Lifelong learning is good for your brain and your self-esteem — not to mention the joy and satisfaction that come from learning something new, or developing a new skill. And guess, what… you don’t even need to go back to school! Keep reading for 10 simple ways to become a lifelong learner.
As a kid, I loved everything about school — all the extra curricular activities, the classes, my teachers, (most of) my classmates, everything!
I participated in as many extra activities as I could cram into my schedule, and I thrived in a structured school environment.
However, the day I graduated from college, I knew I was finished.
While I currently have no interest in traditional forms of education, I consider myself a lifelong learner.
In fact, since graduating from college (almost 20 years ago!), I have intentionally learned about so many different topics that are both useful/essential for my own life, helpful for providing an income for my family, and just really fun and interesting.
Things like:
- home maintenance
- cooking & baking
- gardening (veggies, fruits, flowers, shrubs, trees)
- laundry
- grocery shopping, meal planning, freezer cooking, etc.
- vehicle maintenance and repair
- lawn mower, snowblower, and yard tool maintenance
- starting and growing a business
- setting up a website and blog
- computers and electronics
- social media & email marketing
- having babies and growing a family
- motherhood and parenting
- buying and caring for a pet
- taxes, investing, and other financial matters
- insurance and other legal matters
- Christianity and faith
- painting (furniture and our home)
- electrical
- woodworking
- pool maintenance and care
- online buying and selling
- knitting, sewing, and embroidery
- canning, freezing, drying, and preserving food
- grinding grain and cooking/baking with whole grains
- cake & cookie decorating
- playing the piano, cello, and French Horn
- photography (editing, formatting, and digital photo books)
- hospitality and party planning
I could go on and on…
The fun thing is, that in today’s “information age” I was able to learn everything above for free, mostly on my own time!
If you’re interested in lifelong learning but aren’t really into traditional school, here are some of my favorite resources and tools that I’ve utilized over the years.
1. Watch YouTube Videos
YouTube has helped both Dave and I learn many new skills — how to “cast on” for knitting, how to install our first carseat, how to change a headlight in a car, how to install underground sprinkling, and how to make a Barbie cake to name a few.
I’ve looked up various cooking techniques I wasn’t familiar with, Dave watched several videos on how to build a fence, and in general, almost anytime we don’t know how to do something, we search for a YouTube video.
2. Search Google
This one is a close tie for “first place” on my list because, hello… it’s Google!
We literally use the term “Google it” as a verb because it’s one of the first things we do if we have a quick question about anything.
- How many Tablespoons in a cup?
- What if my light fixture has 2 white wires instead of a white and a black wire?
- How do I cure horrible diaper rash?
- What are simple craft ideas for kids?
- What is fondant frosting and how do I make it?
- Who can we contact to get rid of our bee problem?
Anything and everything about anything and everything you could want to or need to know… Google has it!
Side Note: our family recently enjoyed this book about the starting of Google.
3. Read Niche Blogs
If you have a specific hobby (or even a desire to learn something more general) I can almost guarantee there are a handful of blogs that specialize in exactly what you want to learn.
Nearly every hobby, activity, and interest is covered somewhere in the blogosphere… often by extremely knowledgable folks who are passionate about their topic of interest.
This is how I originally did my deep-dive into grinding all my own grain back in 2019… and it’s how I’m learning the cello (specifically for beginner adults) now!
So, in case you missed my last hint about Google, head to your computer, open up Google and type “Blogs about ________” inserting your specific hobby or interest or desired skill into the blank.
4. Take a Class
From 2007-2010, I attended (and eventually taught) a variety of community ed classes through our local library and public school system.
They were fun, cheap, close to my house, and a great opportunity for me to learn about something specific like cake decorating, canning, freezing, vegetable gardening, landscaping, flower arranging, sign language and even investing (this is actually how we found our current Edward Jones guy).
If you’ve never looked for Community Ed classes in your area, you might be surprised at what you find. Nora and I recently attended a cookie decorating class with several of her friends and their moms. It was just one night and it was a really fun time together with friends (plus, the cookies were delicious!)
If in-person classes won’t work for your schedule, I’m confident you can find an online course on whatever you’re interested in. Many of them are offered free or very reasonably priced and provide all the materials up-front so you can work at your own pace.
5. Download an App
I think the saying “there’s an App for that” is legitimately true!
For a few bucks (or often for free) you can download any number of Apps to serve as your personal trainer, your foreign language coach, your culinary instructor, your music teacher, or your handyman.
After expensive physical therapy didn’t work to heal my abdominal separation back in 2019, I purchased the Every Mother App and healed it in just 12 weeks!
Dave used an App to learn how to play the guitar, and our non-musical friends use an App to teach their children piano lessons!
6. Visit the Library
Growing up, I wasn’t always a big reader, but now as an adult, I utilize our local library for many free resources every week.
Magazines, books, DVD’s, or even just general information about various topics have all come in handy as I’ve learned about various topics and subjects over the years.
Our library also has lots of fun events for families and kids — so it’s a great way to meet people in our neighborhood, do something fun, get out of the house, and learn something in the process.
7. Ask a Friend or Other Expert
I know it’s not always fun asking for help — but you’d be surprised how much you can learn just by asking someone who knows more about something than you do!
When we purchased our Apple computers, we signed up for the One-to-One coaching and learned SO much about all the features of our computers, our phones, our iPad, etc. It was most definitely worth the $99 fee for the year.
I’ve also asked retired people for help on various projects or for more information about certain topics, and I think they were more excited to teach me their skills than I was to learn the new skills.
8. Attend a Seminar or Watch a Documentary
This doesn’t have to be anything formal or expensive — it could simply be a presentation about CPR at your kid’s school, a local event about community functions at the library, or a Bible study at your church.
I’ve attended many different seminars on various topics (most of which were free or cheap) and I’ve always walked away knowing more than when I walked in.
If you live in a college town, there are likely many opportunities to attend on-campus events and seminars. They might even offer community workshops for hands-on experience.
If you prefer the comfort of your own home, you can likely a wide range of informative documentaries and biographies on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Dave and I will often flip through the documentary section and see what’s new. A few of my favorites are:
- Inside McDonalds
- Behind the Scenes of Chipotle
- The Lincoln Assassination
- Queen Elizabeth
- America: The Story of Us
- Walt Before Micky
- The Founder (also about McDonalds)
- Planet Earth (a family favorite)
9. Join a Local Group or Organization
Over the last 20 years, Dave and I have been members of book clubs, Bible Studies, church and school programs, and even a handful of community groups (like the garden group I joined for a bit many years ago).
Obviously, you don’t want to make yourself too busy with all these extras, but if you pick and choose groups and organizations that fit with your current season of life, they can be fabulous opportunities to learn more about a various topic or subject (and have a lot of fun!)
10. Listen to Podcasts and Audiobooks
One of the top ways I continually learn more about areas of interest is by listening to Podcasts and Audiobooks.
There are also thousands of different podcasts available on countless topics, and TED Talks are always a hit for me when I want to learn more about various topics, ideas, concepts, etc.
Audiobooks area another great option, especially if you spend lots of time in the car or can listen throughout the day while you do your other daily tasks.
Note: Here are a few of my favorite podcasts.
The possibilities for lifelong learning are endless, and most of them don’t require spending much money, doing much studying, or attending formal classes.
One of my college professors often said; “If you stop learning, you stop living” and I fully agree. Even if you aren’t a “book nerd” there is still so much joy and satisfaction that comes from learning and developing a new skill.
Your Next Steps:
Wondering how you could practically apply some of these ideas to your own busy life?
Try one of these…
- Commit to trying one new recipe each month, then choose your recipe for this month and buy the ingredients.
- Choose one book to read together as a family each month (we do this at dinner).
- Make a list of 3-5 topics/hobbies/people/events that interest you and do a Google search to see what information you find. Then choose one to focus on for the next 6-8 months.
- Sign up for an interesting class (online or in person) – ask a friend to sign up with you!
- Join (or start) a book club or Bible study.
- Head to the library and check out a biography on someone you admire or an informational book on a topic that interests you.
- Look for an App that could help you learn a new skill or deep dive into something you’re interested in.
How do you practice and/or encourage lifelong learning?
Mary says
Can you tell us more about what you taught in the community education? That sounds like a great idea.
Andrea says
Just about every topic related to purging, organizing, time management, productivity, etc. etc. It was fun for many years. Then I had children and it was too much hassle to get out in the evenings.
Carrie says
Hi Andrea,
I just wanted to thank you for this post. I ended my career of 13 years to stay home with my daughter 11 years ago. Lately, I have been feeling a bit inadequate and like I’m not learning or doing anything important. Basically feeling like “just a mom and a homemaker”. Don’t get me wrong, I love my decision to stay home, and so does my husband, but I always feel the need to justify to others why I stay home or explain what I do all day.
Your post just clicked on a lightbulb for me, a very, very, much needed one.
I am learning everyday. I don’t have to go back to school or work to be useful or smart. Our home wouldn’t run without me.
Thanks so much for the positive boost!
Andrea says
You’re welcome Carrie!
Rest assured, you are going great work and learning so much! However, I will dare to bet ALL moms (especially stay at home moms) feel the way you do at some point. You are not alone!
Karen Miller says
Andrea, Thanks for reminding me about all the things out there that I had forgotten about. I have been so busy raising my two children and had been just involved in all the stuff involving them. Now that I am ready to have an empty nest I needed to be reminded of all the stuff I can do for myself again. I am already involved in my church and have used Google for a lot of questions and stuff but needed to be reminded about a lot of things you talked about. Thanks!
Andrea says
yes, you are allowed to do stuff for yourself again 🙂 Enjoy!!!
Chris says
I’ve also used some of the ways you mentioned. I also love to read personal finance blogs (the early retirement type) and have learned SO much!
Rhonda says
I am a pharmacist by training. When I was done with pharmacy school, I did a pharmacy practice (one year) residency in a hospital and participated in the local pharmacy school “teaching certificate” program. We were responsible for each teaching a component to our peers; my partner and I taught a mini-lesson on “adult learning”. Over the past 14 years since I’ve graduated Pharmacy School, I’ve done many things you mentioned on your list. My father (who actually never went to college, and has been in construction with the same company since he was 18, and foreman with that company for over 20 years) LOVES YouTube. He taught me about using it, particularly to fix things. I used it when I needed to figure out how to change our home’s water well pump filter a few months ago. I also read more books than I used to – using Goodreads.com goals, and now having joined my first book club 5 years ago in order to meet new people in our small town, I read about 15-18 fiction or non-fiction books per year. I have the TedTalk app (there are short, 5-6 minute, or longer ones), as well as Pandora (listen to This American Life) on my phone, and listen when I need to take a short walking break. I also read your blog, and have done so for at least the past 5 years or so. I learn something new every week. Last year I wanted to learn more about HR topics, so I found an online course through a School of Pharmacy and did the subject matter on my own (but my employer has allowances for education, so I got them to pay for it!) Last year I was elected to the Board of Education for my kids’ public school. Today I went to a seminar to learn about HR and Legal issues for school boards. Although it sounds boring enough…I really enjoyed it.
Andrea says
wow — you are really involved in a lot! Good for you for stretching your brain muscles 🙂
Rhonda says
As a mom of two, and working only part-time for the past several years, sometimes it feels as though I’m not doing “enough” to challenge my brain. But when I read your post and thought about all of the different ways to learn…it helped me realize that I actually do a fair amount!
Andrea says
ah… you are always doing enough! Don’t let yourself think otherwise!
Wendy says
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I taught school for 33 years. I got my Bachelor’s from the University of Tennessee (GO VOLS!). Then my friend and I got our Master’s and Educational Specialist degrees from Tennessee Technological University while we were teaching. I love to learn.
Debbie says
Wow! I never thought about all these different ways to be educated. I was like you in that I hardly missed school, especially from middle school through high school. After finishing college I knew I didn’t want to go to school anymore. Yet from reading your list it makes me realize that I’m still being schooled. I have to take continuing ed for my CPA license and that’s something I’ll need to do if I continue working in my field. I guess I’ve been learning so many more things than I realized.
Christine Kennedy says
Despite the fact that I’m almost 70 years old, retired and childless, I love your blog! It’s the first thing I read when I go online. I love seeing the photos of your beautiful, healthy family; enjoy your common sense lifestyle; admire your enthusiasm for organization and rejoice in your faith! Now I find we share a passion for lifelong learning! My goal in life is never to be bored or boring and that means learning or doing something new every day God gives me. Thanks for such a great blog. Blessing to you all. Christine
Andrea says
wow — what a great compliment. Thank you so much Christine!
LYNN OYAMA says
Great post Andrea! Yes, life is about learning something new all the time. Love the list of things you have learned. I have learned so many things since college and I have a lot more to learn!
Love your blog!
Lynn
Andrea says
Thanks so much Lynn!
JJ says
This is GREAT! I agree with you!!! And sometimes you learn the most going through experiences, researching all things about that topic, and applying what is suitable. Then others start to come to you. Or, your blog! My husband is a datahead, and he loves to learn. He and my dad have done house repairs simply by watching Youtube videos. My dad saved over $3,000 watching Youtube videos to learn how to install siding on his garage. It’s never too late to stop learning!
Andrea says
wow — that’s amazing! I can’t even begin to calculate how much money we’ve saved thanks to Google and YouTube!
Lauren S says
I’ve heard of a website called Skillshare for online classes. I have not signed up yet but it sounds very interesting. There’s a special for 99 cents for two months, not sure how much it usually costs, if u use the code, skillshare.com/Michael. I’ve heard advertising on the Michael Knowles podcast.
Andrea says
cool –thanks for sharing Lauren!
Charlene Uchtman says
Is it true that most colleges allow Senior Citizens to
monitor classes for free?!
Andrea says
I don’t know — but the college I went to offers this. I’m sure you’d just have to call and ask!
Cara Thompson says
Thank you for the encouragement in this post. As a homeschool mom, I’ve found it easy to put my “further education” on hold for the sake of meeting their needs. But when I realized that they are learning as much (if not more) from my example as my instruction – I was freed to be engaged in my self-education.
Never stop learning! I included a link to this post in my latest blog post on Interest Led Learning. It’s geared towards homeschooled kids, but it applies to everyone regardless of age. So thanks for this resource.
Andrea says
Yes Cara — but I have a feeling you probably learn a lot just by teaching your children every day. You have to prepare lessons each day and I’m sure you learn new things in the process!
ShellyL says
Love this post. I’m reading it a little late. I usually read every day. Just want to say that I often use your blog as a source to learn new information. I used to be an avid reader but these days, I only have time to read for information or read short things like blogs or online articles. I’ve also been watching some documentaries online. It started with searching for information for my classes (I’m a teacher), but I am currently watching a full-length film about Cesar Chavez on my own time. Very interesting stuff. Learning can be found in unexpected places. 🙂
Andrea says
Better late than never! cheers to life-long learning 🙂
Rebecca says
What a great list! I love to google things and find help when I can’t figure it out another way. We even fixed our older van once with googling the make and model with the problem. It cost us less than 10 bucks. I haven’t used youtube as much for those things, but I am thinking that it might help me with basic sewing that I would like to learn. I have somehow made it 40+ years without more than a very basic skill set. I do love reading, so do that when I can and try to read a non fiction occasionally. I loved unbroken! Anyway, thanks for this post, I learned something!
Andrea says
haha — glad to be the source of you “learning something new!”
Lynda says
Love this! As a former teacher and now home with our kids, I did a lot of “on the job” learning early on. I think then as our kids got older I became more confident but also kind of stuck in a rut with what I was doing. I have YOU and your blog to thank for inspiring me to try different things, improve and just get reinspired!!! Thank you! I believe in constantly improving and growing to be a better person, mom, wife and CEO of our household 😉 Love the quote too!!
Dawn says
I am both a book nerd and a learning junkie! 8 of my 10 kids are total book nerds too. HAHA!!
When I get interested in a topic, I usually check out some children’s books on the topic first, as that gives me a good overview. Then, I can dig in deeper if I want to. Some things I study for just a few weeks, some for months, and some, like homeschooling, I continue to learn about because I continue to do it.
Some things I would like to learn are how to sew, how to grow and preserve food, and how to publish a book. Unfortunately, we live way out in the country, so no Comm Ed classes here, and with broadband internet I have to be careful of using too much on any one thing, so the library is truly my friend!!
I plan to NEVER stop learning!!
Anne says
Great post!
Gabriela says
I totally agree. I really like learning, and just like you said, not as in studying for a master or such! I do really like to read so i take advantage of that now that I only have one child (10 months). I need now to take some class or youtube about vegetable garden. It is so sad when I see people that think that they don’t need to learn anything, they are so closed to new information. 🙁
Thanks for all the ideas!
Lizanne says
Great post! I love learning about new things as well, and wish I could make more time to spend learning more about things that interest me. One thing I enjoy that is free and doesn’t take too much time are the TED talks… I’ve only seen a few, but there are so many, and so many subjects. You can find them on YouTube.
Andrea says
Thanks Lizanne, I’ve found that it really doesn’t take much time to “learn” something — you probably do it more often than you think. Often I’ll just google something I’ve had a question about during the day and instantly feel happier because now I know the answer and I’ve learned something new 🙂
Oh, and yes, I love the TED talks — although they always seem to be so long!
Barb says
Over thirty years ago I took a Community Ed class at our local high school. It was a hands-on, how-to-cut-hair course. After “graduation” my husband and our 3 kids never paid for a haircut again. It was so
fun and we saved lots of money!
Andrea says
I LOVE community ed classes and am SO glad I took advantage of them before I had kids 🙂
Beulah says
Yes, we learn almost everyday right from our birth. Glad that you have mentioned J.Krishnamoorthy’s quote. Being an Indian I feel happy to see his quote mentioned here 😉