Health & Wellness Article - June 2009 For some, curiosity never retires
“Curiosity is free-wheeling intelligence.”
The act of learning can be a true source of enjoyment. Putting aside the benefits of continuing to activate and develop new brain cells and fine-tune short- and long-term memory, the process of learning new information provides a major source of satisfaction to the lifelong learner—especially if the information satisfies the sense of curiosity about the little known or unknown.
Here are some tips for supporting the habit of lifelong learning:
- Always have a book available. If you are a Kindle™ or Books on Tape® fan, that works, too. Those endless moments of waiting at an appointment, movie theatre, performance, etc. provide an ideal opportunity to dive into a story.
- Keep a “to-learn list.” Write down priorities for adding new information to your “brain central.”
- Spend time with friends who share your intellectual passion. Being with people who think—not just with people who are smart—makes learning fun and contagious.
- Put your new knowledge into practice. Anyone who has learned another language knows the “use it or lose it” principle. The same applies to picking up a paintbrush, aiming a new camera, or using a new phone. Connecting knowledge and outcome experiences leads to a whole new level of learning and satisfaction.
- Teach others. Mentoring and helping others is the best way to learn a topic well and put it into long-term memory.
- Prioritize new learning. Putting yourself and the pursuit of new information first is the only way to get it into our jam-packed lifestyle.
Lifelong learning opportunities are one of the many features of the Life Enrichment/Wellness programming at Touchmark. If you have ideas, knowledge, skills, or talents to share or if you would like to know more about the programs available, contact a member of the Life Enrichment/Wellness team. Curiosity is always welcome!
© 2008 Touchmark