As infants, we’re presented with a strange new world to discover. And
with nothing else to do, we dive in headfirst, devoting all our time to
learning how to use our five senses. At first we appear completely
hopeless, not even realizing that our arms and legs are parts of our
body. But soon enough, we start figuring some things out. Within a few
months, we learn how to recognize faces better than a computer can. Our
rate of learning in those early days is truly extraordinary if you think
about it.
As kids, the world is our classroom. First we learn some basics like
how to sit Indian style, how to hold a crayon, how to cross the street,
and how to share. Not to mention learning thousands and thousands of
words. We get older and learn about Romeo and Juliet, World War II, and
photosynthesis. Every year, we can look back on ourselves the year
before and be amazed at how much we’ve learned. In college, things get a
lot more specialized, but we’re still continuing to learn all that we
can.
And then, we just stop.
42% of all college graduates never read another book again. Ever. But
continuous learning is vital to making the most of what the world has
to offer. You could say that it’s what separates us from the animals.
And there is evidence to suggest that it plays a role in staving off
mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Here are some ways to make sure you don’t break the habit of learning that most people abandon after graduation.
Travel
Travel
Surveys show that a fifth of Americans can’t find the U.S. on a world
map. And I’ve heard some Americans say they don’t know where Canada is
(hint: up). If people have such a horrible knowledge of geography, I
have to think that they probably haven’t traveled much.
Go visit a foreign country, where you’ll be forced to learn a new
culture. It’s bound to be a shock to find that not everyone does things
the way you’re used to, and a culture shock means a learning experience.
Even domestic travel can provide new opportunities, as you get used to a
new way of life in a different part of the country.
Take up a new hobby
Simply beginning a new hobby can open you up to a brand new world
waiting to be discovered. Wine tasting, skiing, golf, painting…the
possibilities are endless. You’ll learn the intricacies of a new craft
and meet new people. And these people might be very different from you,
giving you more opportunities to learn new things.
Read books
You probably have a library very close to home that’s paid for with
your tax dollars. If you just go there and read one book, you’ll be
ahead of 42% of all college graduates. If you prefer to read the latest
books and have a little money, there’s no shortage of bookstores, not to
mention Amazon. Reading is a cheap form of entertainment with
practically no risk of injury, and it boosts your brain power a lot more
than watching TV.
Read the newspaper
While I’m not a fan of being inundated with the excessively negative
news that everyone seems to think is so important, you might consider
some other parts of the newspaper (in print or online). Beyond the
stories about who was murdered last night or how the economy is
destroying your standard of living, there’s this often overlooked part
called the Arts section. Here you can read insightful articles on a wide
variety of topics that you might not know much about. Best of all, you
can read it without feeling depressed.
Read blogs
Obviously, you already do this. There are countless people out there
sharing their knowledge on a huge range of niches, and anyone can find
plenty of blogs that interest them. Because you can leave comments,
blogging offers a level of interaction that can’t be matched by books.
Final thoughts
After you finish school, you’ll never again have someone giving you
homework. And while you probably spent many years looking forward to
that, it’s important to realize that learning is a big part of what
makes life interesting. When your learning is self-directed, it can be a
lot more fun than school was. You were given a large brain for a
reason. Use it.
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