This is good news for older adults who stand to gain benefits such as improved self-esteem, memory recall and problem-solving through learning.
Learning engages your mind, keeping cognitive skills sharp and reducing your risk of developing dementia.
As you learn, your brain forms pathways within itself. The more you use and review what you've learned, the quicker your thoughts can travel along these paths.
When you learn a new skill, the brain has to grow and build more connections or pathways. This is called neuroplasticity, which simply means the brain has the ability to change and adapt.
Its flexibility ensures you can constantly learn new things — for example, how to use a piece of unfamiliar technology and the names of neighbors who just moved into your assisted living community.
Regularly challenging yourself to learn new things helps train your brain to adapt and grow, making it easier to learn even more. It also supports recovery after injuries or illnesses because the brain is more accustomed to rebuilding and adapting to change.
When you first learn a skill, it takes time for the brain to build the connections, which is why learning takes effort.
Practice, however, defines the path through repetitive use, letting you eventually complete a task more quickly and with little thought. In the same fashion, if you stop using a skill, there's the potential for the path to fade and disappear altogether over time.
For this reason, learning new skills and practicing old ones during your retirement years are powerful tools in nurturing brain health.
Many older adults worry about experiencing boredom and a loss of purpose once they retire. Learning new skills and hobbies combats these issues by providing engaging ways to use your time and goals to strive for.
Reaching these goals takes self-discipline and perseverance, traits you can then use to improve other avenues in your life, including managing schedules or eating habits.
Reaching and celebrating your goals can yield a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, fostering confidence and self-esteem.
Retirees may feel isolated and lonely without the regular interaction they once received from their coworkers, customers, students or employees. Learning offers a new social circle to older adults through classmates, peers and teachers.
Many hobbies also have groups that meet regularly, such as the card-making club here at Bethesda Gardens Frisco. Our residents also have regular opportunities to join their neighbors for painting classes and Bible studies.
Locations around town, including The Grove at Frisco Commons and Frisco Public Library, have events and classes themed around topics popular with older adults.
Getting involved with like-minded individuals through these events lets you share your passions and form bonds with new friends. Often, you can also pick up tips and tricks from their experiences that can help you in your lessons.
Retirement provides individuals with a sudden abundance of free time that can be used to pursue educational opportunities. You don't have to stop with just gaining knowledge and skills. There are many ways to put your newfound abilities to use.
For instance, learning how to use a new device, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone, can let you connect with your grandchildren and friends more easily. Mastering the technology allows you to set up video chats and trade photographs.
Studying crafts, quilting and sewing enables you to create clothes, accessories and decorations for yourself and your loved ones. You can also support local charities by making stuffed toys for children in homeless shelters and comfort blankets for shelter animals.
Playing an instrument or learning how to paint and decorate cards presents ways you can reach out to individuals in hospitals and nursing homes. Similarly, baking and cooking classes are ideal for producing thank-you gifts for special people in your life and making items for bake sales to raise money for worthy groups.
Overlapping personal passions and learning makes it much easier to maintain your interest and stick to your lessons. There are many ways to get started, including taking advantage of free resources on the internet.
There are a multitude of personal blogs and YouTube channels created by professionals and self-taught entrepreneurs that show you how to sing, juggle, draw, dance and more.
Free streaming sites, such as Tubi and Pluto, feature cooking, crafting, travel and home improvement programs in their libraries. Popular television shows, such as This Old House and Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, have official websites with lessons and resources as well.
Universities, including Harvard and MIT, offer online courses free of charge through the EdX website. Most of these courses can be done at your own pace; however, they don't offer an official credit or degree for completion.
