Tips for lifelong learning

When you graduate from university, you may feel like your education is complete, but this should never be the case. Learning is essential to keep your brain healthy and active, and is key to lifelong success. Research has suggested that continued cognitive activity has a positive effect on brain cells and helps promote mental sharpness, especially for senior citizens.

Lifelong learning doesn’t mean you need to take out more loans and continue your degree. An education is something all of us can work on every day of your lives. Here are some ways you can practise lifelong learning.

Get a hobby

Ever have an interest in studying yoga or learning Japanese? Just because a certain interest may not have anything to do with your career doesn’t mean it won’t still benefit you. Trying new things and doing things we love improves our brains. So explore something that has always interested you. The idea that hobbies are a complete waste of time is far from the truth. Not only can hobbies bring you joy and enrich your life, they can also help you to relieve stress, improve your patience, increase your bonds with others, gain confidence, challenge you and prevent bad habits. These benefits from learning a new skill will not only help you in your personal life but can translate into your professional life as well.

Volunteer

Volunteering is so important because you don’t truly learn something until you start doing it. Believe me when I say volunteering doesn’t mean long days with nothing gained. It can make a huge difference in people’s lives — and it’s not a one-way street either. Through volunteering, you can find out what kind of leader you are and how capable you are at being a team player and working closely with people. Volunteering is the perfect position to challenge yourself, set goals to achieve and find out what your true strengths and skills are.

Reading or listening to podcasts

Reading is always a great way to exercise your brain. Whether it’s a novel, a letter, an article or a recipe, reading can have significant benefits such as mental stimulation, stress reduction, knowledge, vocabulary expansion, memory improvement, stronger analytical thinking skills, improved focus, and better writing skills. Schedule at least 15 to 20 minutes a day of reading. Your brain will thank you later.

If you feel like you are too busy to learn, then listening to a podcast is the perfect solution. Podcasts are a great way to multi-task so you can learn while you’re busy cooking, driving or exercising. Podcasts cover a range of different topics, including history, politics, entertainment, art and current events. You’re bound to find something to listen to.