Post written by Leo Babauta.

While I’m not as big on goals as I used to be, I do get excited about learning new things.

A single blog post I read about making bread is enough to set me off into hours of research about bread-making techniques, a week of experiments in baking and kneading, a couple weeks trying to make my own wild yeast starter, and some fun moments with my family eating some fresh-baked bread (is there a better smell in the world, btw?).

Learning is one of my favorite pasttimes. It can take up my entire day if I let it. And while I’m a big advocate of focusing on one thing at a time, after a few weeks or a month of focusing on one thing, I tend to move on to another — without necessarily abandoning the last thing I was learning.

What I’m Learning

As an example, here’s a list of what I’m learning right now:

Spanish . Still at the very beginning stage. Hola, Señor.

. Still at the very beginning stage. Hola, Señor. Meditation . Have been doing this off and on for years, but I’ve been doing it for a few months now, every day.

. Have been doing this off and on for years, but I’ve been doing it for a few months now, every day. Coding . Absolute beginner. I’m taking Javascript courses from Code Academy.

. Absolute beginner. I’m taking Javascript courses from Code Academy. Breadmaking . Have made a few basic recipes with some success. Am now making my own wild yeast starter, and will try tougher recipes. Am also learning to cook pasta and pizza from scratch.

. Have made a few basic recipes with some success. Am now making my own wild yeast starter, and will try tougher recipes. Am also learning to cook pasta and pizza from scratch. Wine . Each month, Eva and I have been exploring a new kind of wine. Last month, we did Napa Valley cabs, and took a trip to Napa in January. In February, we have been exploring pinot noirs from Sonoma.

. Each month, Eva and I have been exploring a new kind of wine. Last month, we did Napa Valley cabs, and took a trip to Napa in January. In February, we have been exploring pinot noirs from Sonoma. War and Peace . I love to read. I love the Russians. I started Tolstoy’s War and Peace in December, but am only halfway through right now.

. I love to read. I love the Russians. I started Tolstoy’s War and Peace in December, but am only halfway through right now. Building muscle . I don’t normally focus on building muscle, but have started a 14-week hypertrophy program as an experiment. Just three full-body workouts a week, lots of rest, lots of calories, lots of protein.

. I don’t normally focus on building muscle, but have started a 14-week hypertrophy program as an experiment. Just three full-body workouts a week, lots of rest, lots of calories, lots of protein. My business. Recently created the Zen Habits Premium Membership, am experimenting with ways to best teach things to people, including webinars, mini-courses, videos and more.

An Autodidact’s Schedule

So how do I fit all of that into a day? Well, honestly, I don’t always. Some days I’ll focus on one or two things, others I’ll do a little of each. I don’t like rigidness, and want the freedom and flexibility to let my interest and enthusiasm take me where it will.

That said, I’ve been working lately with a rough schedule. It’s not set in stone, but having a loose schedule helps me to keep everything going.

Here’s what it is right now (subject to change at any time):

Morning : Meditate, read, write/create, workout/yoga/stretch.

: Meditate, read, write/create, workout/yoga/stretch. Afternoon : Language, code, read.

: Language, code, read. Evening: Bake/cook, language, wine.

I tend to do anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour for each one, but if other things come up and I can get to some of them, that’s OK.

How I Learn

I learn not as a chore to check off my list, nor as a route to self-improvement, but because I’m excited about something. That’s the only way to learn, in my experience.

Some other things I’ve been learning in recent months:

Tea.

Beer.

Neapolitan pizza.

San Francisco, by exploring by foot.

Fat loss.

WordPress themes, CSS.

Book publishing.

Squats & deadlifts.

Here’s how I usually approach learning: