Make learning a lifelong habit
career development, professional development, continuing education, learning, Career Strategy
If you think you'll reach an age in life when you don't have to learn anything new anymore, you'll miss out on many enriching experiences.
Exercise Your Mind
It's true that most of us finish high school and even university and feel like we're tired of taking in new information. We just don't want to learn anymore.
However, aging experts insist that learning something new keeps our minds and mental health in better shape than not
taking in new info. Maybe you get home after work and think, "I'm too tired to do anymore thinking today." However, you might be pleasantly surprised at how you can rest some areas of your mind while giving other areas a good work-out!
Some ways to keep up your learning:
- Extension courses through a university or local college.
- Non-traditional training. No Career Limits offers bite-sized tutorials, and LinkedIn Learning or Coursera are also great sources for learning with integrated tests and certification options.
- Take advantage of employer-sponsored certification workshops
- Read something.
The best way to absorb new information is to read. These days, it's highly likely you're surrounded by some form of reading material. Whether it's a favorite news site, a daily newspaper, magazines, heck even pamphlets you pick up at the doctor's office can provide your brain with new stuff to digest.
- Dive into a topic.
Pursuing a subject you're interested in is the most fun way to learn. If you always wanted to know about making paella or how to make a vlog, there's no better place than the interwebs. Better yet, purchase a good book about the subject matter, As you consistently seek new information to learn, your mind will stay active and keep those personal development skills sharp.
- Listen to audio books. If you don't claim to be an avid reader, then have books read to you! After all, who doesn't love a good story? Expand your repertoire through listening to audio books. At minimal to no cost, why not give an audio book a try? Audible, Scribd, Amazon, & Google audio books are great places to look for a wide selection of listening material.
- Join a club.
Find a club that focuses on a subject in which you're already interested. So, if you've always wanted to know more about making pottery, join a local pottery-making group. You'll learn by observing and also by doing. Plus, you'll have a beautiful piece of work to admire when you finish a project.
- Get out more. When you're relating with others, you gain new knowledge. And you discover and experience new things. Make it a point to get out and about at least weekly.
Make it your personal mantra to never stop learning. It's fun, it will keep your mind working, and you'll never run out of fodder for interesting conversation. Put the above strategies to work now and continue to expand your mind!
