Try the 30-Day New Skill Challenge! | by Paris Scott

Remember that new skill you said you wanted to learn, you didn’t forget it, did you? For many employees, the third quarter is often the slowest. Work isn’t as tedious and people tend to have more free time on their hands. This is the perfect time to develop that new skill you have been thinking about. Follow this 30 day challenge that I’ve used to learn how to roller skate, perfect new recipes, and read in a different language to get yourself on track.

Day 1

Brainstorm what skills you want to learn such as learning how to code, a new dance routine, creating the perfect recipe, etc. Try to take no more than 30 minutes doing this. Your task for day 1 is now completed!

Day 2

Remember the task you thought about yesterday? Now we are going to write that task down in 3 different places. You can try writing it down on separate sticky notes and placing them in various places. The only rule for today is that they must be placed somewhere that you will visit often over the next few weeks. Now write a 4th note and include your reasoning for wanting to learn this skill. Hide this note in a safe place.

Day 3

Today we will tell 1 person about this new skill. If you don’t have someone to share with in person, any virtual form of communication will. Be transparent and let them know you plan to acquire this skill by the end of this 30 day period.

Day 4

Day 4, let’s do some research. You should spend approximately 60 minutes researching the skill. It is important to gain a deep understanding of what this skill truly is before trying to gain it.

Day 5

This is the day we will gather all of the necessary things that are needed to begin to learn your skill. For example, if you want to learn how to bake a cake, this is the day to gather all the ingredients. If you are learning a skill such as analyzing data, you will need to make an account on your preferred platform and have any necessary data sets and other learning materials nearby. 

Day 6 

Now that you are all prepared, it’s time for the first practice session. Dedicate two 45-minute sessions of applying yourself to learning or doing this skill. Make sure your 45-minute sessions are uninterrupted. Remember it is okay to not get it the first time or even complete the task fully. 

Day 7

This will be a day of reflection. Write down what worked and what didn't yesterday. Make a game plan for how you can make your next attempt even more successful. There is no minimum or maximum time to spend on today’s task. Just make sure you are thorough in your findings.

Day 8

Today will be your second try at practicing your skill. You should apply what you learned from your previous attempt to see some progress. Again, there should be 2 45-minute sessions that are uninterrupted. I recommend that you leave an ample amount of time between each session so that you do not become frustrated.

Day 9 

Another reflection day is here. Repeat the steps taken on day 7. Also, include information about the timing of your sessions, which should be shorter or longer.

Day 10

Rest and tell a friend. Now that we are ⅓ of the way there, tell your friend from day 3 how much progress you have made. If you feel comfortable, show them your reflections and get their feedback on what you may consider doing differently. 

Day 11

Time to try again. Your first attempt at learning this new skill should be for 60 minutes uninterrupted. Take a significant break and then finish with a 30-minute attempt. Before bed, take 10 minutes to quickly reflect on what the day was like. 

Day 12

Based on your reflection from day 9, you may adjust the length of time for your 2 sessions today. The one rule you must follow is that you take a break between both sessions. At the end of the day, consider how today went versus yesterday. If your self-timed sessions did not work better, revert back to having a 60-minute then 30-minute session going forward.

Day 13

Today will be another attempt at learning your new skill. Repeat your two sessions and make a reflection

Day 14

Repeat day 13

Day 15

Let’s take a break from actively learning your skills. Set aside 30 minutes to read over all of the reflections you wrote up until now. I’m sure you can see progress being made already. By now you should have a beginner’s level grasp on how to use your new skill.

Day 16

Grab your phone and let’s take a new approach to learning. For your session, set your camera up and record yourself. I want you to act like you are teaching someone else how to acquire this new skill. For today you should only have one session. Timing is entirely up to you. No reflection should be made.

Day 17

Take some time to watch the video that was made yesterday. If you can, try to show it to someone else to get a second opinion. Reflect on whether it makes sense and what needs to change. From today’s reflection, you should be able to see any knowledge gaps you may have. Address those concerns for at least 45 minutes today.

Day 18

The time to teach is back. Record another session today while applying your learning from yesterday's reflections. Once finished, take about 10 minutes to briefly reflect on the improvements.

Day 19

Repeat the steps from day 18

Day 20

You have worked very hard and are ⅔ of the way there. Take today easy and think about the progress you have made. Find the note you hid earlier in this challenge and compare that past version of yourself to who you are now. I bet you see a big difference already. 

Day 21

Today you may repeat the steps from day 18 but recording will be optional. If you choose not to record, try to do your reflection immediately after so as not to forget.

Day 22

Repeat day 21

Day 23

Take some time to watch all your videos and read your reflections. Now make a step-by-step guide on what the final steps are that you need to fully day you have acquired this skill. Be thorough in your documentation as this will be needed for tomorrow.

Day 24

Take the guide you made yesterday and act on it. Set aside 90 minutes of uninterrupted time to practice your new skill. No need to make any reflections today if nothing major needs to be changed.

Day 25

Repeat day 24

Day 26

Repeat day 24

Day 27

Take a break. We are almost at the finish line of this challenge. Think about where you would place yourself on a proficiency scale from below average to expert.

Day 28

Practice some more by either repeating the steps from day 24 or day 6. Write a short reflection on your confidence in using this skill

Day 29

Choose your own format for practicing today. Just be sure to have a session that is at least 30 minutes long. No reflection will be needed today.

Day 30

We finally made it. You have officially dedicated the last 30 days of your time to learning a new skill. Share with someone about your new skill and if needed, show them the process. Keep your reflections as proof of your hard work. Share this challenge with your friends, family, and coworkers that want to learn something new. 

Paris Scott is a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Google and writes for the Apprentice Lens as part of the Blogging Team. She is based in Atlanta, GA, United States. Here's more about her:

“Hello! My name is Paris and I am a digital marketing apprentice at Google in Atlanta, GA. In my current role, I work with an ads sales team that assists 10+ clients. I look forward to writing for the Apprentice Lens and being able to share my experiences so far. I truly appreciate the chance to express myself creatively since my current position doesn't leave much room for that. What inspires me most is music and my family.  Thanks for reading.”