For a lot of people the thought of being a lifelong learner can be intimidating. While I had fun – too much fun, sometimes-in college the thought of on-going learning used to mean “going back to school” or a formal higher education program. And for those of us who weren’t amazing students and are bad test takers, this idea wasn’t embraced, it felt daunting. But lifelong learning has taken on a new concept in our new technology focused world.
Being a lifelong learner now means that someone is motivated to learn and develop because they want to. It is deliberate and voluntary. In 2018 it is easy to find and listen to a book on Audible, or take an online course, listen to a podcast or find an ebook to help you keep up with any number of new technologies or ideas relevant to your career or interests.
As an employer, companies want to know you’re interested in continuing to learn, try new things, be open minded and embrace change and new concepts and ideas. It takes time, but it’s worth it to make time.
Here are 3 reasons to spend the time to be a lifelong learner:
- Learning is good for your health.
Learning to play a new instrument has been shown to offset cognitive decline and can help improve your memory. People with more education are more likely to have a better job than those with less education. And a better job probably includes health insurance which keeps families healthier. Reading has been shown to make you smarter by increasing your vocabulary and world knowledge. It has also been known to help with comprehension skills and can even help reduce stress.
- Most employers are willing to invest in on-going education
The world is changing rapidly. New technologies are constantly being shared and adopted and companies need their employees to be able to keep up and embrace these new technologies. Many companies have tuition reimbursement programs and offer on-going career development programs to afford their employees the chance to continue to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
- Help your career and improve your skills at work and at home
The Pew Research Center did a study and 80% of the people who pursued knowledge wanted to learn something that would help them make their life more interesting and full. If it interests you, take some time and learn more about it. Maybe you want to lean about social media to keep up with your grandchildren or need to learn a new technology to be more effective at work. For others watching the news or listening to a speaker or seeing a documentary can help you engage more with others and be admired and respected personally and professionally.
Which of these resonate with you?
