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Learning is good for your mental health:7 Reasons why learning is great for your mind

Learning will change the way you think

By Abena Talks Published 2 years ago 6 min read
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Learning is good for your mental health:7 Reasons why learning is great for your mind
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Learning is good for your mental health

7 Reasons why learning is great for your mind

As humans, we can't survive without knowledge. Food may provide nourishment and help us grow, but information nourishes our minds.

Knowledge is critical in today's world. Without it, you can't correctly relate to people in your society or those from different cultures.

To even consider a life of a lack of learning is unthinkable. It would be like living with no food at all. Your mind would die a slow, painful death!

Learning new skills also helps you to advance your career path. This article considers the benefits of learning.

The Learning Struggle

So many of us link learning with that time in our childhood when we had to sit in class and listen to boring teachers talk about things we didn't think we needed.

As we reached adulthood, we didn't think it necessary to learn new things. After all, we did fine without it. We also became preoccupied with items that seemed to be more critical.

Once in a while, we may consider learning something new:

"I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano!"

"Maybe I should take up painting."

But then our thoughts seep in, "Why bother? I don't have time! There are so many other things I should do."

We don't have much motivation to learn anything unless there is some benefit attached to doing so.

Why Learn Anyway?

Scientists believe that the act of setting a goal and working to achieve it directly relates to how our learning affects our well-being.

According to their research, the process of setting a goal and achieving it causes us to feel good about ourselves. It also provides the motivation we need to do more and perform better in society.

People who learn more often than not experience less stress and anxiety. They're happier overall. And they tend to live longer lives. They also have higher confidence, healthier self-esteem, a good sense of purpose, and better relationships with others.

The practice of learning has so many benefits.

Let's consider a few.

#1- Learning Keeps You Healthy

A person who keeps learning keeps his mind alert and his body active. He absorbs new information that influences his perspective on the world around him.

When you learn, you:

Gain new experiences

Allow your brain to handle a large variety of challenges

And keep your neural pathways alert.

These effects come together to keep you healthy. And as your skills increase and you see how valuable to the people around you, you become happier and mentally fit.

#2- Learning Helps You Remain Relevant

The world advances at an unprecedented pace. It's easy to get left behind. The only way to stay relevant is by keeping yourself informed. If you want to remain competitive, you must continue to learn.

Keep abreast of the times by improving your current skill set, learning new skills, and staying up-to-date with the trends.

As you learn new things and improve your old skills, you'll find yourself becoming increasingly valuable to those around you. People will notice this and appreciate what you bring to the table. As a result, you'll gain respect from colleagues and friends alike.

#3- It Prepares You For Unexpected Situations

People go through unexpected events all the time. You might lose your job and need new skills to find another opportunity. Or maybe you move into a different city or state. Whatever happens, you can prepare yourself for these situations by continuing to learn.

You never know when life will throw you curveballs. So if you plan, you won't be caught off guard. When you learn new skills, you give yourself options. This process makes you more flexible and prepared for whatever comes next.

#4- Learning Gives You New Opportunites

As a person, learning can broaden your horizon and encourage self-improvement. Your knowledge can help you identify hidden opportunities in your workplace.

If you work in sales, marketing, customer service, or any other field where you interact with customers, you should always strive to learn something new every day. By doing so, you'll expand your network and make connections that could lead to future employment opportunities.

And even though you may already have a career path mapped out, there are still ways to grow professionally. Learning gives you access to new ideas and techniques that can take your business to the next level.

#5- It Can Make You Happy

According to Agrawal, learning may not be easy, but:

"Studies have shown that the more ambitious goals we set, the happier we are, especially when we achieve them. Personal development is a way to guarantee us serenity from within."

What this means is, setting big goals helps motivate you to reach them. But it also forces you to do everything possible to succeed. And once you achieve your goal, you feel happy. It gives you "serenity from within."

So whether you're looking to change careers, start a side hustle, or just try something new, learning has benefits beyond helping you earn money. It also improves your outlook on life and increases your happiness overall.

#6- Learning Makes You More Likable

Suppose you know how to repair a computer or fix a broken printer. Everyone you work with would benefit from having someone like you who knows about technology. Your colleagues will love to know they can call upon you whenever their device breaks down.

But imagine if you didn't know anything about computers? How much less likable would you seem? No one wants to hire people who don't improve themselves. Everyone wants experts in specific fields.

When you learn new skills, others see you as knowledgeable and capable. In turn, they trust you and look forward to working alongside you.

#7- You Become Better With Social Interactions

Humans are social creatures. Connecting and relating with other people makes you feel like you belong. You feel valued. And you affirm your place and self-worth.

Usually, people who learn have to do so with other people. Sometimes you may join an educational group, learn a new hobby, or accept new responsibilities at work.

Of course, not all learning happens among others. However, it usually involves spending time with others, which is a good influence on our mental health.

Conclusion

The world is full of opportunity. If you want to get ahead, you need to keep up with what's happening around you. That includes learning new things. The best part is, learning doesn't have to cost you lots of money! But the benefits of learning are worth it. So go forth and explore.

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About the Creator

Abena Talks

I write about lifestyle, entrepreneurship and other things.

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