Learning Through Blogging: How I Started and What I Recommend

Soon after my mother was diagnosed with dementia (I wrote about that in earlier posts), I read that one effective way to slow cognitive decline is to keep learning new things. Determined to take that advice to heart, I set out to find interests that would challenge and engage me.

That search led me to discover beautiful and inspiring home décor blogs. At the time I didn’t even know what a blog was. With a little encouragement from a friend (thank you, Kim!), I started my own. Blogging quickly became my chosen “learn something new” project.

Blogging opened a door to creativity I hadn’t expected. It pushed me to start—and finish—projects, and it sparked a genuine curiosity about many related skills: graphic design, blog layout, photography, and technical tools I had never heard of before. To solve each small problem, I googled questions, watched tutorials, and learned as I went.

One big milestone was moving from Blogger to WordPress. That switch came with a steep learning curve; I used an e-book to guide me and documented the experience in posts about the transition. Since then I’ve continued to look for courses, tutorials, and posts that help me improve both the look and the function of my site.

I also developed an appreciation for visuals. Good photographs and graphics grab readers’ attention and make posts memorable. That encouraged me to look for structured courses rather than piecemeal tutorials, because a complete course saves time and provides a coherent learning path.

Courses and Resources I Recommend

Below are some of the classes and resources I found most helpful. Many are paid, but they frequently go on sale; I found the investment worthwhile for focused, reliable instruction.

1. Shoot Fly Shoot — Photography 101 and 201
   These courses are designed for bloggers who want to improve their photos. Composition, lighting, and editing are covered at a practical level so you can take better pictures for your posts and social channels.
2. Shoot Fly Shoot — Room Makeovers with Photoshop
   A course geared toward bloggers and DIYers who want to present room transformations with polished images. I picked this up during a sale and enjoyed the videos I watched, even though I’ve yet to complete all the hands-on exercises.
3. Simplified Graphic Design
   This course is perfect if you want a clear introduction to graphic design tools like Illustrator. It covers essential topics in a practical, project-based way, making it easier to create cohesive blog graphics, headers, and promotional images.

4. Improve Your Blog in 10 Minutes a Day — 31-Day Series
   Debi Stangeland’s step-by-step series walks through practical tasks you can complete in short bursts. I’m currently taking this series and appreciate the bite-sized approach; it’s an easy way to make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.

While there are many free tutorials available online, a structured course often provides a faster, clearer route to competence. Instead of hunting for individual answers, you get a curated sequence of lessons that build on one another.

Practical Tips for Learning Online

• Set specific goals: pick one skill to focus on each month, such as improving photography or learning a design tool.
• Practice regularly: small, consistent sessions are more effective than occasional long stretches.
• Use a project-based approach: apply what you learn directly to your blog so knowledge sticks.
• Look for deals: many reputable courses go on sale periodically; waiting for a promotion can make paid learning affordable.

Blogging has done more than teach me new technical skills. It has given me a creative outlet, an ongoing reason to learn, and a way to stay mentally active during a difficult season in my family’s life. If you’re starting from scratch, choose one small area to explore and build from there—learning often grows naturally once curiosity gets sparked.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.