The national Learning at Work Day promoted by the Campaign for Learning is Thursday 25 May. It's designed as an encouragement to all organisations to get more involved in staff learning and development. If you're stuggling for some creative ideas as to how to get involved in your workplace, here is TrainingZONE's easy guide.

All you have to do is select how much time you're prepared to invest, then choose between the various options – or invent your own.

"Sorry – I'm too busy – I can spare you 5 minutes if you're quick"

• Take any relevant professional journal, find a quite area, and choose any feature article on s subject you're less familiar with to read.
  
• Make an appointment with your manager, coach or learning adviser to review you development needs
  
• Dig out the notes you made at the last course or conference you attended and ask yourself what you've done with the ideas.

"OK, I'll take a coffee break for 20 minutes"

• Review your present learning needs and create a Learning Plan for yourself detailing what you'd like to learn, how you'll go about it, and your timescale.
  
• Complete a learning log about some recent learning.
  
• Walk over to a colleague and ask her for some quick coaching with a problem you're having – or offer her some coaching in one of your skills.

"What could I do in an hour?"

• Check out some of the new online learning courses. Use the Lguide.com website as a starting point.
  
• Arrange for a couple of team members to run a lunchtime session with colleagues either briefing them on a new project or reviewing some recent work.
  
• Take part in a lunchtime online workshop.

"Learning's important: I'll give myself half-a-day next week"

• Arrange to visit one of your key customers or suppliers to find out how they really perceive the work you're doing.
  
• Attend one of the regular professional development events run by your assocation or institute.
  
• Find a quiet space to write up the outcomes of a recent project, identifying the lessons learned and the implications for the future.

"It's worth a day to re-fresh some of my ideas"

• Spend a day work-shadowing a colleague whose skills and abilities you admire.
  
• Set up an 'away day' with team members or colleagues to review the past year and plan the year ahead.
  
• Book yourself onto a conference about a subject which is likely to become increasingly important to you in the future.

"Yes, I value my self-development: what would you suggest I undertake over a longer period?"

• Talk to Learn Direct about opportunities for further training and education on 0800 100 900.
  
• Find yourself a regular coach or mentor with whom you can discuss ideas and who will support your personal and professional development.
  
• Print off this page, copy it to others, and paste it near your desk as a regular prompt to engage in learning.

Of course, if you've got a better idea to share, please use the Comments feature below to tell others about it.