How long does it take to learn a new language for example? Check out this site: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/how-long-learn-language#:~:text=Here%20are%20a%20couple%20of%20languages%20from%20each,%2888%20weeks%29%2C%20Chinese%20%2888%20weeks%29%2C%20Japanese%20%2888%20weeks%29

It indicates different languages to learn and expected time. French is considered easier than German.

I think learning something new should be fun! I chose languages as the first part of this post since I find it the most fun thing to do. It allows you to become engrained into foreign culture and at the same time you are able to learn to speak and communicate in that language.

New skills. Lots of suggestions here: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/new-skills-to-learn/#:~:text=General%20Skills%20to%20Learn%20%28The%20FUN%20and%20USEFUL,your%20life.%20You%20…%202%202.%20Speed%20Reading.

Apparently it takes six months or longer to learn a new skill. This is nothing to be afraid of but instead to enjoy. Why rush? The above site provides tons of things. From writing, languages, reading skills, painting, art and craft, dancing, musical instruments, design, crafting clothing, making things, photography and more!

Combined the idea is to learn something new whilst enjoying yourself. It is not productive to focus on something you don’t like. Although if you push yourself and focus and study etc., then you will likely come to enjoy it.

As we age our brains don’t really learn like they did as children. A healthy mind is an active mind. You learn by doing, and doing so helps improve those brain connections. You can experience improved well-being, happiness, reduced stress, improved memory and confidence, feeling more well rounded, and finding it easier to interact with others. It may also help you more into a new career, or to progress in your career, or to help people.

https://symondsresearch.com/benefits-of-adult-learning/

Learning a new language might help you to do some volunteering for a charity who supports refugees for example. It could also help you become a translator. One of the best thing you can do is learn something new, something you’ve never experienced before.

Learning doesn’t mean just skills though. It means anything that challenges you to experience new things. Going to a new place, learning the routes and then coming away having learned them is a learning experience. Interacting with new people, speaking to them and learning names is a different kind of learning but still useful. If you have anxiety then this is particularly good to help your brain relearn how to socialise for example if you were unable before. Cooking is a form of learning, whether that is with the aid of a book or not doesn’t matter.

Reading books – helps improve memory and attention and focus (learning). Writing and researching – helps to learn a topic, think of an essay you had to do once.

Sometimes when we push ourselves we become these incredible people that surprises us.

We cannot sit back and let out potential lay dormant.