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hsalazar@elders.today
| By: Hal Salazar |
Skills to Pursue Online During Your
Golden Years
Image courtesy
of Pixabay
Your golden years can be your years of golden
opportunities! Adding to your skill set
and increasing personal growth is a terrific fountain of youth. Thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of
options available.
Why you
should be learning
One of the best things you can do to keep your
mind sharp as you age is to keep it active.
Just as physical exercise benefits your body, mental exercise benefits
your brain. According to studies cited
by Psychology Today, choices you make in how you
live can maintain your brain’s resilience and ability to age well. You can actually boost your brain’s health
and slow cognitive aging with mental, physical,
and social activity. There is every
indication that not only can you learn new things as you age, it’s actually
good for you!
Exploring
possibilities
The internet is a deep well of information,
and you are likely to find resources for virtually anything you would enjoy
exploring. Contemplate what topics
interest you, and then start surfing! Choose
something fun and exciting, perhaps something you always wanted to learn about
but haven’t had the chance to. You don’t
need to worry about grades and deadlines, so this is your opportunity to do
anything you would enjoy. Here are some
options that we really like:
Home Projects. You may find that making certain home improvements
can actually be quite enjoyable, especially if they're a source of
entertainment. For example, if you have
space in your backyard for a fire pit, you may want to consider installing one,
as it can also boost the appearance of your outdoor space. You can create one yourself by following online
step-by-step guides, and there are different types of fire pits you can choose
from, such as in-ground and tin. Gather
the necessary materials and get building!
Art. Being creative offers benefits to your wellness, reducing depression
and helping you feel happier and more productive and increasing social
connections. Experts note the impact is so powerful it
might even reduce many health care and medical needs. Class Central suggests exploring free online
courses at the Museum of Modern Art for information that is relevant, creative,
and inspiring. Selections are rich and
varied, with courses on everything from fashion to photography to understanding
abstract painting. It’s sure to get your
creative juices flowing!
Music. If you’ve always loved
music but have never been able to pursue it, now is a better time than ever.
The internet can help you with every part of the process, from buying your
instrument to taking lessons. For example, if you’ve always wanted to learn to
play the trumpet, you can check out online instrument reviews
and pick the best trumpet for you. Then, you can search the web for an
in-person instructor, or take individual or group online lessons on sites like YouTube and
8Notes. The internet makes it possible for you to take up this hobby without
ever having to leave home!
Nutrition. Looking to learn more about improving your well-being through
food? Monash University offers a free
online course called “Food as Medicine” throughout the year. This terrific program offers information on
how food can boost health, fight chronic disease, and prevent illness. You also learn how to evaluate what is in
food and recognize good choices for your health and well-being.
Language. According to some studies, no matter how old you are, there
are benefits in learning a new language.
Also, for many adults, learning a new language can be easier than for children,
since you already have a foundation of grammar and structuring words to build
on. You can find free language courses online that cover a range of
fluent levels.
Photography. According to some researchers, learning digital photography
is particularly valuable, engaging your mind in ways that offer a superior
memory boost over activities like doing word puzzles and other less engaging
mental exercises. Harvard University
offers a free, self-paced program.
Live
and learn! Make
your golden years even brighter by adding online learning to your
lifestyle. Broadening your skills and
exercising your brain is healthy and fun.
Decide what you would like to learn, and get surfing!
