Life Long Learning: A Path To Success In Retirement
How would you like to maintain your edge in life just as you did at work? Maintaining your relevance and confidence as you age gracefully is important to your retirement happiness! If sustaining this advantage is important to you, I’d like to welcome you to the world of lifelong learning! It’s a very exciting and necessary world for many of us-or at least those of us who want to remain up-to-date on new technology, news, possibilities for exploring undeveloped skills, and what’s going on in our communities and world. We all have untapped potential and it’s up to us to deep-dive into discovery if we want to utilize that potential. Lifelong learning is one of the paths to that world.
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
—Henry Ford
The Back Story
When I was a high school junior, I was told I was not college material because my SAT scores weren’t high enough. However, the reality was I wasn’t a savvy test-taker. I was disciplined about studying for tests and did pretty well on exams but my learning didn’t show up on standardized testing. Maybe some of you can relate to this.
When I told my dad that I was going into the military after graduation, he raised his eyebrows and said, “no daughter of mine is going into the service. That’s no place for a woman.” He was adamant about his feelings and convinced me I should change my plans.
I enrolled myself in Corning Community College the spring of my senior year and begin classes in the fall. By the end of my first year of college, I was hooked on learning and this hasn’t abated since then. Six years later, defying the odds that I wouldn’t succeed in college, I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. I’d like to make an important comment here: after I became a high school counselor, I never told any student who wanted to go to college that they weren’t college material! Instead, I talked with them about what they needed to do to prepare for a successful experience.
In today’s world, lifelong learning is a concept and path to a new chapter of your life I hope you’ll all subscribe to. Research indicates that those who continue to learn and grow in all aspects of life—intellectually, socially, and emotionally—create new neural pathways in the brain. They are happier, more confident, and more successful in the retirement chapter of their lives. What’s not to like about that?
Those people who develop the ability
to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge
that they can apply to their work and to their lives
will be the movers and shakers in our society
for the indefinite future.”
—Brian Tracy
Our generation is one of the most educated in our history. Boomers have paved the way for women moving into many other areas beyond nursing, teaching, and secretarial skills through education. Our generation is also entrepreneurial and even in retirement, people are starting their own businesses. An article in Entrepreneur Magazine stated: “In 1996, 14 percent of entrepreneurs were older than 55, but in 2014 that was true of 23 percent of entrepreneurs.”
Lifelong Learning Resources
Let’s look at some ways that you can continue to learn and grow, keeping your edge no matter where you are in your retirement chapter. Here are some ideas:
Campus College and University Programs
Many colleges are offering classes and degree programs to boomers who want to continue their education or change careers. They are designed for our generation, taking into consideration our accumulated work and life experience. Below are three links to articles about boomers returning to an academic environment.
- More Baby Boomers Head Back to College
- Why Boomers are Retiring to College
- Why Elite Colleges Are Targeting Baby Boomers for New Career Programs
Online Programs
There are many online classes you can take to expand your learning in new areas or update your current knowledge. Many schools now have accredited online programs, and, according to Jennifer Wegerer in her article for AllOnlineSchools.com, many boomers are enrolling in record numbers. These online choices increase opportunities for all of us including individuals who are handicapped or too far from a college campus. It’s just one more way to improve our chances of staying relevant or changing careers through this medium. Here’s the link to see what your state has to offer: Online Schools Directory
Osher Lifelong Learning Programs
OLLI Classes are non-credit educational programs specifically designed for adults aged 50 and older. Some are free to retirees and others have a fee per semester and limit the number of classes you can take. They are usually conducted on college and university campuses or in satellite offices. Often the classes are taught by experts within your own community and may be a one-time class or a series of classes. Topics may include (but are not limited to) leadership, health and wellness, financial management, technology, etc. Here is the URL to begin exploring programs in your own geographical area: Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes
On-The-Job Training
If you are still working, you are most likely learning new skills through workshops and trainings and/or from younger coworkers as they learn from you. Many say they continue to work because they love the intellectual, social, and emotional stimulation, not just an income.
If you are faced with learning the intricacies of new software or technology, check out the manufacturer’s online tutorials or LinkedIn’s Lynda.com at Lynda.com.
Volunteering
Volunteering is still another way to continue to learn as you interact with people outside your circle and learn new procedures and processes. You can also take on leadership roles that expand opportunities to grow, learn, and become re-employed. Check out VolunteerMatch.org
Lectures
Many colleges, universities, community centers, and libraries have lectures on various topics, keeping you updated on current trends, skill building topics, etc. 55+ communities also offer an array of community experts who provide learning and growth experiences.
Re-Careering
Recareering is a way to turn an interest or hobby into a new career or start a completely new career. Repurpose your current skills and learn additional new skills. This can prepare you for entry into a whole new field you are passionate about. Job opportunities seem to be growing in healthcare, education, technology, security, and nonprofit organizations.
There are many more ways to keep growing and expanding your knowledge. In retirement, ongoing learning is beneficial for everyone but especially for our generation as we move into this next exciting chapter of our life. Some of the benefits of lifelong learning are:
- Staying socially engaged and meeting new people
- Maintaining a positive attitude that clearly increases longevity
- Stimulating your intellect and memory
- Alleviating boredom and monotony
- Helping your brain make new neurological connections
- Remaining current and relevant in today’s world
Protect yourself from slipping into complacency just because you’re no longer in the workforce or because you’re planning on retiring soon. You’re never too old to learn something new.
Continue your lifelong learning journey while you make the very best of the rest of your life.
Dee
Dee Cascio
Author, speaker, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, Retirement Lifestyle/ReCareer Coach, and Life and Work Transitions Strategies Coach.
The Life and Work Transitions Community
You’ve joined a great group — people who plan to make successful transitions in life and work. May you be inspired to use your strengths and skills to grow in this season and may each transition be your best ever.
Want more help for your life and work transitions?
Check out the Life and Work Transitions Strategies blog
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