Is there anything that you’ve always been interested in and wanted to learn, but think that it’s too late? For example: learning how to ride a motorcycle, learning a new language, or picking up a new hobby like knitting. Well, it’s never too late, learning is a constant part of life. No matter what point you are at in life, you are always learning and have the opportunity to experience new things. Even if you are no longer in school or taking a break from it, this does not mean that you are unable to set forth and learn new things. How can you keep yourself motivated to continue challenging yourself and your mind?
Set Goals
Try setting weekly and monthly goals. For example, a goal could be that you are going to spend a certain number of hours a week towards broadening your knowledge in a subject. This can be through reading, online learning, watching tutorial videos for a hobby, going to a group class, or discussing a new topic with someone else who’s interested. You could also give yourself a challenge as to a certain number of new things you will try over the course of the year.
Find the Time
Something that may be holding you back from pursuing new interests is
the amount of time it takes. You can try to carve out time 
in between other things you are doing. Even half an hour here or there is better than nothing. Set some time aside each day or each week. If you make a consistent change to your schedule to allow yourself time to focus on learning, it can be easier to maintain. For example, spend some time before bed doing some reading or practice in the subject area you are learning (if it’s something you can do at home). If you have kids you might want to try learning as a family. Doing a group activity such as cooking or learning a challenging game like chess might pique their interest. There are lots of apps for learning that you can use, such as Duolingo for learning languages. Those types of things you can spend
a few minutes or longer here and there to practice.
Have Fun With It
If there isn’t a specific topic you are interested in, you can play games and puzzles (there are lots of apps for this) that stretch your mind. This can be something you can do instead of sitting down in front of the TV for a while, or if you are sitting waiting for an appointment or while travelling on a bus/car/train ride. Doing puzzles, even jigsaw puzzles, can increase mental speed and thought processes, improve short-term memory, and reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Really the important thing is to open yourself up to new experiences. Any kind of growth, whether it be mental or not, can be beneficial to your well-being and character. You might find out something new about yourself that you didn’t know before, or find something new that you love.
When it comes to learning new things, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Although you may make mistakes, it’s always possible to learn from them so you don’t make the same mistake again. You are never too old to take on a new challenge if you put your mind to it, don’t worry. Just go at whatever pace you need to and have fun with whatever interests you. Enjoy the process of learning and all the fun activities that go with it.
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