25 cool things to learn (that are actually useful in life)

As you probably know by now, I’m the biggest fan of productivity and being efficient with your time. Part of the secret to productivity, contrary to popular belief, is to invest time doing something for fun, to free your mind and cultivate your creativity.

And this is why I’m writing this blog post today, so that you can learn about some cool things to learn that will help you on the journey to becoming your best self.

25 cool skills to learn in 2022

 

Life is so short, and it’s so busy once you become an adult. Whilst I’m always promoting time efficiency, I also promote personal growth. This can be achieved, among a few other ways, by learning new skills, as it helps you grow as an individual, improve yourself, and perhaps even find a new passion to cultivate.

 

So let’s see what are some cool things to learn for the rest of this year, and every year after that.

 

• Photography

 

We all like to think we are photographers with our iPhones, but have you ever picked up an actual camera? Every time I see a photographer I’m always in awe about the way they capture regular moments and turn them into something beautiful.

 

You can find so many photography courses online and in person, probably even close to where you live, so why not give it a go?

 

• How to speed read

 

Now, when it comes to skills to learn for efficiency, this is definitely one of them. Whilst I haven’t tried it personally – but I really want to, I’ve read so much about the benefits of it and the different techniques.

 

And imagine how cool it is to be able to read faster, take in even more information and still be able to digest it and remember it over time!

 

• Learn how to sew

 

This is a really cool thing to learn as you can start making your own clothes, fix things that are broken and even tailor certain clothes instead of spending money at the tailors. Definitely worth spending some time learning this new skill.

 

• Learn CPR

 

This should actually be an essential thing everyone learns, because it can help saving someone’s life. I’ve heard that many people did a CPR course after having babies, but I think it’s important even before that stage.

 

• How to play an instrument

 

This has to be one of my favourites on this list! Learning to play an instrument can be so enriching in so many different ways. The best benefit is probably that it’s very therapeutic, and it allows you to destress and focus on the creative/sensory part of your brain, which is often forgotten in adultland.

 

• Learn a new language

 

Talk about cool things to learn – learning a new language has to be at the top of the list! Not only it’s important to be able to communicate in a different language, but do you know how cool it is when you go on holiday somewhere and you can speak the language of the country you’re in?

 

There are so many free platforms out there and also so many videos on Youtube, so you have plenty of choices.

 

• How to cook

 

As an Italian foodie, I had to put cooking on this list. Cooking is therapeutic, it’s fun, it helps you be creative and try new things, and it’s also great if you have a passion for gathering people, because food brings people together.

 

• Learn copywriting

 

This is one of the skills to learn in 2022, because everything is about copywriting these days. I work in Marketing for my day job, and I’m learning more and more about the importance of having good copywriting skills, no matter the industry.

 

So consider investing in a course to learn more about this, because copywriting is here to stay!

 

• Learn how to pack a suitcase

 

Have you ever had to pay extra for your luggage because you had too much stuff or your suitcase couldn’t fit in those measuring boxes they have at the airport?

 

That’s when packing your suitcase properly will become a very useful skill to learn, to save you time and stress. If you know Marie Kondo, you can follow her method for folding clothes effectively; if not, there are still plenty of Youtube videos to teach you.

 

• How to start a blog

 

You wouldn’t be reading this if I didn’t put the time and effort to learn how to start a blog.

 

I had been considering it and putting it off for years, until one day I decided to follow my dream and take action, and here we are now.

 

So if you have a passion for writing and you have something to share with the world, give it a try, you never know where it can take you!

 

• Learn how to code

 

Whilst this is not something I’m particularly keen to try just because I’m not very patient with it, I do think that coding is one of those cool things to learn when bored that can actually become something big.

 

Coding, data, tech, this is all the future, so you might as well put your time to good use and learn something new!

 

 

• How to do gardening

 

Another very therapeutic activity with great benefits is gardening. Having nice greenery around makes everything prettier, plus you learn to take care of something so that it can grow and flourish. It’s not as easy as it might seem, but once you get into the flow of things, it will be incredible.

 

• Make your own skincare products

 

Tired of all the chemicals you see on your favourite skincare products? You can either change the brand and opt for a more natural one or learn to make the products yourself!

 

I learned to make my own body butter – which also works as a hair cream for certain types of hair, and I can’t get enough of it! Pinterest is a great place to find DIY skincare recipes.

 

• Learn self-defence
  

 

I wish this could be a cool thing to learn, but if you’re a lady, this is probably more of a life-saving skill to learn. With all the craziness going around in this world, I do believe that learning self-defence can be very helpful if you ever found yourself in danger.

 

• How to do your finances

 

I can never say this enough: learning to do your finances is essential! I know it’s daunting, but you need to learn if you want to build a better future for yourself.

 

To help you out, I wrote two blog posts on how to plan and create a budget, and how to set and achieve your financial goals.

 

• How to invest

 

Again, this is another very important thing to learn, not just when you’re bored but to set yourself up for success in the future.

 

If you don’t know by now, leaving money sat in a standard savings account in your bank is not going to make it grow, but investing will!

 

I picked a few courses from Udemy and was very pleased with what I learned and it allowed me to start investing right away.

 

• Learn how to swim

 

Learning how to swim is one of those essential things to learn because it can be life saving, plus it’s actually fun!

 

If you’re blessed to live near a beach (oh, I miss my island!), then just practice there; otherwise, consider investing in a membership and join your local pool.

 

• Learn how to negotiate

 

Is this a cool thing to learn? Probably not, but it will help you get really far in life. Everything you do in life is a negotiation, and whilst some things are easy and we don’t even realise we’re doing it, others will require some soft skills and thought to have the outcome we desire.

 

• Learn graphic design

 

This is a really useful skill, and it keeps being in high demand, so it means there’s good business opportunities! 

 

My favourite tool is Canva, of course, but other platforms such as InDesign can be really cool once you learn how to use them, and it’s another great skill to add to your list!

 

• Learn how to make pizza

 

As an Italian, this should have probably been on top of the list! 

 

This is such a fun thing to learn and imagine, once you learn how to make your pizza, you’ll never have to order takeaway again!

 

• How to dance

 

I’m not talking about moving around when you hear some good music, I’m talking about learning an actual dance style. I love things like salsa, bachata, but there are also other dances that I’m fascinated by and would love to learn.

 

If you can’t find a class near you, there are many options to choose from online.

 

• How to do your nails at home

 

This skill turned out to be very useful for me in lockdown. When everything was shut and I really wanted to have nice hands, I just ordered a kit and started doing my own nails.

 

It also helps saving quite a lot of money, so it’s a cool thing to learn if you’re not able to go to a nail salon or you simply want to save some money.

 

• How to develop your soft skills

 

These skills are needed with every interaction you have, but they’ll especially be relevant in the workplace.

 

Skills like diplomacy, patience, empathy, conflict management, they can be very useful if you know how to use the appropriately.

 

• Learn video editing

 

I’m not the biggest fan of this because it takes a long time to do it; however, I think it’s very useful and when you see the final product, it’s also quite satisfying.

 

Plus, as for everything digital related, it’s another skill in high demand.

 

• Learn how to stretch

 

This is something that many people don’t do enough – including myself!

 

Stretching can be so beneficial for your health, especially if you have a job where you spend most of the day at a desk. It’s very useful to learn a few moves that you can practice daily to keep your body flexible and strong. 

 

Related articles

• 30 day challenge for your productivity and personal growth

• 20 things to do at night when bored

 

Final thoughts on cool things to learn in life

 

I hope this list has given you some ideas and inspiration to implement something new in your life.

 

Of course, there are many more cool things to learn out there, but this is what I wanted to share with you so let me know which ones you’ll try first!