Life-Long Learning can enhance our view of the world Life-Long Learning can enhance our view of the world. The following pages contain verbiage, tips, a printable poster and other articles and resources about how continual learning can provide us with opportunities to improve our quality of life.

What and Why Learning new things throughout our lives not only opens our eyes to different experiences and perspectives, it can help us be more innovative and understanding. This is true in both work and personal settings. Continuing to learn and try new things also keeps our minds sharp. In today’s world, the pursuit of knowledge is easier than ever before. There are apps, online classes and other easy-to-access ways to obtain information or engage in a particular kind of experience. Take time to try something new this month.

Ideas for activities To brush up on skills such as math, science, engineering, history or to prepare for a test, visit Kahn Academy: khanacademy.org. Local communities offer different types of continuing education classes that range from knitting to learning a new language. To get involved, visit your local community or your local library. At a team lunch and learn, have everyone share something new that they learned this month, what surprised them about it and how they came across the information or experience.

Resources Articles 9 Places to Learn Leadership Skills for Free Taking Up These 10 Hobbies Will Make You Smarter How To Remember 90 Percent Of Everything You Learn 8 Life-Changing Skills You Can Learn in Less Than 6 Months

25 Tips Make time to read and learn something new every day from your favorite blogs and online magazines. Learn how to do that DIY project you've had your eye on. If a question comes to mind and you can’t find an answer immediately, write it down for future investigation —– this is a great way to build a reading list. Many hobbies that challenge you like sudoku, puzzles, cooking, playing music or meditating can allow your cognitive function to be working at peak capacity. Listen to podcasts or other messages and stories to keep your brain learning. We all have to-do lists. These are the tasks we need to accomplish. Try to also have a “to-learn” list. On it you can write ideas for new areas of study. Maybe you would like to take up a new language, learn a skill or read the collective works of Shakespeare. Whatever motivates you, write it down. Take on a job that someone else might not have the time to complete.

MORE Tips You learn what you teach. If you have an outlet of communicating ideas to others, you are more likely to solidify that learning. Start a blog, mentor someone or even discuss ideas with a friend. Dabble in a new hobby every couple of months, and do your best to mix the enjoyment of a new experience with the aspect of having a good challenge. Schedule time in your calendar to learn from one unit of content (magazine, newspaper, etc.). Make it the same time each day. Learn food prep and cooking techniques, basic or advanced. Find out your preferred way of learning by doing some critical thinking or taking the learning style quiz. Stay up to date on current news in the world and even around your area. Learn key phrases in a number of languages.

More tips While typing your notes into the computer is great for posterity, writing by hand stimulates ideas. The simple act of holding and using a pen or pencil massages acupuncture points in the hand, which in turn stimulates ideas. Try to spend an hour per week learning more about your job, like new theories, how to improve your performance, make your relationships at work better, etc. If senior moments are coming too early for you, it might be time to spend a little effort working on your memory. Doing some mind puzzles or crosswords to keep your mind alert. Volunteering at a shelter or children’s hospital are great ways to learn and culture yourself or your children and on worldly issues that may have otherwise been nonexistent to you. We build and maintain connections in our long-term memory over time. If you want to master a new subject area or skill, there is simply no substitute for repetition, review and practice.

More tips Make sure you read content from a wide range of sources and that you expose yourself to a variety of viewpoints. Use scraps of time or trapped time for learning. Always carry a resource with you that you can turn to when you have small bits of time. Commuting time, time waiting for appointments, breaks from work and other scraps of time can add up to powerful learning if you use them well. Subscribe to and read professional journals and books. The information contained within is written by professionals and provides insights into the latest research, trends and issues affecting your career and your life. The best way to stay motivated to learn is to surround yourself with people who are also learning. That doesn’t mean that you must build networks of geniuses. However, it would serve you well to stay close to people who have a thirst for knowledge that refuses to be slaked.

More tips The best way to stay motivated to learn is to surround yourself with people who are also learning. That doesn’t mean that you must build networks of geniuses. However, it would serve you well to stay close to people who have a thirst for knowledge that refuses to be slaked. Make a commitment to learn new ways to expand and to sharpen your personal and professional skills. Check into any number of apps, Pinterest boards and social media personalities that can offer facts and bits of trivia in bite-sized pieces. Watch new videos weekly to teach you how to do any number of different things. Commit to learning a new skill over a period of one month with daily work.

Appendix We can’t take all of the credit. In compiling this information, we referenced the following organizations and websites: entrepreneur.com bluepencilinstitute.com productivityist.com inc.com linkedin.com everyday-escapism.com lifehack.org wamda.com wheelofwellbeing.org