7 Incredible Benefits of Lifelong Learning

Is brain exercise the key to a longer life and a bigger budget?

We pride ourselves on getting to the gym and feel guilty if we go too long without a good workout—but how often do we think about exercising our brains? Filling your brain with new thoughts and experiences keeps it healthy, and the benefits of a regularly-exercised brain are tremendous. According to ToYourHealth.com, evidence shows that mental stimulation not only boosts brain function but also reduces the risk of all sorts of diseases and cognitive decline.

THE “GENIUS” FACTOR

Those who have become known throughout society as “geniuses” have one very notable element in common: they never stop learning, pushing themselves and practicing their craft. Albert Einstein worked magic with physics, for example, and consistently exercised his brain while doing so. According to Inc., one trait geniuses commonly share is awareness of how much they don’t know. Intelligent people are aware of the things they don’t yet understand and are always seeking to learn more. According to Forbes, one of the five traits of extraordinarily brilliant people is that they are driven by curiosity. Many accomplished CEO’s make reading and learning new things a regular practice—even part of their daily requirements— and tout this as the main reason for their success.

THE TIME IS NOW

Consistent learning and brain growth is more possible today than ever before. Current technologies put incredible amounts of information at our fingertips at any given moment. If you want to learn a new language, how to play guitar or how to market your business—the answers are out there. Professional development opportunities, podcasts, webinars and seminars have never been easier to access and grow from.

Chances are, you don’t think about the new things you could learn very often. We often get too busy to focus on growing our knowledge, or may not even realize the many opportunities that are out there anxiously waiting for us to discover them.

Did you know, for example, that you can take free online courses from Harvard and Yale? Or that websites like Open Culture pull together more than 1,000 courses from the world’s leading universities and offer them (also free of cost) in downloadable audio and video form? Essentially, the only thing stopping you from amassing knowledge on anything and everything that interests you—is your dedication and willingness to make time for it.

PROFESSIONAL BENEFITS

Harvard Business Review called educational investments an “economic imperative.” They also said “the links between formal education and lifetime earnings are well-studied and substantial.” Making a dedicated effort to continually learn and grow within your profession can open up new doors, get you in line for big promotions and help you climb the professional ladder quickly and efficiently. Knowledge, curiosity and dedication to learning will always impress supervisors and co-workers, help you to outperform competitors and provide you with innovative ideas for doing business better.

The benefits don’t end there, though. A focus on lifelong learning and brain exercise has 7 key benefits:

1. Less Stress - According to the Harvard Business Review, “reading, even for short periods of time, can dramatically reduce stress levels.”
2. Better Mental Health – Regular learning can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases.
3. Increased Memory – According to an NPR article, learning new skills in older age has been linked to improved memory function.
4. Longer Lifespan – Huffington Post reported that many studies have showcased a relationship between education and longevity.
5. Greater Happiness – A stimulated brain is a happier brain, and learning can help battle depression and anxiety.
6. Increased Professional Success – Asking questions, being curious and open to learning new things are often key factors that make professionals stand out and experience greater success.
7. Larger Salaries – Essentially, the more you’re able to learn and absorb, the higher your earned income can become.

The next time you give an aerobics class some consideration, take a moment to consider neurobics, too. When you stop learning, the same thing happens to your brain that happens to unused muscles of the body: atrophy. Essentially, the brain loses its strength and endurance when it isn’t being pushed. Making a commitment to prevent this from happening is perhaps one of the most valuable investments you can possibly make. It’s an investment in yourself, in your untapped potential and in successes you may have never thought possible.

 How do you exercise your brain? Share your tips below, and subscribe to our blog to continue learning!