It’s never too late to expand your horizons and continue your education. In fact, retirement is the best time to learn something new. You have the time to explore hobbies and interests—plus learning has been shown to help keep your mind feeling sharp.
Staying active and curious might not be the fountain of youth, but it’s close. As inventor Henry Ford once said, “The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” Learning something new or taking up a new hobby can actually help reduce your risk of developing dementia.
Attending classes or clubs also helps you to stay social and physically active—which can be challenging in retirement. Ideally, you’ll learn something new and make some new friends while you’re at it!
Many colleges offer free tuition to seniors for continuing education. While you won’t be able to earn a degree in most cases, you can usually audit (sit in on) classes to learn the course material. Some institutes of higher learning also offer special programs just for retirees.
Finally, if you’re internet savvy, you can take college classes for free from Ivy League universities! MIT, Harvard, and others offer online classes that are open to the public.
Instead of tuning in to a sitcom, sit down and watch PBS instead. You’ll find adaptations of great works of literature, travel documentaries, information about scientific discoveries, cooking shows, and more. Wouldn’t you rather relax on the couch and learn something new at the same time?
Did you know that you can learn a new language using a smartphone? Technology is pretty amazing. Apps like Duolingo immerse you in conversational learning using simple, everyday words. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to rattle off complete sentences in a new language. These apps are also great for refreshing your memory on long-ago school lessons. Maybe you won’t achieve 100% fluency, but you’ll still give your mind a great workout by studying a few minutes a day.
If you put off traveling while raising a family or pursuing a career, now’s the time to get out there and see the world. Travel lets you learn about other cultures and discover new things about yourself. It’s an incredibly enriching experience.
Even if it’s not in the budget to go globetrotting, try to travel to someplace you’ve never been—even if it’s just another town down the road. Keep an eye out for cultural festivals, where you can try new foods and talk to people with different heritages.
Music is powerful. You don’t have to be a concert pianist to enjoy the benefits of learning an instrument. Join a choir if you love to sing, or pick up a ukulele and find a club in your area. Music combines art and math, stimulating both the left and right sides of your brain.
