I’ll admit that I get bored easily.

I like to say I’m “goal oriented”, but the reality is probably that I have a really short attention span and constantly have to have some new shiny in the not-so-distant future to keep me interested. The negative side effects of this itty bitty attention span are numerous, but there is also a really cool upside: I don’t stagnate.

Because I am constantly working towards new goals, I am always learning new skills or achieving new levels of mastery of old ones. It’s good for my brain and (usually) good for my bottom line.

Do you ever find yourself getting bored? Have you been doing the same job for years? When was the last time you learned a new skill that made you more marketable? If your answers make you realize that it’s been a while, it may be time to step outside your comfort zone again.  Try these tricks for pushing yourself to the next level.

3 Ways To Challenge Yourself

1. Do the thing that scares you - have you found yourself avoiding certain tasks because the idea makes you nervous? Set a deadline and force yourself to do the thing that scares you.
2. Do the thing you do badly - what part of your job have you always wished you did better? Think beyond your job description and challenge yourself to learn and practice a skill that you’ve always coveted. Even if you never master juggling flaming knives (for example), you’re sure to learn something in the process.
3. Meet someone new - if you feel like you do everything perfectly, focus on expanding your circle of influence. Who do you admire in your field? Create an opportunity to meet them sometime in the next year, sooner if possible.

Have you ever had to push yourself out of a rut?  How did you do it?

Photo by Peaches&Cream on Flickr.

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