The following is a guest post by Maria Rainier.
(Editor’s Note: I thank Maria for calling attention to lifelong learning. The seniors I spend time with and who lead a quality life incorporate this philosophy in their daily lives.)
We all know that learning doesnÛªt stop once our traditional schooling ends. If that were the case, anyone in retirement now would have stopped learning anything new over thirty years ago. And learning certainly doesnÛªt stop once your time in the working world has ended, either. So, what do you do when your daily habits have changed, but your mind is still craving engagement? One of the best ways to cure your intellectual cravings is to take an online course in a subject you love. Many retirees may see going back to school as an unnecessary time-constraint, but there are plenty of reasons taking an online course or two can meet your schedule and intellectual interests perfectly. Here are a few of the top reasons every recent retiree should consider trying an online course:
1. Learn from Anywhere in the World
There is no need to worry about driving to campus locations, being late for classes, or dealing with younger (i.e. lessÛ_ mature) fellow students in person when you take an online course. Students can access course documents, communicate with students, submit homework, listen to lectures, and participate in course discussion at any time, from anywhere with an internet connection. Most online students are able to determine their own study schedules and are not required to be online at particular times, as long as they get their required work finished on time. This means you wonÛªt have to curb travel plans or limit yourself to courses available only in your area.
2. Fulfill a Lifelong Goal
There are things that each and every one of us has always wanted to do or learn about but just never had the time. This is the perfect opportunity to fulfill goals you thought you may have never been able to meet. Have you always wanted to learn Chinese or become an art history buff? Or maybe youÛªve always wondered what it would be like to flex your old science muscles, but have spent your entire working life doing sales. Online courses have expanded to include pretty much any discipline you can think of, so why not try your hand at a lifelong dream?
3. Stimulate your Mind
Just like any other muscle, if our brains are not active, they begin to weaken and eventually shut down. Optimal brain health is one of the most important factors in full-body health over the course of our later years, so itÛªs helpful to figure out as many ways to stimulate the brain as possible. You can break out of your old habits (or at least add a few more) by learning something new in a completely novel educational environment, which is a huge mind refresher. Also, not only will an online course provide new knowledge, it can also help anyone learn to use the internet in ways they never thought to before. You may finish an online course with tons of new friends and more social media profiles than you can count.
Author Bio:
Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online colleges, online degrees etc. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.