Monday Morning Motivational Message - The Importance of Being A Lifelong Learner

Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner?

How often do you venture outside your comfort zones and do things that make you uncomfortable so you can experience and learn new things?

A Pew Research Study found that 26% of American adults admit to not having read even a part of a book in the past year. Yale researchers studied 3,635 people over fifty years of age and found that those who read books for thirty minutes per day lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers.

Reading fiction has been shown  to make you more open-minded and creative.  Research has also shown that 81% of Americans feel they have a book inside them, yet less than 1% will ever write that book.

While reading is just one way people can improve their knowledge and be lifelong learners, there are many other ways to learn. You can take a class, learn to play an instrument, or join a book club.

Lifelong learning creates new career opportunities and helps people stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing business environment.

According to a University of Cincinnati article, here are 4 reasons to be a lifelong learner:

1. It's good for your brain and mental health - Research shows that  ​mental stimulation could prohibit age-related cognitive activity and memory issues. Lifelong learning can also improve self-esteem and help find your purpose in life.     

2. It could lead to beneficial career advancement - Showing your current or future employer that you are willing to adapt and continuously learn will make you more marketable in the workplace.

3.  It will help you develop practical skills - Whether you're looking to build on a skill you already have or explore a topic that is completely new to you, continued learning can help you develop practical skills that will enrich all aspects of your life. 

4. When you find your purpose, you find your people - Studies have shown that people are hard-wired to look for relationships with "like-minded people." Lifelong learning may open your world to an entirely new group of friends with similar interests. 

However you decide to increase your knowledge and improve your skills, understand that being a lifelong learner will improve your mental, physical, and emotional health and make you a happier and more well-rounded individual.

​Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on how to become a lifelong learner.