By Karen Weeks, Elderwellness.net
When you spend your days clocking into your nine-to-five, the mind often wanders to all the things you wish you could be doing instead. Whether it’s cooking a big meal for the family, spending more time with your four-legged best friend, or getting the house in order, it seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do what you want.
As you enter your golden years and retirement, your schedule finally frees up! Suddenly, you have all the time in the world to do the things you want to do and learn the things you’ve always wanted to know. Nowadays, this is even easier with the convenience of the internet, arguably the best resource out there for picking up new skills. There are classes and courses for just about anything you could want to do. Best of all, learning new skills can help you enjoy your golden years even more. There are several benefits to continuing to learn in your later years:
- Studying increases your verbal capacity and improves communication.
- Learning can help deter memory loss.
- Hobbies and activities create new bonds and friendships.
- Physical activities can improve motor skills.
- Learning new skills provides a sense of accomplishment.
- Education can prevent depression.
If you’re interested in trying new hobbies or learning skills, consider the following.
Dog Training
If you always wanted your pup to be a bit more obedient, all the knowledge you need to teach him is available at your fingertips. You can find helpful tips and lessons online. Not only are there instructional videos that can help you learn visually, there is also an abundance of articles that can help refine your training abilities.
Dog training may seem difficult, but in reality it’s more time-consuming than anything. For instance, take the example of the command “sit.” Useful in so many situations, “sit” is often the first command dogs learn. In fact, most dogs “sit” on their own, so all you have to do is connect the command to the behavior. With repetition and consistency, the dog eventually makes that connection subconsciously, turning his natural reaction into a command response. It’s all very Pavlovian.
Learn a Language
If you plan to travel throughout your retirement, you can help prepare yourself by taking language lessons online. No matter the language, there are tutors and reading materials all available through the internet. Not only is learning a new language useful for travel, but it can also help keep your brain sharp as you age.
Cooking and Baking
Sure, you have a few weeknight specials you can whip up if you need to, but there is a whole world of culinary techniques and recipes for you to explore! While you obviously have to pay for the food, the internet is an endless source of recipes and tutorials that can take you through the process step by step so you can enjoy delicious, homemade meals that you can feel proud of. After you’ve perfected something new and exciting, have friends or family over for a dinner party to catch up! There’s no better way to bond than over a hot meal.
Take advantage of the extra time on your hands throughout your golden years to learn and do all the things you always wanted to. The internet is an endless resource for learning new things about skills such as dog training, learning a language, and the culinary arts. When you learn new skills as a senior, you help improve your quality of life during your best years. Why wait? Start today!
