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Still looking for ways to become a lifelong learner? Teaching can be an incredibly rewarding way to help you embrace a lifetime of learning. Whether you are an experienced educator or a novice, teaching can provide you with the skills and tools to become an enthusiastic learner. In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of learning through teaching and how it can help you develop a passion for knowledge.

As you teach, you learn. Teaching is an amazing way to expand your own knowledge. Experienced teachers and educators will tell you that they’re still learning from their students every day. That’s because their students offer a different perspective.

As you continue to teach, you see a student go from a lack of knowledge and perhaps disinterest to being informed and intelligent about some subject. You get to answer questions and hear out their opinions. This gives you a wonderful insight into the mind of another person. You discover that there are so many different ways to look at a problem or particular topic or issue.

Self-improvement can be as easy as learning something new and committing it to memory.  Teaching that new thing to someone else is a great way to consolidate your own learning and ensure that you understood it.

When you were in school, your teachers had you explain how you solved a problem. You may not have realised it at the time but this was actually a learning by teaching process. It not only sharpened your problem-solving skills, but also improved your socialisation skills.

Many studies have shown that when you teach something you know, you improve your knowledge retention. You might be thinking, “I already know this stuff inside and out, so why does it matter?” Well, your brain’s like a muscle – it needs exercise to stay sharp.

Just like you can strengthen your physical muscles by lifting weights, your brain needs a workout to get stronger too. Sharing your knowledge with others is a great way to exercise your mind and enhance your memory and recall abilities. It reinforces the neural networks within your brain.

By the way, think out of the classroom. You don’t have to take a traditional teaching role at a university. You can teach your child how to ride a bike. Show a friend the things you had to do to cultivate your beautiful garden. Teach anyone anything, and you improve your mindset regarding learning yourself.

Please don’t think that any teaching needs to be classroom based. Your teaching doesn’t have to be along the lines of the traditional teaching role. You’re bound to have done some informal teaching before this and probably recently. Teaching may involve helping your kids/grandkids how to ride a bike. It can be telling a friend how you get great results – at anything. One of my clients last week shared how he gets the shower screens in his holiday let so clean (I need to buy some distilled vinegar). So don’t be afraid to share your knowledge.

Teaching others can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Your brain grows even if you only know a little about the subject matter. It expands because it’s learning from your actions and the actions of your students.

Stimulating your brain releases feel-good hormones, so you can actually feel happy and content after teaching someone else something new. You begin to crave knowledge yourself because the learning process becomes a positive experience.

Learning is an ongoing journey and teaching is an invaluable tool for helping to embrace a lifetime of learning. By understanding the art of teaching, you can become a better learner, and in turn, a better teacher. Teaching can help you to better understand the material you are learning, to find creative ways to engage with the material, and to develop important skills such as communication and critical thinking. Start teaching others and improve your won learning through teaching.

As the world of education evolves, it can be difficult to stay up-to-date with the latest tools and strategies. But don’t worry, there is a way to make the learning process easier. By choosing the right tools, you can maximise your learning potential and reach your goals. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to select the right tools for your learning journey.

Most jobs have certain tools that help you get the job done. As an acupuncturist I use needles in my work. Tools may differ from one job to the next or be exactly the same. My needles differ from those that a doctor will use to take your blood. They also differ from the needles a dressmaker uses to sew a shirt. How we use those needles in our work also differs considerably.

If you didn’t enjoy learning at school then maybe it was down to the way that the teaching was communicated, rather than the subject itself.

Keeping it simple, there are four main learning styles. (There are more complex models out there if this is a topic you’d like to learn more about). They are:

• Visual
• Auditory
• Reading & Writing
• Kinesthetic

Visual Learners

If you’re a visual learner it’s likely that you want to see and observe your subject matter. You prefer to see pictures (or possible video), charts, maps and infographics. It’s important to you that you can picture the topic in your head. You may like to doodle as you learn to reinforce the information, or create lists and notes while in a lesson.

Auditory Learners

If you’re an auditory learner then you want to listen to your subject. You’ll prefer to listen to a lecture or perhaps watch a video, just as long as the soundtrack explains the visuals effectively. This isn’t just one way though. You’ll learn best through participating in discussions and talking the subject through with others.

Reading & Writing Learners

If you’re a reading/writing learner then you want to read about your subject. There is some overlap with the visual learner but you’ll prefer your learning to be text-heavy. You’ll enjoy researching through reading articles, books or the internet. Writing essays consolidates your learning for you.

Kinesthetic Learners

If you’re a kinesthetic learner then you want to be hands-on, learning through doing and employing all the senses. You’ll learn best by physically moving around and trying out or acting out the subject.

Most of our schoolwork was aimed most at Reading & Writing Learners. If this isn’t your preferred style then just remember that you have a choice now! Find a teacher or a class delivery that matches your style.

Online learning works well for visual, auditory and reading/writing learners as long as you get the emphasis right. If you’re a kinesthetic learner you might find it more helpful to find someone who has the skills you want and ask them to walk you through the process. Having a go will work better for you.

Take a moment to consider how you best absorb new information. By understanding your preferred learning style, you can make sure that you choose the best learning experience for yourself. By choosing the right tools, you can maximise your learning potential and get the most out of your education. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the learning experience that works best for you. Good luck!

Do you remember the days when you couldn’t wait to dive into a new book or explore a new topic? Did you ever have days like this? Learning may have been something that brought you joy and excitement, but now, it’s become a chore. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry – you can retrain your brain to love learning again! In this blog post, we’ll explore the power of repeated habits and how you can use them to reignite your love of learning.

Not everyone is a fan of learning. We’ve already looked at how struggles at school can effect your love of learning.

As kids most of us would probably have preferred to be outdoors playing with our friends rather than in a classroom being taught something we may never use in real life.

College or university doesn’t always improve our relationship with learning. It often comes at a time when we’re learning life lessons more readily than classroom lessons.

After years of school, your brain may have adapted to dread the learning process. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The good news is that you can train your brain to love learning just as easily as it was trained it to hate it. It’s possible to hardwire your brain to love learning. Here’s how we go about it.

Repeated Habits Are Hardwired into Your Brain

Repeating the same behaviour over and over again is like teaching your brain a lesson. After a few repetitions, your brain starts to recognise the pattern and creates physical circuits in your brain that turn your action into a habit. The more you do it, the easier it gets – it’s like your brain is on autopilot.

The repetition tells our brain that this habit is prioritised as very important. This is the reason why it’s so hard to change bad habits. If you’ve done something often enough, time after time, you’re even more inclined to do it in the future. This is true even if the outcome is negative.

It may take some time, but you can both break those bad habits and teach yourself to enjoy the learning experience.

Build your learning muscle

Building muscle takes dedication and hard work – you can’t just lift a weight once and expect to be toned overnight. It’s all about hitting the reps. The same goes for building a learning attitude – it’s all about putting in the reps. Repetition, repetition, repetition – that’s the key.

This means that to begin with you have to actively choose to learn something new every day. Over time though this continual repetition of learning becomes a habit.

As you develop the habit it becomes easier. Now you wake up and you look forward to finding something new to learn, some new skill or piece of knowledge. Many learning apps have automatic systems to gamify the learning process and make it easier for you to develop the learning habit. If you’re following a more manual system of learning, then you can always use a habit tracker to help you build that learning muscle.

Learning doesn’t have to be a chore. By retraining your brain to love learning, you can make the process of learning more enjoyable and rewarding. Once you have developed a positive attitude towards learning, you will find that your enthusiasm for learning will grow. Use the power of habit to retrain your brain to love learning again.

Do you feel like your struggles at school are keeping you from learning now? If you’ve ever let your grades or experiences in the classroom prevent you from embracing lifelong learning, it’s time to change that mindset. In this blog post, we’ll explore why it’s important to never let your school results define your ability to learn.

It’s easy to give up on learning when you had a horrible time at school. For some that might have been due to grades (good or bad). For others of us it might have been our experiences there at the hands of other school kids, or even teachers. It can be enough to put anyone off learning but that would be a dreadful waste. There have been some amazing people that didn’t excel at school but went on to change the world. Just think where we’d be if they had given up.

One key figure who struggled with school was Albert Einstein. As a teen, Einstein never got on with the conventional teaching style of that era. He found rote learning stifling to his creativity. Einstein was always off in his own world, daydreaming. He even failed the entrance exam for a Polytechnic school in Zürich. He was great at the physics and maths parts of the exam but didn’t get the needed scores on the general part.

Imagine if he’d let that experience affect his relationship with learning.

It’s likely that we all bear some scars from our childhood learning years. I was bullied at school for “being a swot”. Luckily for me it didn’t deter me and I still love learning. On the other hand I remember my art teacher telling me to choose other subjects because I’d never get anywhere with art. Now don’t get me wrong, I still cannot draw but there are so many more art mediums to choose from. I turned to paper crafting and card making years after leaving school and I still run a blog on the subject now.

If you were turned away from any subject at school because you weren’t good enough at it don’t let it stop you from trying it now. Some teachers don’t bring out the best in us and some of our school friends wouldn’t have supported our choices back then. That’s no reason not to have a go now.

Anyone can learn. All you need is the mindset and the drive to do it. Once you’re hungry enough to learn a new thing, go out and get any relevant resources. Are there any tools that can help you obtain the knowledge you seek? Maybe books, courses, or even people can help you get to where you want to be faster.

Knowledge doesn’t care if you were a straight-A student or not. It’s like a superpower that’s just waiting to help you make incredible changes in your life. And with the Internet, anyone can get their hands on any knowledge they want. So don’t let those old school struggles keep you from learning. Tap into that power and prove those old teachers and school friends wrong!

Lifelong learning is a powerful way to invest in yourself and gain practical skills that will benefit you throughout your life. Whether you’re looking to develop a new skill or simply brush up on an existing one, there are plenty of opportunities to gain valuable knowledge and experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore the less academic side of lifelong learning and how you can get started.

Lifelong learning can do more than just help you ace your exams – it can also give you some seriously useful skills! You might not think of it in those terms, but if you’re open to learning throughout your life, you’ll find yourself picking up all sorts of useful abilities.

It’s not just about studying the same old topics. You can get creative and learn practical skills that blend academic knowledge with real-world application. Think professional writing, personal finance, and even tax preparation. These are examples of crossover topics that span more than one type of learning.

You can also stick to learning purely practical skills. Whether it’s baking, woodworking, or sewing, quite literally anything you care to learn that can be put to some form of use can count as a lifelong learning activity.

Do you ever wish you had the skills to do your own home maintenance instead of calling in a professional for every little thing? My hubby learned plumbing many years ago. He doesn’t have the specialist tools to be able to carry out our repairs but he can speak “plumbing language” to whoever we call in. That usually leads to better service and smaller bills for us. Maybe you want to learn how to repair your car, sew a seam, or upcycle furniture. These are all useful skills that you can learn and use throughout your life.

Perhaps your interests lie elsewhere. Why not try your hand at cooking or baking like the pros? Not only is it a practical skill, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more green, why not give gardening a go? Growing your own veggies and flowers is a great way to learn something new and add a bit of colour to your life!

Learning emergency first aid counts as gaining a practical skill. I renew my learning on this every three years but I also usually find myself sharing some of that learning with friends and family. Who knows when I might need them to provide first aid to me!

And don’t forget about teaching others – mastering the art of teaching is a practical skill in itself.

How do you gain these practical skills? It doesn’t have to be hard. You can learn a lot on your own from books and instructional videos. But if you want to take it a step further, check out classes at your local college or library. It’s a great way to pick up some new abilities.

Some skills have local groups that would be happy to have you join and teach you the skills required. My hubby has just learned kayaking through our local group. Others have associations or skills instructors you can hire. You can even ask a friend to teach you.

Learning new skills can be incredibly rewarding and beneficial. It can help you reduce your bills and give you the confidence to take on new challenges. Investing in yourself through lifelong learning is an investment that will pay off in the long run. So why not take the plunge and start learning something new today? You never know where it might lead.

Did school put you off learning? It doesn’t have to be boring or predictable! If you’re looking for ways to keep your mind sharp and explore new ideas, here are three surprising ways to keep learning and get your creative juices flowing.

When you think of lifelong learning, what do you picture? Kids heading back to school? Maybe it’s attending lectures and seminars?

Lifelong learning isn’t just about hitting the books. Any activity that gets your brain ticking over and makes you think or learn something new can be considered a form of lifelong learning. Here are three activities you might be surprised to find count.

Travel

Exploring the world is an incredible way to learn. No matter your age, when you travel to new places and have new experiences, you’re taking in so much information and broadening your perspectives. Your brain is growing and adapting to new ideas as you expand your horizons.

Traveling is one of the best and most entertaining lifelong learning activities you can engage in. You don’t need to jet off to far-flung destinations or cross international borders to reap the rewards. Even the simplest of trips can be incredibly beneficial.

Reading

Surprised to see reading on this list? It might not seem like the most social activity, but it’s a great way to keep your brain sharp and stay on top of your lifelong learning goals.

Reading is a great way to keep your brain sharp. From news articles to magazines to books, it doesn’t matter what you pick up—it all counts! And don’t be afraid to dive into fiction—it can be just as stimulating as nonfiction, if not more so. Reading keeps your brain active better than almost any other activity you can choose.

Brain Games

This might seem like another surprising activity because it doesn’t seem to be about “learning” in the traditional sense at all. But playing games isn’t just fun – it’s also a great way to get your brain working and is great for concentration and focus. Games engage your mind and make you pay attention and work out problems and patterns. That’s definitely brain activity. That means it counts as lifelong learning.

There’s no shortage of apps designed to keep your brain sharp, but you can also try a classic game. Board games, crosswords, jigsaws, cards – you name it! Even video games can be a great way to sharpen your wits.

I’ve found that a lot of my male clients use games as their way to switch off from the stresses of life. The game distracts their brain which can be sufficent to allow them to process the days events in their subconscious. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, it’s important to get in some game time. Your brain will thank you for it.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your brain active and engaged, look no further than travel, reading, and brain games. These activities can help you stay sharp, learn new things, and stay connected to the world around you. So why not give them a go and unlock your mind’s potential? You may be surprised at just how much you can learn.

Are you looking for a way to stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge? Lifelong learning is one way to get on track for a brighter future, no matter what your age. It’s an essential part of personal and professional growth. It can help you stay ahead of the game and reach your goals. In this blog post, we’ll explore why you should care about lifelong learning and how it can help you reach new heights. So, let’s get started and ignite your mind with the power of lifelong learning!

Why should you care? What’s so special about lifelong learning that makes it something you should be concerned with instead of just another fad? After all, these things come and go, and is there anything about this one that makes it different?

There definitely is! Decades of research have shown the real, tangible benefits of lifelong learning. It’s not just a fad – it’s the key to staying ahead of the curve and growing as a person. Not only will it help you stay up to date on the latest trends and technologies, but it can also open your eyes to new perspectives and ideas.

If you’re just starting out in life, or progressing through your career, you’re probably going to need to keep your skills up to date. In my profession as an acupuncturist I have to complete a minimum number of hours of continuous professional development (CPD). Even before that, I totally retrained to come into this career. I used to be an auditor. Lifelong learning keeps your options open.

If you’re recently retired with no idea of how to spend your time, turning to learning can be a great advantage. It’s a great way for adults of all ages to stay connected, stimulate their minds, and find fulfilment. Not only does it help slow cognitive decline, it can also improve physical and mental health, and even extend life expectancy.

Lifelong learning doesn’t have to mean going back to school. If that’s what you’re into, then go ahead then check out your local college to brush up on French or take a qualification in Human Biology (I’ve done both in the past). But it doesn’t have to be all textbooks and lectures. You can also learn how to ice a cake, take better photos or make your own clothes (yep, me again). Don’t feel you have to do it well, just have fun doing it! My cake decorating is on a par with how well I can plaster a wall – believe me, I need to stick to the day job. But it was fun and eating the results hid the evidence!

Lifelong learning doesn’t have to mean mastering something new – it can be anything that keeps your brain active! Whether it’s exploring new places, doing puzzles, or anything else that gets your neurons firing, the two main goals of lifelong learning are to keep your mind sharp and to stay connected with a community.

Do you want to continuously grow and develop your skills? Or, just stay up to date with the latest trends? If so, then this is something you should definitely get behind! Not only is it incredibly rewarding, but it’s also pretty easy to do. So why not take advantage of lifelong learning for your own brighter future.

Emotional overwhelm can take a toll on your wellbeing. It can disrupt your happiness and damage your relationships. It’s a difficult and often lonely place to be, but there are steps you can take to manage your emotions and get through it. In this blog post, we’ll explore some suggestions for dealing with emotional overwhelm.

When you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed, it’s important to take control. Taking the time to identify and address the source of your distress is key to restoring balance in your life. Don’t let emotions take over you – take charge of them instead.

Suggestions for Dealing with Emotional Overwhelm

High emotions can make an already difficult situation even worse, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can begin dealing with emotional overwhelm by working through these suggestions:

Review What Is Going Well

It’s not all bad. You work hard but do you take the time to recognise your own successes? it’s important to remember that you’re doing great! Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come and all the accomplishments you’ve made. Now realise that you can get through this current period too.

Analyse What Is Going On

When those negative emotions start to creep up, take a moment to reflect on what’s going on. Ask yourself what might be causing these feelings. Is it something other than emotional overwhelm? Or at least something else contributing to it? Are you tired from too little quality sleep? Are you hungry? If so then address these first and see how you feel then.

Make Sleep a Priority

Talking of sleep, Getting enough of it is essential for managing stress and keeping your emotions in check. Make it a priority to get some shut eye – cut back on the caffeine, especially later in the day. Say no to naps. Make your bedroom a sleep-friendly zone. It’s worth the effort for a good night’s rest!

Accept Yourself

Take a moment to check in with yourself and your feelings. Don’t deny them; acknowledge them, give them their due, and then let them go in a healthy way.

Journal

Writing down your feelings and emotions can be really helpful in understanding what’s going on in your life. You can refer back to it in the future if things get tough and you need a reminder of how you got through it last time.

Find a Healthy Outlet

You may find it helpful to regroup and refocus your emotional energy in a different direction, such as through exercise or a hobby. Exercise promotes the production of endorphins in the body, leading to better mood. A hobby on the other hand can divert your attention for a while and allow the brain time to process the information for a more productive result.

When you’re dealing with emotional overwhelm, it’s easy for it to rob you of your happiness. Try out some of the suggestions above and you can learn to handle those emotions and enjoy the rewards.

One of our top tips to manage constant feelings of overwhelm was to set better boundaries. We do have a full series of articles on setting better boundaries but in this blog post we’ll provide some “cliff notes” on how to start this practice.

Setting boundaries can be an important part of taking care of yourself. It’s about creating limits that help you feel secure, respected, and valued. Basically, it’s about setting that line in the sand that helps you feel in control and comfortable.

Speaking up about the things that make you uncomfortable is key. It’s all about knowing how and when to say ‘no’ to people and situations that might cause you to feel overwhelmed. Establishing boundaries is a great way to protect yourself, and they can be adjusted as needed. You don’t have to say “no” to everyone but if you keep saying “yes” all the time there’ll be nothing left for you!

Better Boundaries Help You Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

If you haven’t set boundaries before, you might feel like you don’t have the capacity to do so. But once you grasp the power of boundaries in preventing overwhelm, you’ll be eager to give it a go. Here are some simple ways to try it out:

Prioritise your needs and set goals

Prioritising your time is essential to safeguard it from the demands of others. Making rest a priority is a great way to ensure you can manage everything on your plate. Take some time to relax and recharge and you’ll have more capacity for helping others.

Be assertive

Do you have trouble setting limits? It can be hard to stand your ground when you don’t feel confident. But by setting boundaries and sticking to them, you’ll gain a sense of empowerment and self-assurance.

Say ‘no’ with no further explanation

Feeling guilty can make it tough to turn someone down. But saying yes to everyone and no to yourself will start to damage your health. You don’t have to give an excuse but if you feel worse for not doing so then let the other person know who else you’ll be letting down by giving them your time.

Turn the phone off

Constant connectivity increases stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Taking a break from our phones helps us to unplug from the constant interruptions that can make us feel like we’re falling behind compared to everyone else. If your job requires you to be on the phone, then it’s even more important to have time to switch off when you’re at home.

Handle demands from your coworkers

If you’ve got a colleague who keeps asking for one thing after another, it’s time to set some boundaries. Doing so will help you reclaim your time and boost your happiness. Let your team know where you draw the line – it’ll make everyone’s lives easier.

Be self-compassionate

Feeling overwhelmed can be tough, and it can lead to neglecting yourself. But it’s important to remember that it’s okay to be kind to yourself and set boundaries to avoid feeling overwhelmed by others’ expectations.

Creating boundaries is a great way to prioritise your wellbeing and keep your stress levels in check. You don’t have to do all of the above straight away. Pick one that you think you can manage and give it a try for a week. You can add others as needed as you gain confidence and see the results.

Setting better boundaries is a great way to manage overwhelm and take control of your life. It can be difficult to make the changes needed to set boundaries, but the rewards are worth it. With better boundaries in place, you can create more balance in your life, reduce stress, and enjoy more peace of mind. So take a few moments to think about what boundaries you need to set and start taking steps to make them happen.

So you’ve got some tips for nipping overwhelm in the bud before it really catches hold but what if you constantly feel overwhelmed? In this blog post, we’ll be exploring some strategies for dealing with this too. We’ll look at asking for help, ways to identify the source of your overwhelm, how perfectionism works against us and more. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, read on for some helpful suggestions!

It’s totally normal to feel scared, frustrated, anxious, and even angry when things get on top of you and you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of responsibilities and tasks. But if it’s happening every day for weeks or months, then that’s going to impact your health and it’s time to learn how to handle it.

Suggestions for Dealing with the Constant Feeling of Overwhelm

Don’t let yourself get weighed down by the struggles of having too much on your plate. Take action to help you manage the constant sense of being overwhelmed. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Ask For Help

Sometimes, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it takes more than just organising your to do list to get through it. A friend’s comforting words or even an understanding HR rep can really help you regain your balance. They can help you put things in perspective and get back on track.

Identify the Primary Cause

Take a step back and assess what’s going on in your life or career. Ask yourself what is causing you to feel stressed and overwhelmed? Have you got a big project looming at work or at home? Is it a smaller project that has a huge significance to you? Maybe it’s time to delegate some of the work to co-workers or family members. If you can hand off the task, do so. If you can’t hand it off or it’s too a large a project, break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Delegate some of those if you can.

Put Perfectionism in Its Place

Perfectionism can really get in the way of getting things done. It can make projects seem bigger than they really are, and it often leads to procrastination, which can leave us feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff we have to do. Instead, it’s important to set boundaries for ourselves and decide if taking on a project is truly necessary or if someone else can do it for us. Remember that done is better than perfect.

Breathe Deeply

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and relax. Your body might be tense and your breaths shallow at this point. Slowing down to breathe from your diaphragm will help you lower your stress response. From there you can then prioritise what needs to be done. So, take a moment to inhale deeply and exhale slowly. You’ll feel better in no time.

Establish Boundaries

It’s an essential skill to learn to tell people ‘no’ for your long term well-being. Yes, it’s possible that you may have to let people down in the short term. “Soldiering on through” though is going to take a toll on both your mental health and eventually your physical health as well. There will then come a point when your body will force you to take a break and you’ll be letting both yourself and others down too. Prioritise your mental health and take steps to prevent feeling overwhelmed (check our series on boundaries here).

Keep a Journal

Journaling is a great way to unload all your thoughts and feelings. It’s like a mental detox – get it all out and onto the page so you can work through it and find clarity. Writing it down can be a huge relief – it’s like a weight off your shoulders.

If you constantly feel overwhelmed it’s an uncomfortable and difficult experience. However, by taking the time to recognize the signs of overwhelm, understanding the causes, and implementing some of the strategies outlined above, you can take steps to manage and ultimately reduce the feeling of overwhelm in your life. Everyone has a different approach to managing overwhelm, so find what works best for you and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. With a little practice, you can learn to recognise and manage the feeling of overwhelm and take back control of your life.