Why Learning is an Act of Self-Care

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Learning is often seen as a chore or a task, something to do for school or work. However, learning can be a powerful form of self-care, nurturing your well-being. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology notes that adopting a growth mindset, which is the belief that your talents can be developed through practice, can shape your thoughts and behavior. You're more open to building new skills and knowledge, taking on opportunities, learning from mistakes, and staying focused throughout challenges, which can reduce stress and help improve your mental health and overall well-being. By incorporating learning into your self-care routine, you invest in your mental, emotional, and personal growth, enriching your life in countless ways—here's how:

How learning is self-care

Boosting confidence

Mastering new skills, acquiring knowledge, and expanding your understanding can be incredibly empowering. This sense of accomplishment builds confidence and self-esteem. Learning can also boost your self-efficacy, which insights from VeryWell Mind describe as how you feel about your ability to succeed in different situations. By learning new things, you can build self-efficacy in your career, sports, hobbies, and more, making you more well-rounded in various aspects of life and confident in your success.

Related: 3 Daily Affirmations to Boost Your Confidence and Self-Esteem

Exploring interests 

Learning opens doors to new worlds and passions. Whether it's painting, playing an instrument, coding, or studying history, engaging in activities that ignite your curiosity brings joy and purpose into your life. You may even discover a new passion that can open up more opportunities in areas like business, community-building, and personal growth that you would never have discover otherwise.

Stress reduction

When we focus on learning something new, we temporarily shift our attention away from daily worries and anxieties. This mindfulness and engagement in the present moment can be a form of meditation. As our "Be Good to Yourself: Ways to Practice Self-love and Care" post highlights, taking an opportunity to relax can help you reconnect with yourself, allowing you to reflect on your feelings and thoughts while beating stress and anxiety.

Related: From Burnout to Breakthrough: Nurturing Productivity through Self-Care

How to practice life-long learning

Learn a language

Learning a new language is a great way to practice lifelong learning while fostering an appreciation for other cultures. It's also handy if you're traveling to a foreign country, helping you feel more confident abroad. It's also easier than ever to get started, as various courses and apps have emerged to teach various languages. 

Language apps like Duolingo and Babbel have gained massive popularity for teaching languages in a fun and engaging way. You can choose from French, Spanish, German, and more and complete various listening, speaking, and writing exercises. Many of these programs feel like games, so it doesn't feel too academic and boring. Do a lesson every day to maintain a streak and encourage you to stay consistent.

Read ebooks

Reading ebooks can expand your knowledge, offer new perspectives, build your appreciation for other cultures, and more. You can browse through thousands of titles on one platform and read them on your device wherever you are. The ebooks on Everand boast an extensive collection on all kinds of topics, such as self-improvement, fiction, business, and more, which you can access through a monthly subscription that costs roughly one book. 

If you're an aspiring history buff, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind offers a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution. Not only do you learn more about humankind's past, but it also illuminates how history informs contemporary concerns. Other titles like Braiding Sweetgrass provide a glimpse into the impact of humans on the world and how natural resources like plants are key to awakening ecological consciousness. The author's perspective as an indigenous scientist is a unique and eye-opening one from which you can learn a lot.

Visit a museum

A museum visit can engage the senses and be a learning opportunity in many ways. History museums offer a glimpse into various cultures and historical events through various artifacts collected worldwide. Art museums can help you learn about different mediums and art movements throughout history. You can also delve deeper into the world's workings through science museums.

Visiting a museum alone can already be interesting, but opting for a guided tour or listening to an audio guide can give you more information on what you're looking at. It helps create a better understanding of a piece's history or the artist who made the artwork, fostering a better appreciation for the object or exhibit. 

Article contributed by Ruth Janes