Did you know that the most successful individuals share a common trait? It’s not just natural talent or luck despite some people believing it is, but it's a commitment to continuous personal and professional development. But why is it that embracing lifelong learning could be the best decision you ever make? In this blog we are going to dive into the amazing transformative power of never stopping your educational journey, no matter your age or career stage.
To start off we need to understand why lifelong learning is not just confined to early life but can have monumental benefits if extended throughout one’s entire life. The concept of lifelong learning is not a new one, humans have been doing it since the beginning. The benefits continuous learning brings have always been apparent as learning has never been seen as a negative, however it is only in recent years where studies have proven the scientific benefits behind lifelong learning.
In today's world where we as humans are experiencing the highest quality of life in our existence we see endless amounts of opportunities for learning present. We have more opportunities, technologies, resources, lifespans, numbers and rights than ever before. So with this being said, why is the art of continuous learning on the decline? Well the major contribution for this flaw in our “all time high world” is quite ironic actually, since we have come so far and essentially live in the best timeline for humans so far, we no longer have that drive for betterment.
In today's modern world humans essentially have life pretty easy compared to our trying past years though evolution. From modern medicine increasing lifespan and improving overall quality of life, to crazy advancements in technologies that allow for never seen before conveniences. Although these progressions allow our society to thrive in countless ways, the negative implications are less discussed.
The Negatives
Humans no longer have to fight to survive in our everyday lives, which is not to discredit our forward society, but not having to struggle parallels to not seeking ways to advance and grow. Everything we have in our world came from someone having an idea of how to make the world a better place. But now we see so many without this need and drive as modern conveniences are ever apparent.
You may be wondering why this is a bad thing? Shouldn't it be a great thing that our world is so good we don’t need to constantly think of ways to better it? And yes you would be right, this is definitely a great thing that we all should be so thankful to live in such a progressed time. However, lifelong learning and continuous skill development are essential for personal and professional success along with all other aspects of personal health. With this being said, our overall drive for new evolutionary movements and personal betterment is at an all time low, with so many people being content and never wanting to expand their knowledge.
Understanding Lifelong Learning
Before we dive deeper into why continuous learning is vital for our health let's first clarify what lifelong learning entails. Lifelong learning has been defined as "all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective. It is an approach to learning—whether in personal or professional contexts—that is continuous and self-motivated. Lifelong Learning can be formal or informal, and takes place throughout an individual's life, from cradle to grave.
There’re various forms of continuous learning from formal education and individual day-to-day activities that everyone does. Learning can be mental, physical, solitary, auditory, kinesthetic, spiritual, to so many more forms. The ways of learning can be endless and complex. An adamant learner knows the ways they like to learn, while a true learner has an open mind to all the ways in which they can learn and will strive to try them all, which one are you?
The Benefits of Lifelong Learning
Career Advancement: Recent statistics have highlighted the growing importance of continuous education. A recent article done by Forbes, talks about how in today’s quickly evolving job landscape, staying competitive requires dedication. This can mean looking into professional development and continuous learning. And in this day and age, the importance of upskilling is more critical than ever to stay competitive. Rapid advancements in technology, changing industry dynamics, and increasing demands for specialized skills have all made upskilling a necessary component of career success.
Adaptability: Being a lifelong learner helps individuals adapt to changes and innovations in their field. Being adaptable is an essential quality to possess to be successful in any career. The act of constant learning creates adaptability as learning broadens your skills and knowledge making you a stronger individual.
Personal Development: Personal satisfaction and confidence that comes with mastering new skills is undeniable. People who have had extensive education are better conversationalists and listeners. Personal growth should be everyone's goal, the act of bettering oneself leads to more worldly citizens that add to the complexity and diversity of the world. Thus the act of personal development not only contributes to oneself but to society as a whole. Read more on this here.
Social Benefits: Lifelong Learning and Skill Development leads to more networking opportunities and community involvement. It connects to increased salary, a broader network, more job opportunities, elevated professional confidence, and improved creativity.
Besides continuous learning being beneficial in your career, advancing your adaptability, positive personal development and social benefits, there are also countless studies by reputable sources such as Harvard, Yale and many more universities have found that lifelong learning can actually lead to a healthier life. Stay along as we dive into more into the health benefits of continuous learning in the next part of this blog.
Health Benefits of Lifelong Learning and Skill Development
In addition to the benefits of lifelong learning listed above there are also extensive physical health benefits that come in the territory. Lifelong Learning and Skill Development keeps your brain alert, memory recollection and memory sharp. There are many studies that establish a strong linkage between lifelong learning and health benefits such as reduced stress or depression, improved cardiovascular health and greater immunity.
The arguably greatest health benefit of ongoing learning can be seen in the results from several observational studies that show that people who do mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles or word searches tend to have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This is the case for people who do the activities in both middle age and later life. Cognitive decline is something everyone who grows old will experience, but now with these recent discoveries we now know ways to lessen this devastating effect of aging. Read more on this at University of Massachusetts Global.
Overcoming Barriers to Lifelong Learning
Time Management: Finding time to fit in additional learning which can sometimes feel like work can be hard. But investing time into yourself will always pay off and is the best investment you can make. Simple things like switching from listening to music to educational podcasts for car rides can go a long way. Reading in your free time instead of mindlessly watching tv, playing mind games such as puzzles or trivia are also fun ways to fit additional learning into your everyday life. Balancing learning with work and personal life can be hard but small and simple changes is all it takes to make big differences.
Financial Constraints: Financial constraints can also be big contributors to why some people struggle to add active learning into their lives. There are many great resources for free or low-cost learning opportunities such as Education Connection, edx and Coursera. All these sources are great for people of all ages and lifestyles with a variety of packages that suit everyone's unique needs.
Motivational Strategies: Besides the obstacles listed above, the arguably most difficult barrier to overcome is finding motivation and trust me you will need motivation. The best way to get motivated is by starting with learning something you are actually interested in, something to peak your interests. Doing this will hopefully set you on the right course and lead you to more topics of interest in the future.
How to Engage in Lifelong Learning
- Setting Goals: A big key to successful lifelong learning is setting goals. Goals are best when you start them small and achievable. You don’t want to make the common mistake of being too ambitious and setting goals that are unachievable and will result in disappointment and discouragement. Start by setting goals you know you can achieve, and don’t be mistaken about easy goals and achievable ones as they are two different things.
- Choosing the Right Resources: Having a successful learning journey will be greatly impacted by the resources you choose for your journey. When choosing your learning resources make sure to choose an appropriate platform that aligns with personal and professional interests. Some excellent online learning platforms that we recommend here at Bumblbee are Speak, Skill Share, Educative, O'Reilly, and Wondrium. All these sources offer high quality education without the high price tags.
- Building Good Learning Habits: Building good learning habits will be a major tool for successful long term learning. Some tips to build good learning habits are setting clear goals, creating a dedicated learning space, developing a routine, break learning into manageable chunks, use a variety of learning resources, make it fun, use a reward system, teach others, stay curious, track and reflect your progress, stay flexible and adaptive and most importantly chose a learning method that fits your learning style. Using these tips and tricks will help make your learning journey smoother and more enjoyable.
Learning, Learning, Learning
Lifelong learning is more than just an educational pursuit but it's a fundamental aspect of personal and professional evolution. By engaging continuously in skill development, we not only enhance our career opportunities but also adapt better to an ever-changing world. The benefits of lifelong learning, ranging from improved job prospects and adaptability to increased personal satisfaction and social engagement, all underscore its critical role in our lives.
Now is the perfect time to embark on your lifelong learning journey. Whether it's picking up a new hobby, enrolling in an online course, or simply reading a book in a field you're curious about, take that first step today. Every small effort counts in expanding your horizons and unlocking your full potential.
Consider this quote by Mahatma Gandhi: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." What will you learn today that will enrich your tomorrow?
