6 Pillars: Do this! Why it’s important to learn and discover at every age
Learning and discovering new things is fantastic for our brains and mental wellbeing. Find out why in the Do edition of the 6 pillars series.
When we carve out a little time each day to learn something we’re doing our brains a big favour.
In the process of learning new things, we’re actually strengthening our neural pathways and helping to keep brain cells functioning at their best.
As we’re learning, we can gain a sense of achievement and feel more empowered as we grow what we know. Just think of the satisfaction that comes from progressing a project or making a discovery. It can give you a big boost.
The best part is there are no rules when it comes to learning. It’s just a matter of getting curious about the topics that interest you most. You get to expand on what you know in a way that feels good and brings with it a sense of purpose.
Make learning part of every day by keeping it small and achievable - everyday learning shouldn’t be arduous. It’s a chance to have fun and feel proud of yourself too.
Take a look at this list and see what piques your interest.
Take an armchair trip
Whilst we may be limited in where we can travel to in the foreseeable future, we can still engage in some armchair adventures through books, films, or TV documentaries. Pick a place you’ve always wanted to visit and discover more about the culture, history, or cuisine of that area. You could even try making some of the food from that region yourself and invite friends over to share it.
Listen to podcasts
Podcasts are a great source of information and entertainment, with the added benefit that you can listen to them while you’re on the move. They can keep you company during your commute, while doing the weekly chores or when you’re out for a solitary walk.
Whether your interests lie in architecture, economics or the environment you just need to search around to find something that suits you.
Searching for a new podcast to get stuck into? Have a listen to Open Minded — Mentemia’s podcast hosted by Sir John Kirwan.
Get puzzling
Becoming immersed in a puzzle can be a great way to de-stress and unwind after a busy day. A crossword or sudoku that requires enough focus to keep your mind occupied but that’s not so challenging as to frustrate you is about right. And the satisfaction of solving a clue or figuring out the final square can be huge!
Take a course
Whether it’s cooking, pottery, or life drawing, trying your hand at something different is a great thing to do throughout your life. Sign up to something that you’ve always wondered about and give it a whirl. When everyone’s a beginner there’s bound to be a few mistakes made so let that be part of the fun.
You could also try a short Course in the Mentemia app. They are quick and cover a range of mental wellbeing topics, from learning what kind of communicator you are to how to make laughter part of your day.
Increase your vocab
Learning a new language is a fantastic skill to have but even just knowing a few key words in another tongue is a great place to start. To keep you motivated, you could learn the native language of a friend so you can speak to them, or of a place that you’ve love to visit someday. Try learning one word a day and watch as your knowledge base grows.