Today is one of those days. Why? Because learning new shit is hard. End whine. But why is it so hard tho? Let’s get deep.
YOU AREN’T BROKEN, THIS IS NORMAL
- There’s usually a reason why we are doing the episode we are doing… todays reason? Sausha’s iPhone saga.✨
- We are both in our mid-30s, so either you’re in the same boat as us, you’ve ridden this boat already, or you’re about to get on it… this is bound to happen to you.
- As humans we are dispositioned to want to learn and grow. As a podcaster, I’ve heard so many people tell me how much they’d love to try it, then they don’t. Why? Because it’s fucking scary. Trust us, we know. We’ve been through the terrestrial radio to internet streaming pipeline… AND we’re both constantly studying for certifications. We get it, switching gears can be a lot. Shit’s scary and weird. BUT it’s what you make it. You can either embrace it and rock that shit, or you can be resentful and stubborn which isn’t very fun.
- This applies to anything and everything. Since we’re in the business of talking about your health journey, let’s dissect how that applies to that area:
- When you’ve been doing a movement a certain way for a long time, for example, your squat, it can be really difficult to unlearn your movement pattern.
- Like anything else that you’re unlearning or newly learning, practice makes perfect. The more reps you do at lower weight, mastering a new movement pattern is the way to go. It might be frustrating, but it’s worth practicing to see those gains and that weight go up. It always becomes easier with time.
GET USED TO BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
- Many adults give up too early because they don’t feel like they’re making any progress. It takes time to get good at something. Hell, it even takes time to get mediocre at something. Commit to sticking with your hobby for at least 3 months (if you’re financially able to do so). If you’re not seeing any progress, reevaluate if you’re putting in enough effort. Keep in mind that everyone learns at different speeds.
- If you find you’re just not enjoying it as much as you thought, that’s okay! At least now you know it might not be for you, and you can instead prioritize something else you may enjoy more. And that’s on finding your workout soulmate
- It can be hard to stay motivated, especially before you start seeing any progress. If this is something you’re struggling with, take a few minutes to set specific and achievable goals. You know what we are gonna say: start small. This way you’ll start hitting your targets sooner rather than later and get that dopamine hit that comes with smashing success.
GO CRUSH THAT NEW SKILL!
Pulled a great snippet from one of our notes articles that I can’t say better myself, so I won’t:
- Don’t let your age stop you from doing something you’ve always wanted to do. Sure, it can be embarrassing or scary to be a complete beginner at something when you’re an adult, especially if it’s a common skill for people to learn at a young age. I get it. Thankfully, there are ways to combat that problem.
- Private lessons — these are generally more expensive, but having one-on-one time with an instructor can be one of the best ways to ensure a successful learning experience.
- Adult-specific classes — if you’re doing an activity that is popular for children (e.g. swimming lessons, dance classes, etc) make sure to check if adult-specific classes are offered. My first snowboarding lesson was with a group of pre-teens, which definitely made me feel awkward.
- Learn from the internet — in the age of the internet, there are so many new skills you can learn without ever having to leave your home. The best part is that many instructional resources are completely free. You can find written guides here on Medium or independent websites, and video tutorials are abundantly available on sites like Youtube and Skillshare.
- Different hobbies will require different amounts of committed time to make progress. Be realistic about the amount of time you have available for a new hobby and plan accordingly.
- Google is your friend here. Try to figure out how much of a time and monetary investment your new endeavor may require.
- Hobbies cost money. Some are more expensive than others, but most will require some type of financial investment. Thankfully there are ways to reduce costs or offset them altogether.
- Borrow — before spending money on potentially expensive supplies or equipment, see if anyone in your life has stuff you can borrow. Especially if you don’t know if you’re going to like the hobby yet.
- Rent — similar to borrowing, this is a great way to make sure you like a hobby before you commit to spending lots of money on your own supplies or equipment. Keep in mind that renting over a long period of time will get expensive, so if you find that you like your hobby and want to continue for the foreseeable future, it’s probably a good idea to look into buying your own stuff.
- Buy used — depending on the hobby, there’s rarely a need to purchase things brand new. Used items are cheaper, though make sure to carefully check the condition of the item before you purchase it.
- Resell — Ready to upgrade your equipment? Bored of your existing hobby and want to try something new? Don’t just let your hobby-related gear sit around collecting dust. Sell it to make some money and help someone else get started on their learning journey; OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist are all great options for this in the US.
In the words of Rob Schneider in The Waterboy, “YOU CAN DO EEEET!” Fuckin’ get out there and do the thing, dude!
https://medium.com/curious/why-youre-failing-to-learn-new-skills-as-an-adult-67660542f30a
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/18/is-it-really-too-late-to-learn-new-skills
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