Want to increase your wisdom?

Make life more interesting?

Acquire fabulous ideas, inspiration and skills?

Then you need to embrace learning!

Just think of your heroes, the people that you look up to and aspire to be like. They are the people that have learned and developed throughout their lives.

They are the people who, despite all challenges, setbacks and insecurities, push forward to become truly great!

So, what do you need to do in order to grow?

Well, first of all, you need time. There are opportunities for self-improvement around every corner, but you will need to apply yourself.

If you don’t have time, make time by using tips from our article How To Learn And Develop Your Time Management Skills!

Lack of time is actually lack of priorities.

Tim Ferriss

Got the time but fear you don’t have the money to allow yourself the “luxury” of an education?

Worried you can’t afford to enrol on an that expensive course, purchase those pricey textbooks or visit places that may inspire and educate you?

Well we’re pleased to report that you don’t need a bulging wallet to go in search of knowledge.

Learning doesn’t have to be expensive, a small contribution should be all you need, and hey, why not – there’s no better investment than an investment in yourself!

Ask questions, look up information, understand the importance of education and be curious (it might have killed the cat but we think you will be safe).

If you happen to come across a word or phrase you aren’t familiar with, don’t just pass it over, investigate.

 Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.

Bernard Baruch

A thesaurus is such a useful tool and don’t forget the good old dictionary, both will help you to explore the meaning of words and you can hone your spelling at the same time!

If you see or hear something that catches your interest, go and find out more. Search engines have provided you with encyclopedias in the palm of your hands, but more on technology later…

Treat life as if it were a mystery, always looking for clues, information and ideas; interview everyone to see what you can find and connect information you collect and people you meet.

This way you will forever develop and become a pretty good networker too!

There is no better teacher than life itself!

The more you put yourself out, into the world, the more you will get back, especially in education.

Meeting new people, seeing new places and experiencing new things is both exciting and educational!

If you can create a network of interesting, amusing and insightful people, you will not only develop the relationships side of your Wheel of Wellbeing but you will also have a great knowledge base to draw from.

People learn from people! The bigger your network, the more you will learn!

The way to gain experiences and meet new people is to just go out and do “stuff.”

Don’t be afraid to put yourself in unusual situations. Like Goggins’ explains above, get comfortable with being uncomfortable – that’s how you grow!

If you’re interested in travelling, we have dedicated a whole series on places that will inspire you and tips on how to stay healthy whilst adventuring.

Read, read and read some more.

Devour books, scour newspapers, peruse magazines, explore websites and browse blogs.

You don’t have to spend a small fortune on hardbacks and glossies, instead head to somewhere that provides a home to all that is great and good in the world of the written word – your local library.

Free to enter, free to browse, free to sit and free to enjoy the peace and quiet, oh, and did we mention it’s free?

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

Richard Steele

If you don’t fancy a trip to the library how about setting up a book swap with friends?

Or head to a car-boot or second-hand sale – you can pick up some real bargains, fiction books, non-fiction books and magazines too.

If you need materials to assist your studies check out classifieds and well-known auction sites.

Prefer to do your reading on a screen rather than via well-thumbed paper pages? Invest in an eReader.

We appreciate it might not have been on your list of essentials when you were making a budget, but they are portable and offer access to a myriad of material.

If you don’t even have the time to scroll or flick then, after you have considered our time-saving series, you could go for audiobook and simply listen while your book is read to you.

That way you can multi-task, filling “dead time” with learning time. Have you got a long journey on the train or in the car? Is your mountain of ironing threatening to topple? Is your angry bath shrieking for a scrub? Well, reach for your rubber gloves and get stuck in whilst you listen to your favourite audiobook.

If you don’t have the time to read or listen to a full book, why not try out Blinkist, a new app which transforms bestselling nonfiction books into “powerful packs you can read or listen to in just 15 minutes.”

The world-wide web can provide you enough reading material to keep you entertained for hours. There are a few websites worth checking out if you’re generally captivated by educational challenges and interesting statistics:

• Our World in Data
• A Google A Day
• CIA World Factbook

Websites are a mine of information, and some of the most motivational, inspiring and brightest individuals post their thoughts, ideas and work online for everyone to access.

Blogs can be illuminating and thought-provoking and can give you a real boost if you’re looking to improve yourself.

Online learning is not the next big thing, it is the now big thing.

Donna J Abernathy

Not able to leave your current role and commit to attending college on a daily basis? Can’t afford that course that you feel would get you on the path towards the career of your dreams?

In the past enrolling on a course could be a costly business but now there is another option – if you are not already acquainted, please allow us to introduce you to eLearning.

As astounding as it may seem there are courses that you can take online and for free!

Get close up and personal with science – explore organisms as you tackle biology, travel through space and time as you discover physics go nuclear with chemistry. Brush up on those numbers and gain confidence as you improve your literacy skills.

Away from the mainstream topics there are plenty of other freebie courses too; from discovering the hidden world of opera to how to succeed at interviews, diagnosing animal viruses to learning how to play the jazz piano – if you want to learn it there’s quite possibly a free course for it.

We’ve all heard about those motivational greats that have a knack to inspire and ignite a passion in us.

The likes of Tony Robbins, Nick Vujicic, Jim Rohn, Louise Hay and Suze Orman all have some pretty powerful words that they are more than happy to share.

Most think the ‘past equals the future.’ Decision is the ultimate power.

Tony Robbins

Get involved in the fervour by checking out some of the influential, educational and inspirational videos and podcasts that are doing the rounds online.

You can access these via a number of well known (and free) sites. I’m sure you know the but if not, just ask Google!

Enlighten yourself, free your mind and reach your potential with My Home Vitality’s very own channel…

Whether you are looking for an educational treat just to please your own inquisitiveness, a trip with your partner to provide some healthy debate or a day out to get your whole brood exploring and discovering – a museum, art gallery or exhibition could be just the place.

Some require an entrance fee, but many are free and ask for a voluntary contribution to help them along.

A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered…

Nanette L. Avery

The learning opportunities are endless, with fascinating paintings, intriguing sculptures, photographs, jewellery, clothing from days gone by, toys and even mummies fresh (or perhaps not quite so fresh) from Egypt – cocooned chillingly in their sarcophagi.

Learn about history, life in another country, famous people, landscapes and inventions.

Museums (and the like) offer a wealth of learning opportunities and if you are a fan of gaining a wide range of knowledge for a low cost, they should be high on your list of cheap learning resources.

The answer is a resounding Yes!

Even if you are creating a budget and trying to cut back on certain areas of spending the good news is you can still improve and educate yourself.

Make learning part of your life, keep at it and, as David Goggins’ alludes to in the video above, the journey of development is a lesson in itself!

Enjoy the journey people!

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

– Chinese Proverb