prefer to learn on your own schedule, with your own goals in mind. No one is really busy 24 hours a day, so grab some free time for yourself. You can get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later. If you think you don’t have time to learn something new, make a sign that states, “I Don’t Have Time To Study” near your television. This way when you are taking time to watch your favorites show, you will realize that maybe you do have time to study. So go ahead, feed your mind and learn something new and exciting.

Identify what you want to learn, set an objective, then gather your resources:

There are myriad ways to meet your goals independently, through such programs as Web-based training or distance learning. Learn what’s available in your area, what suits your schedule, and what it will cost in terms of time and money.

Explore the area you’re interested in to find out what excites your interest:

Do you wish you could play the guitar or piano? Go for it. Anyone can learn to play chords on these instruments. You probably already know more than you think you do. Guitar chords are CAGE_D, piano chords EGBDF (every good boy does fine.) If this looks familiar you probably learned it in school. Now check the Internet for low cost or free courses, or buy a book. You may not be as good as your music hero but you will surprise your friends and maybe yourself.

You may be like me and have an interest in many things. My suggestion is to start with a subject that is already familiar to you and move forward to learn more. Oh, about learning to play the guitar, when I was a young twenty-something my husband bought one as part of my Christmas bundle. I was a happy camper, I listened to Joan Baez records and strummed along with her while she sang “House of the Rising Sun.” Was I good at it? No, I was not, but I can still play chords. The thing is I gave it a shot and it was fun and exciting.

Check your local high school or college/university

High school and colleges often have low cost or free classes. Some have free classes for senior citizens. The same venues may have workshops or short learning sessions.

Search the Internet

If your interest is books and author interviews visit Barnes and Nobles studio page http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bn-studio/videos-podcasts/index.asp?

Does your local supermarket have cooking classes?

Some King supermarkets have cooking classes. Call to see if your supermarket has them.

Visit your public library or museum

My library has free crochet, knitting, writing and poetry classes. It even held a “How to sell on Ebay” class for those with Internet skills and want to earn extra dollars. Don’t forget to check out what’s going on at your nearby museum. Museum’s are not just about walking around looking at paintings and statues, most have free or low-cost learning experiences for members.

If you are not sure of what you want to know more about, stop the subject niches here at BellaOnline.com to get an idea of what you want to be when you grow up. The bottom line? Don’t use excuses not to learn something new.

Would you like to test yourself to find out how skilled you are? Check out http://brainbench.com/ a learning and aptitude site that has many free tests. When you pass the test, you can get a free certificate for your bragging wall.