Best Online Courses to Take Right Now

September 19, 2023

Sharpening your skills is essential to remain competitive in a tight market, where new tools flood every field each year. In the personal sphere, retaining an open mind and striving for constant growth keeps your mind young; more importantly, it gives you new things to talk about and share with those you care about, ensuring that you always have interesting things to say at a dinner party.

There are millions of online courses available, and not all of them are necessarily a good investment of your time; they may not help you reach your professional goals or provide you with the satisfaction of learning something new. However, pursuing the knowledge bases discussed in this article is sure to be a good way to spend your downtime, helping you reach both your short-term goals and long-term dreams.

Artificial Intelligence

Many laypeople and professionals alike have fretted about the advancement of artificial intelligence, worrying that it will take away jobs and lead to serious societal issues. However, Fortune says it best: your job’s not going to be taken by AI, but by workers who know how to harness it.

AI is everywhere now, from Google Bard popping up in searches to ChatGPT answering all of life’s most pressing questions, but you must understand its limitations and how to use it efficiently and ethically. Taking an introductory AI course will fill you in on how to utilize this powerful tool, and it can make you an essential employee in your organization. You’ll learn what kinds of things AI can assist you with, what to avoid asking, how to phrase questions in a way that will get the best results, and how to complement your own skills with artificial intelligence.

CPR Recertification

No matter what you do for a day job, you might find yourself taking on another role: the good Samaritan who saves a life. A lot of us have received CPR certification as part of workplace training or in an educational course, but then figured that it wasn’t important and let our certification slide; this can be a dangerous misstep, as it may mean you’re not ready to help in an emergency.

But there’s good news – you can get this important credential almost entirely online, in easily digestible lessons that take only a few minutes to complete. No need to find a course near you and schedule a session, as world-class instructors can teach you everything you need to know from the comfort of your own home. CPR recertification has never been easier or more important, as heart attack prevalence continues to grow in the modern world. Be confident in your first aid skills and ensure you’re always ready to help, no matter who needs you.

Financial Management

We all know that the economy is tough right now: inflation has driven many costs sky-high, and it can feel impossible to make ends meet when there are so many added expenses eating into your wallet. This is why financial management courses can be incredibly helpful, as they’ll teach you how to trim your budget, save money, and invest wisely so that you have money for any emergencies.

You’ll also learn financial literacy so that you know how to spot good bargains and avoid scams, which can seriously impact your credit score and overall financial well-being. While some costs in life are unavoidable, finding ways to stretch your paycheck without feeling deprived can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

Communication and Negotiation

It’s easy to believe that you don’t really need soft skills in life, like how to make people feel comfortable or discuss difficult topics in the workplace. However, charismatic and friendly people often go much farther in life: you can be incredibly successful and look great on paper, but you might still be passed up for promotions or dates if you don’t know how to talk to others.

Communication courses can teach you how to talk to others in a way that is clear and direct but not abrasive; they can also help you de-escalate conflicts and advocate for yourself so that you can calm down your spouse during an argument or get the pay raise you deserve. You’ll learn that often, it is not the content of your speech that upsets someone, but the words you use and the way you say them, ensuring that you’re understood when you’re trying to share feelings or broach uncomfortable subjects.

Life is a journey of constant exploration; there are always new things to explore and share. To stay young in heart and mind, strive to continually refresh your skills by learning about the newest technologies and techniques – as well as revisiting old ones so they remain sharp. Focus on these four avenues of learning, and you’ll find yourself more successful and empathetic – not to mention wealthier!