Let’s be real: the image of happiness from a life of dedication often glosses over the messy reality of getting started. Education, the holy grail of mental fitness transformations, can feel as intimidating as scaling Mount Everest in your pajamas.
Here’s the truth: Getting Started is HARD. Here’s why:
- The Intimidation Factor: Libraries and schools are filled with seemingly effortless regulars. You might feel like a lost puppy wandering into a dog show. Don’t worry, everyone started somewhere, even Albert Einstein; who, by the way, was dyslexic.
- Learning the Lingo: Visionary, Maven, Processor, Protector, Specialists, Naturalist –– a whole new vocabulary bombards you. It’s okay to ask for help! Teachers are there to guide you, not judge you.
- The Soreness Struggle: Mental fatigue after you fail a quiz isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a reminder that your mind is protesting this new activity. Start slow, listen to your body, and embrace the fact that frustration with learning is temporary (but oh-so-real).
- Media Dilemma: Forget quick fixes like listening to news and social media. Creating a healthy education diet takes courage and effort. Saying goodbye to the scroll and hello to Micro-Dripping can feel like a major life shift.
- Motivation Meltdown: Life gets busy. Work, family, social commitments –– suddenly that 15-minute micro-course seems impossible. Don’t beat yourself up. Focus on consistency, not perfection. Aim for 2-3 micro-drip courses a week and build from there.
Tips to Tame the Transformation:
- Baby Steps: Don’t jump into a hardcore advanced calculus class. Start with Micro-Drip Learning and discover what inspires you and identify content weaknesses requiring the most improvement.
- Find Your Tribe: Shared learning experiences provide opportunities to join group discussions that boost motivation and make learning fun and engaging.
- Embrace the Apps: There are tons of free courses with foundational and advanced knowledge about anything and everything. Check out MOOCs.
- Celebrate Non-Scale Victories: Focus on how you feel, not just your grades. More confidence? happiness? connections to others? These are wins too!
- Reward Yourself: Hitting your goals deserves a celebration. With learning, there is no overindulgence. Treat yourself with a dream vacation and you can learn about history and culture as part of the trip.
Remember: This is a journey, not a sprint. There will be setbacks, missed classes, and cheating (asking your friend for the answers to the Trivia Quizzes). The key is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on track. You’ve got this!
Bonus Tip: Take screen shots of your first grades. Not to shame yourself, but to track your progress. Seeing how smart you become and tracking your rankings on the leaderboards. These stats will become a huge motivator as you start to define your skills and passions for life.
The most important thing? Start. It takes just one click to embark on an amazing journey towards a healthier, happier, stronger you. So, sharpen your pencils, grab some healthy snacks, and get ready to conquer those challenges and embark on the journey of a lifetime! You won’t regret it!