The Perks of Lifelong Learning & being a lifelong learner!
All humans have a tendency to do things that come with perks, or an incentive — it is called positive reinforcement. Psychologically, one’s will and motivation to finish a certain task or stay in the continuous process of doing it often generates as a result of what they are most likely to get out of it. A reward, validation, and mostly in the Process sphere which we are mainly talking about — a Promotion!
This is why it is important to dedicate an entire article just to the benefits or the perks of Lifelong Learning in order to motivate individuals all across the globe and give them access to the most conveniently able toolkit of resources. After all, if there is a reward to get and a fun process to enjoy learning at almost minimal cost & time investment, who wouldn’t want it?
But okay enough about the psyche of rewards and the prospects which make the mind happy, lifelong learning is something that should ideally inspire one to get on board even without treats & surprises. Simply because it is an all-inclusive and extremely beneficial practice to make in life. What is lifelong learning? Why are we talking about something that is attached to learning? How can learning things be interesting? Let’s find out!
What is lifelong learning?
Lifelong learning is the concept of learning that refers to knowledge information & absorption which occurs beyond the classroom or college/work. At the core level, lifelong learning essentially involves selective skill building in the areas of interest of an individual or on what they want to explore & discover maybe as a challenge or hobby. One might say that lifelong learning could be followed in the form of personal development, like doing online courses, learning various techniques, taking up a certification in them from a less formal setting.
The best part is, in today’s day and age learning is not restricted to going out and getting things done. There are various ways in which one can approach this concept of lifelong learning. One approach could either be formal training with teachers and courses, institutionalized with rules & regulations. There is also an approach that offers something less-structured, a tad bit informal. There are provisions for coaching or guided instruction across domains and different subjects or it could be self-taught learning without anyone’s help.
We even learn through our daily interactions with peers, we learn a lot in terms of knowledge, skills, behavior, and professional attitude. It also falls under the category of lifelong learning.
How to master the art?
You can be a Jack/Jill of all trades, mastering some from the comfort of your home on an online platform that offers you the chance to learn! Everything these days from reading books to doing chores while listening to a podcast and even reading a blog online will add to the journey of lifelong learning! So before you make an excuse not to learn, we’d like to tell you that there’s no room for excuses anymore. Learning is easily accessible now.
The master of all mediums!
And how are we so sure of this? Because we have something in store that can easily induce lifelong learning in your daily schedules without causing any friction with your other activities. How? Through the Zuperly Pathways. Our Pathways are courses in self-learning that will allow you to choose any topic of your interest, in spite of the fact that you have a pre-existing educational qualification in the subject or not. With Pathways, you can learn anything anywhere and anytime at a minimal and affordable subscription that lasts you a lifetime. We have modules that cover a variety of topics in form of diverse content resources. Pathways are designed to enhance the learning and productivity of all lifelong learners.
There is research that states Professionals who dedicate themselves to learning new skills while having stable jobs and keeping up with the coming up industry trends tend to earn more, get promoted, etc. Plus, their versatile skill set makes it easier for them to change jobs, explore their life’s passions and adapt to economic downturns. Lifelong learning prevents stagnancy of the mind by empowering you to exercise and polish your natural human tendency that enjoys new things.
Add ons!
Some more benefits to lifelong learning.
Lifelong learning will also make people of all ages and backgrounds healthier and more fulfilled in general. Experts have proven that studying for longer keeps your mind sharp even preventing various forms of illnesses that catch up to people when they grow older. Those people who learn in a continuous manner are more confident because they keep on challenging themselves with new situations. Those interviewed also revealed that they had a greater sense of purpose in life because learning helped them discover new passions and long-term career goals.
We know and understand if you are skeptical. After all, taking charge of your own personal development might seem daunting at first, but there are a few simple ways you can make learning a habit that is a part of your daily lifestyle.
It’s a lot easier to stay motivated and enjoy what you’re learning when you’re studying a topic that interests you. At the same time, it’s also important to invest in an area that will help your career in the long run.
The enlightenment!
Path to becoming lifelong learning.
Your step one should be, to do some research on the current and future needs of your industry (what you are working in or studying from) and look for skills gaps that you would genuinely like to fill. Up-skilling is the most crucial way to progress! The future is constantly changing and hence there are Workplace trends that you might need to master down the line including remote leadership and agile project management. Ultimately, it all depends on where you would like your career to go and where your true passions lie. Once you figure that out, the rest of the journey is swift and easy.
The second step then is to figure out the way of learning that works best for you! As we mentioned before, in today’s time it has become easier than ever to self-direct your learning through multiple resources, seminars, workshops and other networking events. If you want to push yourself even further, you could enroll in an industry-accredited course. You could sign up for Pathways! This is a great option if you struggle to self-motivate, or you’re time-poor and you’d like someone else to structure your lessons for you. Because you see, Pathways are already credibly sourced, well-researched modules on what you want to learn. They have been organized in one place for you to benefit!
Such flexible online courses are a particularly good choice because you can study around your working hours. And if you can get your employer on board, they might be willing to cover all or part of your study fees, knowing that your new skills will benefit their business.
You can study with total flexibility at times that suit you, which is one of the great attractions of online courses. And you can usually fit them around work too.
The third and most crucial step — It’s important not to overextend yourself when you’re trying to establish a new routine or habit especially related to learning. After all, cognitive tasks are very consuming and take a lot of intensive mental energy. So before you decide on your learning path, think about what you can realistically finish off and start small by setting up realistic deadlines.
Closure
Learning is a lifelong skill. Start by committing to a book a month or take regular short courses that only run for a few hours. If you’re keen to dig deeper into the realm of learning resources, then go ahead and do more. Ask yourself what’s going to gel with your work schedule, family commitments, and social life before making a final call. And remember — it’s never too late to start your lifelong learning journey!
Teethi Nag, Content Writer
