Top 22 Fun Skills to Learn in 2024 When You Have Time to Kill (2024)

Everything we learn is a skill. Our skills are an essential part of our existence, as we need them to survive. Acquiring new skills also keeps our brains active and our everyday lives interesting.

There are so many things to learn out there. You can choose a skill that stirs your interest, seems worth your time, or that you feel might diversify career opportunities. If you cannot decide what to learn, we are here to help with this exciting list of fun skills to learn.

We have specially handpicked and crafted a long list of skills to learn when bored. The skills are sorted into various categories for you to choose from. Each skill has been discussed with explicit instructions to help you decide whether it is befitting for you. Check out our table of contents to have a preview of our recommendations.

The perks of learning something fresh and fun are not just limited to driving off boredom. There are also many cognitive benefits as well.

So, how can you make the most of your skills? And what inspires you to choose which skill to learn? Let us begin by understanding all the possible positive effects of learning a new skill.

How Does Learning New Skills Impact Your Life?

Skills are acquired for a variety of reasons. The most common is upskilling your career. When people begin to master new things, it motivates them to pursue many more alongside their busy schedules. Thus, they gravitated toward finding fun things to learn.

Our human minds are meant to be outstretched and worked up. So when we have things to learn, we put our minds to use. Let us now see why this decision is actually so right.

• Studies have shown that learning new skills entirely alters parts of your brain’s chemistry. This makes you more agile and keeps your brain healthy in the long run, help you avoid cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

  

• Knowledge is the biggest contributor to our self-confidence. The more we know, the more confident we become. The sense of accomplishment and our enriched knowledge pool give us the assurance we need to have self-belief.

  

• We get to know ourselves better. When we encounter a new skill, we also find out the things we find easier to learn and the challenges we face. This helps us get a grip on our own capabilities.

  

• You utilize your time by devoting it to something fruitful and not wasting it.

• When we have cool things to learn, it also makes us happier. It is a proven fact that when our brains are engaged in something, we do not get distracted by negative thoughts. Accompanied by the sense of success we feel when we master a skill, this sort of arrangement helps elevate our mood too.

  

• You also become adaptable and flexible in your manners. When you indulge in fun things to learn them, you are breaking your own cycle of habit. This will help you adopt a growth mindset and also be more susceptible to changes in life.

  

• A cognitively challenging or demanding skill is a useful skill to learn, as it boosts your memory and enhances your aptitude.

  

• Learning and solving new things is the exercise our brains need. So the more we learn, the faster we can process information.

  

• When we have something exciting to look forward to, getting up comes more naturally to us. Us choosing an interesting skill to learn is like the incentive we need to be motivated about daily life.

  

• You can also become the star of any event. Anyone who has some upbeat skill to flaunt instantly grabs the spotlight.

You can learn many new things on your own from various sources available today. The internet is making it easier to learn new things independently. However, sometimes you do need professional guidance based on the intricacies of the skill to learn it properly.

How to Approach New Skills to Learn Them?

Learning anything new requires commitment, perseverance, and passion. The joys of learning also de-stress us and break us free from the humdrum of daily life.

If you are someone who is trying out some new skills to learn but has not been able to fix a schedule, we are going to suggest certain steps that could help you.

• Decide what is driving you to learn something new.

  

• Understand what you are expecting from the skill and yourself.

• Now, go for a skill that agrees with the responses of the above two.

• Make a learning plan with targets.

• Divide the skill to learn into distinct sub-skills and master them one by one.

• Identify your learning style. Understand whether you are a visual learner or an auditory one. Or are you someone who appreciates hands-on learning methods, or is a kinesthetic learner?

  

• Now, go for methods as per your learning style.

• Pick out if there are potential snags like lack of time, funding, etc., and deal with them first.

• If you want to learn multiple skills, try not to have more than one thing to learn on your plate at a time.

  

• Practice the skill as much as possible.

  

• Adopt a compassionate style of learning and use a lot of positive affirmations to keep yourself motivated. Remember that you should always learn from your mistakes rather than being disheartened for making them.

These steps ease up your learning process. When you consider and embrace the right way to learn, you can assimilate anything much faster and way more easily. We are also presenting a catalog of several useful skills to learn. Take a look at them and go for the one which calls out to you.

The Life-Saver Skills to Learn

Starting our checklist with skills that could someday save your or others’ life. These skills must receive as much importance as possible. The more people learn these, the more lives can be saved.

Learning First Aid

We all keep a simple first-aid box in our homes and use it now and then for minor cuts and bruises. But how many of us actually know how to tend to a serious injury? It is essential to learn basic first-aid tips.

Learning how to stop the bleeding from a deep cut, how to support a broken bone till help arrives, detecting the signs of a concussion or a stroke, etc., are all vital knowledge that plays a massive role in saving people’s lives.

Learning how to give CPR

Many of us must have heard of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how immensely useful it is. It is used to jump-start a person’s heart and is the first and foremost thing that professional emergency medical transporters learn.

However, the skill should not stay limited to emergency patient escorts and should be learned by everyone. It is also quite easy to learn. The key is to be attentive to all the instructions and practice the steps as much as you can in a simulated environment.

Knowing the Heimlich

Heimlich is another emergency medical assistance that helps save a victim. Also known as the abdominal thrusts, the Heimlich Maneuver is a first-aid technique used to clear out any upper airway obstruction, thus facilitating proper breathing in the victim. This is done to people who might be choking on some foreign objects (mainly food) and are not able to breathe as their airway is jammed.

This is a crucial lesson during basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) classes. Its correct procedure should be learned and practiced thoroughly in order to avoid any intra-abdominal damage.

Building or Putting Out a Fire

Did you know each year the US encounters about 400,000 house fires? These fires are responsible for enormous losses, ranging from costing precious human lives to damaging valuable property.

Just like fire extinguishers are a must for every household, knowing the correct way to put off a fire is also an indispensable skill to learn. Understanding the type of fire (cooking fire, chemical fire, electrical fire, ordinary) and following the corresponding procedure is the need of the hour.

Along with extinguishing the fire, igniting one is a key skill to learn as well. For example, if a hiker gets stuck in the middle of a forest. lighting a fire solves a bunch of problems.

The fire will keep off pitch-black darkness, the cold, and any wild animal too. Moreover, it can cook a can of noodles for dinner if the wait gets too long.

Self-Defense

In the modern era, we do not always need to fight using some weapons, however, learning some skills to defend ourselves in the face of danger is a vital skill to learn.

Self-defense techniques are promoted a lot today. Learning a kick or two and injuring your attacker to protect yourselves can someday save your life.

There are many institutions and academies that teach the basics of self-defense. An increasing number of people are enrolling in these, and a lot more should follow. Learning such a skill will make you more confident and will not only protect you but also make you capable of saving someone else too.

After these vitalizing activities, you should also check out the skills to learn to promote you professionally. After all, that is the first and most popular reason for upscaling their skill set.

Interesting Skills to Learn to Scale Up Your Career

Competition is soaring in today’s world. And this has also led to everyone adding points to their expertise. Resumes have gotten stronger now with an impressively versatile skill set.

When everyone is trying to get better, why don’t you also board the same wagon? We are presenting you with a list of useful skills to learn that will prove rewarding for your career.

Learning Microsoft Skills

Microsoft Office is an inevitable part of all offices. All of its elements, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc., have practical usage and are popular everywhere. However, only a small percentage of people can tap into the full potential of these applications.

There are many advanced features in these applications that most people are not well versed in. If you are someone who knows how to use formulas in Excel, VBA programming, advanced reports creation using queries and database task automation, database table creation, and data entry control in Access, etc., you can qualify for many top-ranking jobs.

Making a Resume

Your CV is the preface to the employer. This is the first thing that would introduce you to your potential boss. So it has to be impactful.

Preparing a CV needs thorough market research to come up with the best strategy for it. A strong resume is one that is bundled with useful and interpersonal skills. If you are a fresher, your CV must highlight your soft skills like communication, dedication towards the job at hand, passion to do good, team working spirit, etc.

You can get online assistance from various sources like YouTube, Instagram pages, LinkedIn, and Google. Along with these, there are also many apps and services that can help you understand what makes a resume stand out.

Be a Coding Champ

Everything and everyone is going digital. And this is why coding is one of the most valuable skills to learn today. To fit in with the advent of technology, you have to teach yourself at least one coding language.

Even if you are not a Computer Science major, you can still learn a programming language. It can look complex with all the symbols, letters, and commands, and may take you quite some time to grasp it. Even the basic coding skills are enough for you to assist in application development, website designing, etc.

Add in a New Lingo

Together with a coding language, an additional dialect also upskills your CV. Learning a new language has many benefits for your mental health. Additionally, it also makes you seem cool to friends and employers.

On top of that, a CV with more than one addition in the ‘languages known’ section gives an admirable first impression. It will be proof of your analytical abilities and enhanced memory. Make use of books offline or digital courses like the Pimsleur Language Program.

Develop Your Writing Skills

For a lot of folks, the task of writing may seem really intimidating. And the grammatical protocols may seem deadly to many others. This is the reason multiple people back off from being a writer.

But the good news is you can improve your writing skills. Reading good books, taking up courses, and learning from professionals are some of the tricks that would help you pen down your thoughts in an interesting way.

SEO and SMM

For those who don’t know, SEO and SMM stand for Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing, respectively. SEO is how you enhance your visibility and land on potential client pages. And SMM is how you handle your online business.

Both of these highly influence your digital presence and your branding online. Understanding SEO is crucial to get you the exposure you need. Once you fetch the right audience, you can prove your potential to them and succeed.

The Math of Budgeting

We need to strike a balance between what we earn and what we spend so that we save as much as possible. That is when our budgeting talent gets to shine.

Making a budget, and religiously following it, is a win-win situation for all. It might sound boring to many, but budgeting is actually a very cool skill to learn. This skill has both personal and professional benefits, as it will help you land a management position in a company.

The financial intricacies of budgeting requires you to be good at math and calculations. You can find plenty of websites and apps that provide courses and notes which can make you a budgeting pro. Furthermore, you can also sign up for courses for better understanding.

We are done with our serious talks. It is time to discuss some fun skills to learn. The ones you will enjoy learning and be proud to showcase too.

Skills That Can Jazz Up a Party

Have you ever dreamt of getting some “Woah!” and “Oohs” at a party, but instead you are either lurking in a corner or are clapping for others? If you too want to enliven the next party you attend, we say you learn some tricks that will definitely catch everyone’s eyes.

Hit the Dance Floor

Swaying to the beat of the party, getting groovy with the crowd, or killing it on the dance floor. The choice is yours. Dancing is a thrilling skill to learn. It is fun and fetches you compliments in the gatherings. Not to forget, the physical benefits of dancing.

If your workout routine seems boring and does not motivate you enough to achieve your fitness goals, try following a dance routine to stay fit. This will make you healthy and happy, too.

Become the Shuffle Master

Having one or two card tricks up your sleeve impresses all around you. Don’t get us wrong. We are not promoting gambling. We are hinting at the magic card tricks.

Guessing what card someone pulled without looking, floating a card in the air, changing the color of one card or the whole deck, and lighting a card on fire yet keeping it unharmed are some popular card tricks that can flabbergast people at parties.

There are many YouTube channels you can learn from, or you could purchase some books or courses for the same. In addition to these, there are centers dedicated to teaching easy magic tricks to people.

Have Some Yo-Yo Skills

One of the things that youngsters find cool is the Yo-yo. Yo-yoing is quite popular among the youth. As easy as it may look at first glance, it is actually a bit tricker than that.

Nonetheless, this toy has been entertaining people since ancient times, as the yo-yo is in existence since 500 BCE. And even today, yo-yo tricks make everyone happy and impressed. This tiny and simple toy is beloved by the majority.

Be an Expert Juggler

Juggling is one of those things that need a lot of concentration and balance. And the one who can do it perfectly gets a huge round of applause.

Juggling can be done using tiny balls, clubs, small hoops, batons, devil sticks, or anything that the juggler can control. Some people also play with knives and torches. It is a prop-based manipulation skill that has also started to get recognition as a competitive sport along with its counterpart, Joggling (juggling while jogging).

You can also whip out your juggling skills among your friends at the next get-together and amaze them. Juggling is an interesting skill to learn as it improves concentration, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and strategic thinking.

Can You Moonwalk?

How many of us have seen the old Michael Jackson videos and got awed by the Moonwalk? The answer is, almost everyone. The smooth backward slide seemed so elegant and cool and never ever failed to amaze the audience.

The thing is, you too can get the same applause. Well, maybe not the same but sort of similar. Moonwalk may seem difficult in the beginning, but once you get the hang of it, you would be forever impressing people.

When you devote sufficient time to master it, you get the benefits of decreased exercise fatigue, stronger calf muscles, and better mental health. Not to forget, the way your confidence will skyrocket.

So what are you waiting for? Quickly add moon walking to your checklist of skills to learn.

Next up is the list of skills that are in the self-help category. They make us self-sufficient and hence are a must to learn.

Some Basics of Life

There are also some skills that will be very useful in our day-to-day life. But we neglect these, as there are people we can hire to do the job for us. What if we learn these skills ourselves? Well, we become independent and also save a lot of money. Let’s now talk about them.

Brush Up Your Culinary Skills

Cooking is an essential life skill that should be learned by everyone. You do not need to be an expert or the next Master Chef, but just cook a decent meal once in a while.

Preparing a tasty meal soothes your taste buds, and cooking at home contributes to a healthier diet. When the pan is in your hand, you are more mindful about the ingredients.

Furthermore, you use hygienic ways to cook your meals. This is one useful skill to learn that is going to benefit you for the rest of your life.

Changing a Tire

Every driver must have faced a flat tire once in their driving life. It is super annoying and inconvenient. So anyone starting with their driving journey must learn how to fix a tire.

It is a very easy thing to learn, but the possible payback is immense. You become self-sufficient, you do not have to look for a mechanic through every nook and cranny, and you also save a couple of bucks in the long run.

Become an Expert Packer

You might find it silly, but this one will actually come in handy on your next trip. Packing may seem like an easy task, but that is where we all go wrong. We think of packing as just putting our things in a bag. It is actually much more than that.

The one who is good at packing will never leave behind the essentials. Perfect packing is the one when you pack all the items in a compact manner. There are many internet sources that give essential tips for packing. You can learn and memorize them to use them before you embark on your next adventure.

Cleaning

A lot of us run away from cleaning duties. But none of us likes dust and dirt. So this weekend, take out your cleaning supplies and get down to business. Cleaning is an essential skill to learn.

A clean home is vital as it will prevent any health issues such as dust allergies, digestive disorders, infections, etc. Tidiness also uplifts mood when you look at an organized and spotless room. And cleaning is sort of a workout as well.

Begin with one room at a time, and also take tips from the internet or your neat freak besties. And see your house transform. And for the fans of Friends, keep it “Monica-clean”.

Be Your Own Handyman

Learning how to fix something here and there will be of great help. Fixing a broken shelf, painting the rusty handle, fixing the circuit board or the tiny fan, these simple tasks can be learned and done on your own.

You can learn these skills from your own family members or your friends, or from online resources like the YouTube channel called, “Dad, How Do I?”.

We have presented an exhaustive list of skills for you. From professional to calculative, and some soft skills too. Pick out your favorites from the above and start learning today.

Summing Up

Learning is an ongoing process for every human being. You can be a preschooler, a septuagenarian, or maybe a tiny worm, every day brings new skills to learn with it. Robert Greene said, “The future belongs to those who learn new skills and combine them in creative ways”. This is the reality.

People who have cracked this code and are always charged up to pursue new skills to learn and apply will never become outdated. Learning will slow down aging and pace up the learner.

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