If you want to know the one thing that will keep you young in life, it’s learning. Life is a journey full of lessons. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Lifelong learning is a great trait that is too good to pass up. This article will consist of five reasons to keep learning after you retire.
Reason #1: Cognitive Benefits
As you get older, you may experience a loss of or decline in your cognitive abilities. Using your brain continuously allows you to reason, think, and make capable decisions as you age. One of the most significant decisions with retirement is picking a Medicare plan. For example, maybe you want to shop Medicare Supplement Plan G vs. Plan F. The one that is best for you will depend on several factors. You can learn more about the difference between these two plans here, boomerbenefits.com/medigap-plan-f-vs-plan-g-vs-plan-n/.
Learning keeps you on your feet and keeps your brain active. To name a few of the benefits of learning and keeping your brain busy, there are:
- Reduced memory loss risk
- Stimulate better neuron connection and generation in your brain
- Improved cognitive ability
- Improved ability to handle life’s ever-changing situations and challenges
The cognitive benefits of keeping your brain learning are incredible!
Reason #2: Staying Social
Retirement can be lonely for many if they do not have much going on. By joining a learning group, book club, or discussion group on a particular topic, seniors can remain social and learn something new. Learning something with other people can be motivating and encourage you to keep up with it. You can essentially do two things that are great for you by joining a learning group – keep your brain active and remain social. It’s a win-win!
Reason #3: Enjoyment
Retirement is when you can begin pursuing all those hobbies and passions you love with all your new free time. Perhaps there was a hobby you loved during your working years, but you never really got to study it and learn more about it. Now you can, and you can do it on your watch.
Reason #4: Have Something to Look Forward to
Depression can be common in older adults. A great way to combat depression is to have something to look forward to each day. It could be a class or a discussion group that you go to weekly. Having the ability to go somewhere and learn something new can be something that you look forward to all week. It could even be something as simple as surfing lessons or a cooking class that you go and take.
Reason #5: Expand Your Horizons
Choosing to learn as you retire can expand your horizons and get you outside your comfort zone. Humans tend to stick to what we know. Choosing to continue to learn in retirement is a great thing to do for yourself. It puts you out there to try and learn new things. Whether it be learning a new language, a new subject, or a new skill, it will help you experience new things, gain new perspectives on life, and make you less intimated about life’s changes. You can also view topics from another person’s point of view.
Conclusion
Continuing your lifelong learning journey has many benefits, such as improving your cognitive ability, staying social, and expanding your horizons. There are many great reasons to continue being a lifelong learner past retirement. A quote goes, “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” Life will have many things to teach you; education is the most powerful tool you can use to change your world and others’ world.
