In spite of the expanding life expectancy of human beings, life still seems short. Everyone has just a short time to accomplish their dreams and to make the most from their potential and their circumstances, so rather than either resigning to a life spent running the endless rat race or idling your life away, why not take some steps now to make your life special? Even the busiest people have more free time than they realize, and if they manage their lives better, they can have even more. Rather than flipping on the boob tube or surfing away your off-the-clock hours, take the time to develop yourself as a human being: learn new things and make the world a better place. Here are ten useful skills to learn in your free time that can add satisfaction and power to your life. 
1.Prioritize: Sometimes people get so focused on work and the problems of life that they forget about some of the things that are most important. With lots of good things to do, take some time to put everything its place. Decide what things are most important to you and discipline yourself not to leave them out. This will help you reach the end of life with fewer regrets.
2. Do what you hate first: After you have determined the priorities in your life, there will always be things you don’t want to do. Rather than letting those things drag you down throughout the day, tackle those things right away. When you get those things out of the way, you can spend the rest of the day free from dread and from the potential consequences of procrastination.
3. Enjoy something useless: Learn to write backwards, learn to mimic foreign accents, paint with your mouth, or do something that is just plain silly. This will help you enjoy just being alive.
4. Learn to use Google: Wouldn’t it be nice to learn all those power user tricks the younger generation uses with Google? The giant search engine has more features than you can shake a stick at, so the time is now to spend some time tweaking your searches and ferreting out that information that you always knew was there but couldn’t find it. It might take a hundred years to learn it all, but at least you can get started.
5. Get out of your online rut: Sometimes it seems like people get hung up around the same handful of Web sites all the time. Take some time to expand your horizons by going to some random sites. StumbleUpon is a good place to start. It will take you to random Web sites based on your stated interests.
6. Continue learning: Studies show that those who keep learning are those that stay young in heart and mind. Trade your time spent watching TV for time spent attending an online college class. You can also visit iTunes U where you can learn from a wealth of lectures and studies. You’ll be surprised at how much knowledge you can pick up in just a short period of free time.
7. Learn a foreign language: If you think your busy schedule will help you function in a global, multicultural world, you may have your head in the sand. Take some of your free time every day using online language tools such as BBC Languages or get a course on DVD and start today.
8. Cooking: If you have only enjoyed food by eating it, you’ve missed out on most of its pleasure. Use your free time to learn new cooking skills and then invite some folks over to enjoy your creations with you.
9. Be a Mr. or Ms. Fixit: Sure, you can save time by hiring someone to fix all that goes wrong around the house, but with the help of the Internet, you can quickly learn new ways to decorate, fix plumbing, install light fixtures, eliminate pests, clean carpets and more.
10. Self-help: Rather than spending your free time loafing, why not learn some ways to make yourself a better person. Whether you need help with financial management, self esteem, positive thinking, decision making, or recognizing your unlimited potential, you can find sites online that will coach you as you build a better life.
These useful skills to learn in your free time can help you make the most of your life while you still have it. Get started now and you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish.
This post was contributed by James Adams, a staff writer and analyst at an online ink cartridges store where he covers the latest tech news and releases. On a normal day he can be found writing reviews of products like HP 901XL ink and working on posts for their design blog.
Hi Rod
I really don’t think there is anything such as “free time” it is all about time itself and how we use it. Once it is gone, it is gone for good. It is not a renewable source so what we have to do is use it to the best of our ability and I agree allow time just to sometimes do the things you love.
A little about me – My name is Sue McDonald and I am a student of Mark Terrell and I am actually going through the course a second time – by invitation. I love it and know if I do all he says, I will be successful. I am Australian but the US is my second home as I have family there and visit quite often. This is why I started Internet Marketing so I can travel whenever I want and have the money to do what I want.
Well I hope you are doing well and you become very successful. I would love you to come visit my blog and leave a comment.
Kind regards
Sue
Hey Rod
I have just come for a visit to your site. How are you going?
Yes it’s Mark and I am following my students as they post on other peoples blogs. They don’t know that I am always checking to see they are getting results. I am passionate about helping them achieve and then they are able to make some money online exactly the same as I am doing. It is not really difficult as long as they are willing to put in the effort.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Mark
Hi Rod,
Great post! It seems that focus is something we all need to learn and practice to make the most of the time that we have available! I do sometimes get in a rut and need this little boost to get out and try something different and new! Thanks!
Alice
Hi Rod,
I enjoyed your post, time is something we all need more of once it is gone it is never coming back.
I am a student of Mark Terrell’s and I was asked to check out people’s blogs and I am glad I have stopped by you have given some great tips and advice. I look forward to coming back. I would love you to stop by my blog and leave a comment. Thanks
Karen
Hi Rod
Theres some good wisdom in this post. I need to come back to this and read again when my head is clearer.
My 1st thoughts at the moment is ‘what free time?’ I simply dont have any at the moment………….
hi,
I am enjoying your blog.Time is something that it seems there just is not enough of. I do take time to enjoy what I like and give back by going to Karaoke to entertain people in a nursing home.
It is such a pleasure to see how you put a smile on their faces. When you have a family and some with health problems its even less time.
My name is Rose Kline and I am a student of Mark Terrells. He is a awesome coach.I am enjoying his coaching. We are doing a blog which is new to me. I would appreciate any helpful comments, if you care to visit me.
To your success,
Rose