Did you look forward to going to school when you were a kid? Or did you count down the minutes until recess? When we’re young, formal education is part of day-to-day life, but as we get older and embark on careers, start families, and become involved in the community, active learning can take a back seat.
However, retirement can be an opportunity to embrace that curiosity again–to learn, not for a grade, promotion, or certification, but for the fun of discovering something new.
According to a 2022 survey from AARP Research, 55% of adults 45 and over are actively learning new things–and while less than half of adults over 45 identify as “lifelong learners,” many more see later life as an opportunity to dedicate more time to education than they have in the past. Topics of study are as varied as the students pursuing them: history, art, music, science, technology, and even cooking.
Intellectual health is an oft-cited motivator for these older learners, and for good reason. When you don’t actively acquire new skills, you may get rusty on knowledge you’ve already gained. Researchers compare this phenomenon to the “summer slide” observed in younger students from the end of one school year to the start of the next.
“’Use it or lose it,’ the saying goes … [but] we need to apply a more hopeful mindset,” write Rachel Wu and Jessica A. Church-Lang for Scientific American. “Let’s shift the conversation from a focus on staving off loss and decline, or merely maintaining what people have, to a discussion of learning, growth and thriving.”
Through lifelong learning, adults can keep existing knowledge sharp and challenge the brain to develop new neural networks. Doing so can improve memory and problem-solving skills, and may create a “cognitive reserve” that protects against the onset of dementia symptoms.
Perhaps most critically, curiosity is part of the joy of being alive. Learning brings us face-to-face with an intellectual obstacle such as learning a new song on the piano, taking on a conversation in a foreign language, or understanding the complex artistry of a painting or play; overcoming that challenge can be both fulfilling and exhilarating.
At The Mayflower at Winter Park, we’ve always believed in active living in every sense of the phrase. Our vibrant, Life Plan community is filled with a vast social network of friends and neighbors and outstanding amenities for fitness, fun, and culture which all contribute to a unique environment where residents can learn, grow, and share their knowledge with others no matter your age.
Discover firsthand how The Mayflower is raising the bar as Winter Park’s premier senior living community by planning a visit today: Send us a message or give us a call at 407.672.1620 to book your personal tour. We look forward to hearing from you!