Time is a valuable resource. You can always make more money but you can’t buy more time. Here are six ways to spend you spare time in a more productive and useful way…
- Listen to Audiobooks
One of my favourite things to do in my free time is listen to audiobooks. They are ideal listening material when your hands are busy doing mundane tasks like the washing up. They are also a great listen while you are commuting or driving to work. Not only are they a source of enjoyment but you can learn something new too!
You can find audiobooks in almost every genre from health and fitness to fantasy and science fiction. I personally like to listen to personal development and business audiobooks but you should find something that interests and engages you.
There are lots of ways to listen to audiobooks. But, for me the easiest way to do this is through Audible. What’s great is they offer a 30-day free trial for new customers so you can check to see if audiobooks are a good fit for you. Non-prime members receive one free audiobook of their choice which you can keep even if you cancel! However, Amazon prime members receive two free audiobooks so make sure you take advantage of 6 months free prime for students! Or, if you’re not a student you can get a 30-day free trial!
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
2. Learn a Language
Remember the days during GCSEs when you could hold a Spanish conversation about the name of your pet and the types of furniture you have in your house? Well if you’ve forgotten how perhaps it’s time to freshen up those language skills. However, this time you could actually choose what you learn. There are lots of easy ways to learn a language online. Some platforms are free but some you will have to pay a small monthly fee for. Duolingo is a good free way of learning and they have lots of languages to choose from.
3. Read a Book
I’m sure you’re bored by now of people telling you to read more. However, instead of telling you to read more I’m going to explain why you should read more.
Firstly, reading can greatly reduce your stress levels which can be really important during your studies when those exams are on the horizon. Secondly, reading will improve your memory function. This could really come in handy during those last-minute flash card revisions before an exam! Thirdly, you can also see improvements in focus, concentration, vocabulary and writing skills. These could all translate into better performance in exams and assessments! And lastly, you just get to know more about stuff!
Personally, I choose to read physical book copies rather than eBooks. I prefer to have a book in my hand and would rather avoid staring at a screen any longer than I have to. However, if you have an eReader or just want to read on the kindle app then make sure you take advantage of the 30-day free trial of Kindle Unlimited. This gets you access to over 1 million titles and thousands of audiobooks.
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
4. Blogging
If you have a particular passion or interest, then creating a blog couldn’t be easier. Since you are passionate about the subject or topic the words will flow right onto the page. It can become an effective creative outflow and you could get to really engage with your audience.
You can use platforms such as WordPress, Wix or SquareSpace to create your website. They all provide a great range of blogging templates so you can stand out from the crowd. Alternatively, you could purchase a custom theme and add it to your WordPress site.
Once your blog is up and running, why not monetize it! The easiest way to monetize your website traffic is through Google Adsense. However, an incredibly effective way to generate income is through affiliate marketing. You can read more about affiliate marketing here.
5. Do an online course!
Online courses are a great way to spend your time productively, especially now that they’ve become so easily accessible. You can find thousands of online courses that will be hugely advantageous for both personal development as well as your career. You can either choose courses that relate to your degree, or you can go with courses that you purely find interesting. – If you’ve found an online course but aren’t sure whether or not you want to spend money on it, you can use our link for a free 14 days of SkillShare premium! This will give you access to a sort-of ‘Netflix of courses’ where you’re free to watch any course you like. Skillshare offers a course on Personal Productivity which you can try for free!
6. Exercise
Since the coronavirus pandemic it’s become more important than ever to exercise by yourself. Our favourite sports societies, clubs and gyms have been limited and during lockdowns have had to stop all together. It is both important to your mental and physical wellbeing to maintain a consistent exercise routine. Perhaps start with a 30 minute walk everyday and eventually progress to daily running. Doing something is better than nothing! You might find it motivating to download an app like Strava to track your runs and share with your friends.
7. Learn to play an instrument
Learning an instrument can boost your mood and mental health, as it sparks electrical signals using both sides of your brain. There are so many instruments available for you to learn but perhaps as a beginner you should choose one of piano, guitar, ukulele or drums.
And that’s our six! The next six productive and useful things to do in your spare time will be released shortly so make sure you sign up to our newsletter to be the first to find out!
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