6 Things I Learned Online—and Actually Applied to Change My Life

I’ve always been a curious learner. Not the kind who collects certificates just to say I did—but the kind who learns because I want to apply it. I want to live it.

Over the last decade, the most profound shifts in my personal and professional life have come not from formal education or traditional systems, but from what I learned online.

Here are six things I didn’t just study virtually—I implemented them, lived them, and transformed because of them.

1. I Became a Certified Health Coach (And It Changed Everything)

Over a decade ago, I enrolled in a year-long online program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), the world’s largest nutrition school, headquartered in New York. This wasn’t just a collection of Zoom lectures—it was a true community, created by Joshua Rosenthal, who built a brilliant bridge between science, spirit, and self-development.

Throughout the program, I studied with health visionaries like Dr. Mark Hyman and Deepak Chopra, learned from real-life practitioners, and even traveled to NYC for live conferences—though those were entirely optional. What I gained was far beyond a certificate. I laid the foundation for my current wellness lifestyle, writing, and entrepreneurial path.

IIN didn’t just teach me about health—it made me live healthier.

Suggested Course: This course cost me $5,000 (the best money I spent). If you’re looking for a shorter, affordable introduction to holistic health coaching, check out this Udemy wellness and nutrition course designed for beginners with big dreams.

2. I Built My Stock Market Portfolio from Scratch

I’ve always been fascinated by finance—but for years, the world of investing felt intimidating and inaccessible. So I did what I always do: I started learning online.

I watched countless YouTube videos, enrolled in investing courses, and slowly began decoding the language—PE ratios, market caps, earnings reports. No financial degree. Just curiosity, consistency, and course after course. Today, my stock portfolio is thriving—and I manage it entirely on my own.

Learning online gave me both the skill and the confidence to build real wealth.

Suggested Course: Want to learn how to invest like a pro? This stock market course on Udemy is perfect for beginners ready to take action. I took it a few years ago.

Related Read: Udemy vs. YouTube: What’s the Better Way to Learn Online?
Not all learning platforms are created equal—here’s how to choose the one that matches your goals.

3. I Deepened My Practice of Meditation and Movement

Even with a foundation in yoga, I felt drawn to go deeper—not just to perform the movements, but to truly understand them. I wanted to know the “why” behind the breath, the science behind stillness.

I turned to online courses in meditation, yoga philosophy, and Pilates fundamentals. I explored the roots of each practice and tailored them into my daily life. These courses provided me with clarity, structure, and a deeper understanding of how the body and mind work together.

Online learning turned passive habits into intentional rituals.

Suggested Course: Want to create a deeper mind-body practice at home? This meditation course on Udemy is one of the most beautifully designed and beginner-friendly options.

4. I Wrote (and Published) 10+ Books on Protein and Fiber

As a health coach, I understood the importance of nutrition. But before I wrote and published my high-protein and high-fiber recipe books, I wanted to go deeper. I researched online, delving into digestive science, macronutrient timing, and the impact of fiber on hormones and metabolism.

I learned everything from recipe formatting to nutrient breakdowns online. That knowledge has turned into tangible work: books that are now helping others shift their diets and improve their health.

My online learning directly translates into intellectual property and passive income.

Suggested Course: This Udemy course on gut health is a great way to expand your understanding before creating your own wellness content or recipes.

5. I Learned How to Market My Work

I never thought I’d need marketing. In design school and during my early days as a health coach, it was just a nice-to-have. But when I started building my own brand—my publishing house, my books, my blog—I realized: if you don’t market your work, no one will know it exists.

So I learned. I took online courses on content strategy, social media behavior, scheduling systems, email funnels, and digital storytelling. What once felt like a mystery became a skill I could wield with intention.

The ability to market your work is a form of creative freedom—and I owe mine to online learning.

Suggested Course: This digital marketing course on Udemy is one of the most comprehensive and practical guides I’ve taken—it’s ideal for content creators, solopreneurs, and small business owners.

6. I Taught Myself Book Publishing from A to Z

From ISBNs to Amazon KDP formatting, I learned the entire self-publishing process through online resources. YouTube videos, expert interviews, mini-courses—they taught me everything I needed to know to turn my words into real books.

Today, I run a small publishing house and release titles under my own imprint. And it all started with a decision: to learn what I didn’t know.

Suggested Course: Dreaming of becoming an author? This Udemy course on self-publishing walks you through the entire Amazon KDP journey, from manuscript to marketing.

Recap: You Can Learn Anything—If You’re Willing

We live in a golden age of accessible education. Whether your dream is to become a coach, a creator, a coder, or an investor, you can start right now, from your living room. You don’t need a gatekeeper. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to know why you want to learn—and be willing to follow through.

Everything I shared here wasn’t theoretical. These aren’t courses I bought—they’re ones I finished, applied to, and built a new version of myself around.

So, what would you like to learn?

Because whatever it is, I promise—it’s already out there waiting for you.