Mental Health Awareness Week: Lifelong Learning
It’s Day 6 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits of lifelong learning. Whatever you choose to learn, it can bring multiple advantages alongside the additional knowledge. Read on to find out how lifelong learning can improve your mental health and quality of life.
What is it?
Lifelong learning is when you choose to educate yourself voluntarily, so it’s completely self-motivated. It could be in order to advance in your career, enhance your personal life or simply add another string to your bow.
How is it done?
Lifelong learning can take any form you wish, ranging from a part-time degree through the Open University or another provider, to attending workshops and classes on a more casual basis. Alternatively, you could teach yourself at home using books, video tutorials and online resources, or you could get friends and family involved and learn together.
What can I learn?
Anything you like! Popular examples are foreign languages, creative writing, sports, academic subjects, and crafting activities such as knitting and woodwork. However, absolutely anything that requires focus and the gaining of knowledge counts as lifelong learning, so it could be something that you do around the house, like gardening, baking or DIY.
What are the benefits?
Studying in your own time and at a pace that suits you makes lifelong learning a highly effective method of gaining new skills. Aside from this newfound expertise, you may also experience the following:
· Mental stimulation
· More positive mood
· Greater focus, memory retention and patience
· A stronger CV
· Additional transferable skills linked to the subject
· The opportunity to contribute to society or support charities through your passion
· Greater satisfaction in your personal life and professional career
· And of course, a regular sense of enjoyment, achievement and fulfilment
Tips for lifelong learning
· Create a practical timeframe that fits with your career, family time, sleep pattern and other responsibilities
· Use technology to learn new techniques, watch how-to guides and listen to relevant podcasts
· Join a community of likeminded people, as this will allow you to share your learning journey, simultaneously gaining insight from others and offering them your own wisdom
· Stay motivated by setting achievable goals and letting others know about your achievements
· Don’t be put off – learning a new skill can be hard work, so always remember why you took it up in the first place and envisage how you’ll be in a week, a month and a year’s time
· Be proud of yourself – don’t forget that you decided to learn new things of your own volition, which is a respectable action in itself
· Apply your knowledge whenever you get chance, as this will give you even more motivation to continue learning
Many of our colleagues across the UK and Europe are lifelong learners, ranging from accomplished artists and star bakers, to wargame model enthusiasts and yoga experts. Whatever you decide to learn, we guarantee that it will support positive mental wellbeing and help you to further develop who you are as an individual.
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Don’t forget that our chosen charity for this year is Mind, which offers help and support to anyone struggling with their mental health. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit out JustGiving page,
