By Zainab Chunawala
With the cold long winter behind us, the perfect time to take on something new & challenging is here! College may be ending soon for some of us, and this frees up time for you to pursue something you would love to do but were forced to put off. Now’s the time to take on that challenge to be the best version of yourself and have some fun!
Give yourself something to pursue
Be occupied with something you love! Get the hang of the guitar or learn a new language, take that cooking lesson, it could be just about anything that drives you! Like Ellen DeGeneres quite eloquently puts it; “follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost, and you see a path then by all means you should follow that.”
Be prolific
As children we’re much less self-critical of our creativity. It’s important to nurture this quality throughout our lives and let it flourish for it to survive! It is only through practice and vulnerability, that the creative genius in you will be revealed.
Embrace disciplined consumption
Consume everything relevant to your career. Read, watch films, search for inspiration on the internet, check out the work of those renowned and obscure in your field, and absorb absolutely everything. Look at blogs online. “Medium” the website is a great resource. So is Lynda.com where you can learn anything (literally anything) through comprehensive videos and it is completely free with your Centennial Student Login.
Ditch the Autopilot mode
The challenge, of course, is that we can’t get better on autopilot. The way to get better at any skill is to force yourself to practice just beyond your limits. You have to tweak your habits by pushing, allowing for more errors and learning along the way as you increase your limits and go beyond boundaries.
Challenge your brain
Physical and mental activities are the most consistent ways to boost neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons in the brain). Physical exercise boosts the brain’s rate of neurogenesis, while mental exercise surges the rate at which those new brain cells survive and form connections. It is also important you take purposeful walks and naps; keeping your body and mind healthy in the process of recreation and recharging yourself.
Final thoughts
While work will keep you busy, try to start something you find joy in. Keeping it up just gets easier automatically! Keep swinging the axe at the tree and don’t worry if you miss. You will ultimately get it right. Fingers crossed, this piece translates well and leaves you with a cool story to tell, right?
And if it does flop, go back to bed and start over. It’s okay, we won’t tell.
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