Why You Should Continually Learn New Things

Author: Michelle Mamerto

My mom went back to college after over two decades, after leaving school to get married, after starting a family, and joining the workforce. She had always meant to return to school to earn her degree, but as time passed, and as life happened, the idea of returning seemed like an unattainable goal. One day she decided that the kids were old enough, and her responsibilities were not unmanageable. She decided to enroll in school. She was at first intimidated, but once enrolled, she was excited to start learning once again.

It’s never too late to learn new things and to pursue a dream.

There is no age limit when it comes to learning something new, whether it’s picking up a new instrument, a new hobby, or going back to school to get that degree. Learning is not like milk- there is no expiration date. Being a lifelong learner can increase your mental sharpness, bring you happiness, and fill your life with purpose. If you are learning in a group setting, you might be able to increase your social circle, and find even more interests.

Learning something new helps to stimulate the brain, and it helps with preventing cognitive decline. Studies have shown that older adults who are challenged and engaged with learning, showed increased brain plasticity.The challenge for many of us is our fear of not being good at something. The goal for learning as an adult, is not to be perfect, but to learn, and enjoy it.

You don’t need to go back to school to learn something new. You can go on YouTube, or enroll in an online course at a university. You can sign up at a local music school, or your local parks and rec website, or try your local center for the arts to see if there is anything you might be interested in pursuing.

My mom went back to school, and we ended up being classmates a couple times. We even shared a major, and shared the stage at graduation, when our favorite instructor handed us our dipolomas- mom first, then me. Mom continued with school and received her Master’s degree. She is now retired and still enjoys learning new things.