“After graduating college, I naively assumed I\u2019d just keep learning…but life happened, I got busy, and my structured learning waned.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This year, and inspired by TikTok and YouTube trends I\u2019ve seen circulating<\/a>, I want to get back in the game by creating my own personal curriculum (stuffed animals and dolls beware). But what does that even look like when you don\u2019t have someone prescribing it all to you? How do you know what you don\u2019t know, and then pursue it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n And my biggest question: How do you pursue curiosities that aren\u2019t related to work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how I\u2019m approaching this next chapter of learning, even when there are no pop quizzes or grades involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we dive in though, it\u2019s helpful to know what it means to have a curriculum \u2014 and how that\u2019s different from a syllabus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of a curriculum like alllll the things in a chef\u2019s repertoire. Sweet, savory, experimental, global, hyper-local \u2014 a good chef can probably make something tasty no matter the genre. When you open a restaurant, though, you want to find a specific menu that keeps you focused (and frankly, keeps you marketable). This is your syllabus \u2014 the specific, cohesive details that let you dive deeper into one aspect of your curiosities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, just think of it like this: A curriculum is your degree, or the general courseload that gets you the education you are working towards. A syllabus contains all the coursework, reading, and tests that outline one single class in your path towards completing your curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m so interested in anything that crosses my desk, or my mind, that I have trouble getting started in one direction.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Many of us want to keep learning throughout the rest of our lives \u2014 but what if you don\u2019t know what<\/em> you want to learn? I\u2019m personally so interested in anything that crosses my desk, or my mind, that I have trouble getting started in one direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe secret is to lower the stakes \u2014 you are not choosing for the rest of your life,\u201d notes Unordinary Mind on YouTube<\/a>. \u201cYou are just choosing for this season.\u201d So don\u2019t worry about putting too much pressure on finding the exact<\/em> right thing; just focus on choosing the next<\/em> thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, this looked like doing a brain dump of everything I\u2019m interested in, including things and places that fascinate me, big questions I have about the world and my life, and things I\u2019d like to try. I didn\u2019t do this without prompts though, I sought some inspiration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, this doesn\u2019t<\/em> have to be about work. Too often, we\u2019re tempted to improve ourselves or increase our knowledge in order to make our work lives more lucrative. Monetization creeps its way into every corner of self-growth, even when it\u2019s just following our own personal curiosities. Lay aside the dollar signs, and follow what sparks your heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve identified where your interests lie, it\u2019s time to find the connective tissue between them. My list was long, but I came away with a few themes \u2014 my interests in fiber arts, influential women creatives, and civil rights movements led me to consider how women\u2019s creativity has influenced social movements throughout history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, my interest in meditation, spirituality across cultures, and emerging research in the neurodivergence space led me to consider learning how to develop greater clarity of self and purpose. Lay out your themes and consider which ones feel most timely, most interesting, and most accessible to your energy levels right now. Start with the theme that sticks out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, you\u2019ll want to develop your courseload. What books, podcasts, movies, or events might help further your knowledge about this topic? Sometimes you don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know, and that\u2019s okay \u2014 we have a world of information at our fingertips online, and it just takes a bit of curiosity and persistence to find the next steps. Here\u2019s where I look to find learning resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your search, be open to writers or resources that contradict your existing point of view. In fact, dissenting view points or accounts might even be helpful as you form a more robust perspective of your own. Approach this with a critical eye \u2014 learning exclusively from the loudest voices in a space can lead you into an echo chamber where you only parrot a prescribed point of view. Look, also, for marginalized voices and commentary by folks who don’t share your identity or worldview. Challenge yourself with a broader perspective, and you’ll be all the better for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Store what you find in a central Google doc or Notion workspace, listing resources that range from quick to read to one with deeper time commitments. This way, you can dip your toes in \u2014 or dive all the way in \u2014 depending on how much time you have on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What books, podcasts, movies, or events might help further your knowledge about this topic? Sometimes you don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know, and that\u2019s okay.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The beauty of self-directed learning is that it doesn’t have to culminate in a thesis, or a presentation, or a capstone project. The only stakes are the ones you impose on yourself! Your final “project” might just be having read a few more books on a topic you care about, or it might be a trip (if you’re studying history or learning a language), hosting a themed dinner party (to share your new knowledge with friends), or going to a concert (or performing in one if you’re studying music!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What is it that you want to do once you’ve learned more? Or, in other words, why are you following this particular branch of knowledge?<\/em>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n You might want to jump ahead and put together a month’s worth of learning on a topic, but I prefer to start with what I’d like to learn and then build the timeline from there. Learning a language might take years, but learning the basics of knitting might only take a month. It all depends on the depth of knowledge you want to build, and what your intentions are after you’ve begun your studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that brings me to the most important aspect of building a curriculum you’ll actually stick with (if you’re like me and you don’t tend to finish things you’ve started<\/a>): What is it that you want to do once you’ve learned more? Or, in other words, why are you following this particular branch of knowledge?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It very well could be for progressing your career, but it also might be to connect you with your partner, your neighbors, or deepen your civic engagement. You might want more context behind your favorite historical dramas, or to be able to speak more confidently with your in-laws about their favorite subjects. (Although, I’d recommend focusing your most in-depth research on subjects you personally <\/em>want to learn more about. Introduce your in-laws to those and teach each other new things!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to many of our chronic online-ness, we’re absorbing so much information every day. But, a TikTok education is only going to scratch the surface, which is where this intentional planning comes into play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, in the comments below \u2014 tell me what you’re learning! And of course, drop your recommendations for books and movies that might help me deepen my own knowledge of the history of fiber arts and activism. \ud83d\ude09\ud83e\uddf6 I’ll see you at the library!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emily McGowan<\/strong><\/a> is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she\u2019s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or follow along with her Substack,\u00a0Pinky Promise<\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Once we leave the structured learning spaces of high school or college, continued education becomes our own responsibility. But in a world of seemingly infinite knowledge, how do we know which curiosities to follow? Today, we explore how to build up your own curriculum \u2014 so you can keep learning for life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":189,"featured_media":71714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_enable_custom_container":false,"_custom_container_max_width":"","_is_legacy_styles_disabled":false,"_is_thumbnail_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,324],"tags":[148,4,428,311,5,29],"class_list":["post-71708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self","category-work-money","tag-emily-related-reading","tag-self","tag-thought-piece","tag-trending","tag-work-money","tag-work-money-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is a personal syllabus?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Getting started: Find your inspiration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\nPlanning & implementing your curriculum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Decide your ideal outcome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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