Think you’ve mastered adulthood? Think again. Smarten Up is a guide to doing life a little better — or at least, a lot more interestingly. From testing your comedic timing and sword-fighting finesse to weaving your way toward mindfulness, we’ve rounded up dozens of classes, workshops and weirdly satisfying ways to flex your brain.
Go on — learn something new, bruise your ego a little and come out smarter for it.
We asked local instructors to share the simplest, smartest, bestest hack for mastering their craft
“Use a leather strop to remove any burr that may be clinging to your knife edge after sharpening it. This will ensure that you have the smoothest, sharpest edge possible, which doesn’t just make your work easier in the kitchen, it’s also safer because a sharp knife goes where you tell it to.”
“Just write badly. Prove you’re a bad writer. You’re stuck because you want to write well. Write badly to get all the junk out of your system, then look back at how bad you are through the lens of a petty critic and make progress towards a better version of your story. At the very least, it can’t get any worse.”
To find the right spot to shoot, I use a simple technique called ‘find the light.’ Take a photo of the back of your hand, then turn 45 degrees and shoot again until you’ve made a full circle. Compare the photos to see which angle has the best light. It works great for portraits or event coverage, helping you place your subject where the light is most flattering.”
People often struggle to end their scenes, but you just need to look into your ‘rearview mirror’ to see all the narrative elements you’ve already set up. Whether it’s bringing back a character, calling back to a joke that landed or tying up a loose end that the audience has probably forgotten, you’ll get a more satisfying ending if you circle back to it.”
Here’s what they don’t tell you in art school: It’s not viable without business skills. Apparently, that’s what night school is for. Start Your Creative Business course at MacEwan’s School of Continuing Education helps artists navigate the nitty gritty of entrepreneurship, like making a business plan, managing invoices, negotiating with clients — and chasing them down to pay said invoices.
The course also covers the how-to of differentiating yourself from competition, setting your price models and defining your market niche. While it’s online, students are required to log on for live sessions.
$500, Mar. 2 – Apr. 13, macewan.ca
Everyone has a vague idea about the risks that lurk in the online world. Get a better grasp on what exactly cybersecurity entails with Fundamentals of Cybersecurity at Concordia University of Edmonton. This self-directed online course (meaning you learn at your own pace) offers an overview of the world of digital defence, as well as some of the laws surrounding it and tactics for protection. Though it’s designed for IT professionals working toward certification, anyone — and their grandparents (especially their grandparents) — can benefit from learning how to spot and avoid a cyber attack.
$300, year-round (self-directed), concordia.ab.ca
Dog Jogs’ Pet First Aid Class answers every dog owners worst nightmare: What do you do if your pet is in medical distress and you can’t get to a vet right away? The 10-hour course covers everything from wound bandaging to CPR and emergency prevention. Graduates can take Off the Grid, a next-level course designed for those who spend time far from the city — like campers, hikers or farmers — because fetching the vet isn’t always an option.
$178, Feb. 22, dog-jogs.ca
If your Pinterest boards are full but your living room still isn’t quite right, Introduction to Residential Interior Design at the University of Alberta’s Continuing Education department can help bridge the gap. This online, beginner-friendly course walks you through the fundamentals of creating beautiful and functional spaces — from furniture arrangement and lighting to colour, texture, and balance — all within a residential setting.
$755, winter and spring courses, ualberta.ca
