How To Use The Internet For Self-Development

The basic assumption about the internet is that young people waste time on it with futile activities such as social networks. Truth is that there are many productive things that can be done on the internet such that some people make a living out of it. The best part is that you don’t need to go to a certain place to access it. With the introduction of smart phones the internet is at your disposal everywhere and anywhere. The choice the lies with you on how you make it work for you rather than proving the basic assumption that is to waste time.

1. Searching for Information

Enter any topic of interest into your favourite search engine and you have an enormous amount of information at your fingertips. It’s a great way to further your knowledge on an endless variety of subjects. But how do you know whether the information you’re reading is credible – or complete nonsense?
• Check your sources. Find out who is publishing the information. Government agencies, universities or well-known publishing houses are generally trustworthy.
• Check the publisher’s motivation. Keep in mind that many articles are simply advertisements for businesses that want to sell you something. And some sites are intended to push just one point of view.
• Look for proper grammar. And also put a premium on sources that provide balanced information and details (not sweeping generalizations).

2. Online Education and Training

If you’ve always wanted to further your education or upgrade your skills but haven’t had the time, online courses may be the answer. Internet-based learning eliminates the need for travelling, parking and attending classes at specified times.
You may have concerns about the quality of online education. In fact, it has come a long way, and many who previously dismissed online learning have come to embrace it. Top-rated schools such as Stanford and Villanova University offer online professional certification and academic degree programs to students all over the world.

3. Join an Influential Community

Every industry and has its influencers – thought leaders to whom others look for inspiration and direction. The Internet makes it easy to connect with these leaders and even form relationships with them. But how do you find them and make a connection?
• Social networks. Find and follow leaders on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Pay attention to their interactions with others and join the conversations. Ask questions, pay a compliment or offer your opinion.
• Go deeper. From social networks and Internet searches, you can usually find the blogs and publications to which your favorite influencers contribute.
• Find groups and communities. Search each social network using the keywords of the community you seek. For example, on LinkedIn, you can find groups for industries, companies, colleges and special interests. Twitter chats occur regularly on a variety of topics. No matter what you do (or want to do), you can likely find a community of welcoming peers.

4. Organize Your Thoughts

When you’re venturing onto the path of self-improvement, a journal or notebook can help you keep track of what you’ve learned and your thoughts about it. The Internet offers dozens of tools and applications to help you organize your notes and keep them in one place. For example, it’s fairly easy to start your own blog, which is a great way to keep track of your thoughts, as well as share them with others. If you’re not ready for prime-time, keep things private with a bookmarking or note-keeping application. Many are free.

5. Sharing and Supporting

Sharing information with others who are in need is one of the best ways to use the Internet for growth. Because there is so much out there, the best stuff is often overlooked by those who could really use it. Whether it’s through a tweet, a Facebook update or a blog post, your act of sharing could make a huge difference in someone else’s journey. You’ll also gain credibility in your area of interest, while building a community you can turn to when you need support.

6. Start a business

People who have online businesses are known as social entrepreneurs. Thanks to sites such as WordPress, a blog could easily turn into a business depending on the way you use.