In a world where knowledge is power, cultivating and harnessing it can improve your life in many ways.
Whether it’s your day-to-day personal life, your relationships, your financial well-being, your health, your personal development or your work situation, you can improve the quality of all of these by gaining knowledge and putting it into practice.
But given the range of resources available in this age of misinformation, how do you effectively leverage your wealth of knowledge?
Here are 15 simple, easy and practical ways toincrease your knowledge:
Always be curious
A curious mind is full of questions, thoughts and ideas. It is therefore not surprising that it seeks knowledge and paves the way for lifelong learning.
Start by asking questions about the “what,” “who,” “where,” “why,” and “how” of things, and you’ll soon find yourself knowing more than the majority. In order to gain in-depth knowledge on a variety of topics, you need to build a solid foundation that you can continue to build on. So make it a point to understand the basics first, then move on.
Read books!
Books are full of knowledge about the past, the present and even the future. So, if you have to start somewhere, opt for reading books – you just can’t go wrong with them.
Whether it’s getting free books online or borrowing hardcover books from the library, there are many sources you can get books from. Also, read about a wide range of topics, even those you don’t know anything about. And don’t forget toexplore the different genres of books, from classics to novels to self-help books to autobiographies.
After all, books are a great way to learn about different topics by breaking them down and providing key information.
If one book doesn’t work, there’s no harm in trying another!
Read articles and blogs daily
Articles and blogs are the best alternative to books. Simply visit popular and credible websites to expand your knowledge on the topics of your choice. You will literally find articles and blogs on every subject.
Whether it’s how to ensure your holistic health and wellness, tips and tricks for growing your business or the latest trends and developments in the world, you can get all the knowledge you need by simply reading articles and blogs.
P.S. You can improve your reading speed of articles and blogs to read them faster. This means you can read more and gain more knowledge. Isn’t that exactly what you want?
Take the research approach
When you read, you are exposed to a wealth of information and many new ideas. This is where the inquisitive mind comes into play again.
You now have even more questions up your sleeve and an intrinsic motivation to dig deeper. This is where your research skills should shine.
Now you need to explore other sources, investigate what you’ve learned, connect with knowledge leaders, and keep reading, reading, reading. Remember, when reading is combined with research, you are well on your way togaining new knowledge.
Listen to podcasts
No, not all information is contained in the books. You can gain valuable knowledge just by listening to knowledgeable people talk.
Podcasts, for example, are an ideal way to accumulate knowledge, even on the go, in a convenient and appropriate way. Plus, there is so much to choose from, you can literally find educational content on any topic you want, from experts.
Oh, and FYI, podcasts also provide simplified, easy-to-understand knowledge. No technicalities or gobbledygook that you wouldn’t understand.
Take regular courses or training
To broaden your horizons and improve your skills, you need to invest in learning what is relevant, useful and in high demand. A surefire way to do this is to enroll in a course or training, either online or offline.
This will give you a taste of something new and interesting, while expanding your knowledge base and skill set.
So try to take a new course or training every month. This will surely increase your knowledge in ways you can’t even imagine.
Add variety to your watch list
Yes, it’s hard to resist watching episodes on Netflix sometimes, but why not add a little variety?
You can gain more knowledge by simply lying on the couch after a long day watching educational content. Yes, that’s right!
Several documentary films, instructional videos, professional channels and TED Talks are available to help you expand your knowledge.
Also, did you know that people tend to retain almost 80% of what they see, compared to only 20% of what they hear?
Take advantage of the power of images to satisfy your thirst for knowledge!