People crave knowledge and
understanding of their environment and recognise education as a pathway to achieving
their goals in life and helping them to fulfil their potential in life. Many
believe that we are not fully alive without the drive to push our boundaries to
learn more about the world in which we live. Your mind certainly doesn’t stop
working once you school and the thirst for knowledge continues to grow. It is not
only our brains which benefit from learning. Continued learning through life is
also beneficial for wellness and career opportunities.
Here are four advantages of lifelong learning – ways which learning
keeps us healthy.
- As we age, certain parts of our memory and brains shrink causing our learning capacity and problem solving abilities to diminish. There is evidence that there is a reduction in neuron activity which may affect our mood, concentration and memory. According to a study by the University of California, education keeps brain cells working at levels which slows down age associated memory and cognitive decline.
- Lifelong learning reduces the impact stress. An intellectually stimulating lifestyle reduces anxiety by up to 70% in a recent poll of city executives. The study showed that stimulating the mind resulted in a drop of the stress hormone, cortisol. When we are under less stress we gain a sense of empowerment in both our professional and personal lives.
- Learning new skills through gaining knowledge opens up new social possibilities. It enables us to communicate with people we previously did not have much in common with. Experimenting with new ideas also motivates us to interact more with our families, friends, coworkers, and even with like-minded strangers who encourage us to take risks, adjust, and adapt as we progress. As learning stimulates social engagement, this leads to feeling health and happiness in all facets of our lives.
- Enhances Motivation, Creativity, Energy and Innovation. Whenever we introduce new skills and knowledge into our daily life, we give ourselves an opportunity to open our minds and appreciate and explore new opportunities in our careers, our personal development, our social abilities and our family lives.
