How to be a Lifelong Learner?
What is lifelong learning and how do you define it?
Did you know by the age of 5 you will have already learned the most used basic life skill? Take a guess at what it is…. The answer is walking. Formal education is something that everyone must go through to some extent, yet the information it provides isn’t necessarily applicable in the actual world. Lifelong learning is the process of gradually improving as a person, day by day.
Let’s Define it.
The dictionary defines lifelong learning as
“The provision or use of both formal and informal learning opportunities throughout people’s lives in order to foster the continuous development and improvement of the knowledge and skills needed for employment and personal fulfilment”.
Lifelong learners understand the value and pleasure of personal development and progress; thus, they never settle for what they already know and are constantly striving to enhance and expand their knowledge.
Formal learning opportunities can be found within any organization or institution. Whether it is a dance class or an educational program such as a master’s or Ph.D., these are the more traditional forms of formal learning. They are also the accomplishments you’d add to your growing resume.
Informal learning opportunities roam in all shapes and sizes. A conversation, a podcast, a video and much more. These are all examples of informal learning opportunities. A conversation can spark a new perspective on things such as management, or culture. A podcast or video could be a topic of interest and so much more.
Why is learning important?
Learning is an important aspect of your personal and professional growth to avoid stagnation and maximize our potential. In our modern-day and age, the mass population now has access to information. Those who do not take advantage of this will remain stagnant with their talents deteriorating.
We as people have a natural need to explore, learn, and develop, and learning encourages us to better our own quality of life and feeling of self-worth by focusing on the ideas and goals that motivate us.
How to become a lifelong learner:
Everyone has their methods and processes in becoming and maintaining their lifelong learning drive. So here we have compiled a list of what we think are the most powerful habits you can have as a lifelong learner.
- Read often and extensively.
- Whatever difficulty or conundrum you’re dealing with right now, there’s at least one good book that covers it and offers a range of answers. Reading is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons, sharpen your mind, and transform your life. Reading allows you to connect with successful individuals and learn from their experiences. You may learn through fiction by using your imagination and the authors to connect with worlds that aren’t your own. Lifelong learners like getting lost in literature and do so on a regular basis.
- Diversify your passions.
- You love to improve and engage in lifelong learning if you have a diverse set of interests. You get an advantage over others by training a variety of abilities. You are more likely to behave wisely and solve your problems with less effort if you are going through a difficult moment.
- Seek out and surround yourself with good company.
- Interact with individuals you admire. Start a conversation with them about topics of interest and make a point of staying in touch. Surround yourself with individuals of all walks of life. Whether it be artists, professors’ adventurers or even entrepreneurs. They will all shed some light on different topics of interest.
- Set Smart Goals.
- Set Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Time-Defined learning goals (SMART). Learners will be unsure where to begin if the aim is too broad. Lifelong learners consider their personal objectives and devise tiny, actionable strategies to achieve them. This method can also help students gain confidence by allowing them to achieve some quick wins early in the learning process.
- Celebrate Progress.
- When there is passion and a strong desire to learn behind the efforts, your odds of success are far better than when you are forced to study. Continuous development and progress are appealing to lifelong learners. The breakthrough moments assist individuals in recognizing the significant shift that has occurred as a result of the learning process. Any accomplishment serves as a catalyst for future progress.
- Get out of your comfort zone. (Embrace Change)
- Getting out of one’s comfort zone is a crucial, and nearly universal, aspect of personal development. If we merely follow our habits and routines, how can we expect to progress in our lives and careers? To reach new heights, we must take the risk of doing something we may not be successful at. According to scientists, a little worry can help us perform at our best — in other words, when we push ourselves, we tend to rise to the occasion. Taking chances is what allows us to develop.
- Cultivate a growth mindset.
- Lifelong development and progress are scientifically realistic, according to IQ and neurological research. Individual internal monologues, on the other hand, may default to fixed attitudes. Declarative “I can’t” or “I’ll never” assertions are frequently self-fulfilling. On the other hand, a growth mentality welcomes difficulties, change, and criticism as part of the learning process. Accept that learning new skills takes time and work, that development is achievable, and that difficulties and other people’s success aren’t grounds to give up.
The takeaway:
Lifelong learning is about cultivating a positive attitude toward the advantages of expanding your knowledge base. Even if you disliked school, you may discover methods to enjoy your own personal learning and professional growth while learning about topics that you are passionate about. It’ll be impossible to quit once you get started..
Links for more tips:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-tips-become-lifelong-learner-oliver-schabenberger/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-guide-lifelong-learning-ari-kopoulos/
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/creating-an-amazing-life
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/8-ways-lifelong-learning-benefit-you-amit-nagpal/
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