We might not always realise it, but we’re always learning. Every day, we discover something new, whether it’s academic knowledge, how to do something, or knowledge on someone, yourself or even what’s in the dish you last ate. But what makes lifelong learning so important? And why should you always try to learn something new?

What is lifelong learning?

Lifelong learning is a form of education. When we hear the word education, we generally think of formal education, like the one that we get in school. But education does not only include formal education, but also informal and non-formal education. Education doesn’t stop when school ends, we all learn and discover new things through conversations, travelling, experimenting, fantasy and other social interactions.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

~John Dewey

1.Improve your self-confidence

Experiencing and learning new things is one of the most efficient ways to improve your self-confidence. If you’re scared of doing something, the best way to overcome this fear and become more confident is to gradually experience that thing. It’s easy to feel confident when you are already familiar with the subject

2. Stay healthy  

The brain is a muscle and like all muscles, it needs exercise to stay in good shape. Did you know that learning can help you fight illnesses? Many studies have proven that continued learning can slow the physical process of Alzheimer’s disease, therefore improving your health and increasing your life expectancy.

3. Improve mental health

Lifelong learning strengthens self-fulfillment and supports emotional balance. Focusing and learning more on a subject that matters to you can be very motivating and help improve your mental health. Motivation is very important to fight most mental illnesses such as depression or ADHD. 

4. Keep an active social life

Investing yourself in lifelong learning gives you more opportunities to meet new people with similar interests, make new friends, and keep in touch with the rest of the world. Ever felt the excitement that comes with becoming friends with people who share your interests and are passionate about the same subjects as you? Well, lifelong learning is one of the best ways to do so.

5. Stay tuned with new ideas and concepts

Believe it or not, but lifelong learning is a good way to keep up with the current trends. And it works for every subject! You don’t have to study everything, just choose what you want to learn and when. Focus on things that are interesting to you so the learning process remains pleasant and not stressful. Follow the new discoveries in the subject(s) that you like to make it a pleasant and dynamic hobby.

6. Be a better person

Lifelong learning can help you become a better person: by opening your mind to new information, you can gain wisdom, making you more open to the world around you. By learning new languages, studying literature or history, you discover other cultures and develop your understanding of the world. 

7. Achieve professional goals

Employers aim for people with an open-mind and kin to learning new skills and knowledge. Lifelong learning is a good way to make you stand out from the other candidates when applying for a job or a promotion.

8. It’s easy!

In our globally and digitally connected society, you have easy access to various and extremely diverse learning tools and courses. You don’t even have to go out! You can learn a ton of things for free, without leaving your couch.

Lifelong learning is therefore very important for your development but also for your mental and physical health, as well as for your social and professional life.

Article written by:  Lea Le Coz from France, who is currently envolved in Europea Solidarity Corps service in Varna, Bulgaria.