Read more to expand your mind
Our brains are brilliant things, but they need regular feeding if they’re to grow up big and strong. Articles, blogs, books – there’s a wealth of tasty intellectual treats to let your hungry eyes loose on.
So, pull up a chair and chow down on some knowledge relevant to your profession.
You might even discover ways your profession can play a role in shaping a brighter future for people and planet.
Learn something new
Learning helps us see and appreciate new ideas and other people’s perspectives. It also equips us with knowledge and understanding, and fuels creativity. It makes sense that a keen lifelong learner is more likely to take on and solve the problems in their personal lives, at work, in their communities and in our wider environment.
For example, when you have too much to do at work, it’s hard to imagine whether you could be doing things differently - perhaps better. It might feel counterintuitive to give yourself a timeout to read about how other people do things, but it’s actually a great way to help expand your skill set and open your mind to new ideas. With this extra info under your belt, you’ll be able to work smarter, not harder.
Increase your wellbeing
There’s plenty of evidence that links learning with improved mental health1. The NHS says learning new skills can boost your self-confidence, help build a sense of purpose in your life and help you connect with others2.
Not convinced? Do a bit of reading around and see what you experience yourself? (See what we did there?)
Global Goals
In September 2017, a historic agreement was signed by UN member nations agreeing to work towards 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030, otherwise known as the SDGs.
Achieving these ambitious goals will require action from governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals alike. We can - and must - all play our part.
By making the 'Feed your noodle' pledge, you are contributing to the following SDG targets:
3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
How
There are so many learning resources available for free - from courses, to books, to documentaries, podcasts and talks. The internet is the obvious place to start learning, but don’t forget about the real world too. Libraries are amazing, and it’s well worth getting yourself a free membership.
Friends and colleagues are also an incredible source of learning. While you might not feel comfortable getting a ‘lesson’ off your mate or your boss, you can definitely ask them where they’d recommend you starting your own learning journey.
Look online for links to publications posted by online figures you respect (be they globally-acknowledged thought-leaders or just brainy pals). We’ve put together some sustainability resources (with a business slant) in our reading list here. We’ll keep adding to it, so do check back if you whizz through it all quickly!
As with so many things, once you get started, one thing may lead to another. That blog post you enjoyed will link out to other blogs of interest; that book you loved will help you spot another by the same author or publisher.
Success Stories
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