How Learning Can Motivate Your Self-Care

[caption id="attachment_3260" align="aligncenter" width="300"] © Monkey Business - Fotolia.com[/caption] Welcome back to our 12-part self-care series, where we’re helping make sure you take care of yourself while you’re taking care of others. So much of feeling good has to do with your mindset and where your thoughts are focused, so this week’s self-care actions are all things you can do for your mind.

1. Challenge yourself to learn new skills. Take a language class, music or art lessons, or a writing workshop. Or explore all of the continuing education resources from the world’s top universities available for free online.
2. Stay informed. Follow current events online, on the television or radio, or in print via newspapers and magazines. Go deeper than the headlines. Keep up with changes in your industry or community by attending town hall meetings, city commissioners open meetings, lunch and learns, and lecture series.
3. Exercise your mind with puzzles or games. This can also be a fun social activity with others, and might be a more structured and non-threatening way to spend time with people you find challenging.
4. Indulge your interests and passions. Explore different genres of television shows, movies, and books that you either listen to or read. Ask friends for their recommendations and be open to things you wouldn’t try on your own.

This Harvard Business Review article examines how lifelong learning is good for your health, your wallet, and your social life. Author John Coleman highlights the physical benefits of stress reduction, improved memory and cognitive functioning, and even longevity! He also talks about how personally satisfying and motivating it feels to accomplish your learning goal. You can then take that burst of motivation and use it to follow through on your other self-care goals.