When we look at our daily routine, I feel it is more or less the same for most of us – getting up, going to work, coming home, watching some TV before we hit the hay. We are so stuck in the daily grind of life that we do not realise how mundane our lives have become. Ask yourself a simple question -when was the last time you did something creative or out of the ordinary. We hardly make an effort to do anything that challenges our mental abilities or stimulates our thoughts and ideas.
I have read so many self-help books- books that motivate you to stay active, do better, be more productive and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Interestingly, there was one advice I found common in every book- be mentally active and challenge your brain. Simply put, never stop learning new things.
It can be difficult to find the time to learn a new hobby amidst our hectic schedules. Solution? Your mobile phone! We are glued to our phones whenever we get time, so, why not put it to good use. I have put together a few free apps that can actually help train your brain and help you either improve your skills or learn new ones. Take a look..
1. DUOLINGO
Duolingo is one of those free apps that makes you an expert in any language you want. It is one of my favourite apps. With so many extensive lessons and stories, using Duolingo will certainly help you master any language of your choice. Plus the interface and lessons are designed in a way to never bore you. It is always fun to use this app. Just one lesson daily will hardly take 15-20 minutes and you would learn a new language without much effort.
You can download this app on Android as well as iOS
2. KITCHEN STORIES : TASTY RECIPES
If you are someone who finds cooking as a relaxing activity after a long hard day or you are keen on learning cooking, then Kitchen Stories is the app for you. From quick recipes to desserts and cocktails, you can find something new to cook everyday on this app. Plus you can also upload your very own recipes and share it with millions of users across the world.
Download the app here: Android & iOS
3. BLINKIST
Blinkist is one of the many free apps but the best one perhaps for all the avid readers who do not have much time at their disposal. It has a curated audio collection of all the best-selling books highlighting the key aspects of the book and a concise simple summary. You can pick any book & listen to its summary, anytime and anywhere.
You can find this app on Android as well as iOS.
4. YOUSICIAN
I have always wanted to learn to play a guitar, but somehow never got the opportunity. Then I got to know about Yousician which is a perfect app for those who wanted to play a musical instrument at one point in their lives. Whether it is guitar or ukulele or piano, Yousician has different apps for different instruments and the learning is also quite fun as you get to learn it from a real instrument.
Download your Yousician app from here :
5. KNOWABLE
Knowable allows you to learn on the go with its carefully created lessons by experts from all over the world. Whether it is about launching a startup or lessons on leadership, communication and more, you can find a lot of interesting podcasts on Knowable. Some of its lessons can actually give you an upper hand in your professional life, as well.
Knowable is available both on Android and iOS.
6. ELEVATE
Elevate is the ultimate brain-training app you need, irrespective of your age or professional background. This app has tons of exercises on vocabulary, mathematics, memory that can really challenge your mental abilities and even improve your skills. And, it makes learning all the more interesting with games and puzzles.
You can find this app on Android as well as iOS.
I have been using some of these free apps for quite some time now and this has genuinely helped me break the monotonous rut. My personal favorites are Duolingo and Elevate. Do you use any of these apps? If you had to pick one app which one would you choose? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!