If Lifelong Learning is a Chore, You Are Doing It Wrong

Lifelong or lifetime learning is like exercise — everyone knows it’s good for them, but few people actually enjoy it. Most of us see self-directed learning as a chore that must be finished, so we return to our “real” life.

However, lifelong learning is not a chore; it is an opportunity to discover new things about the world and ourselves. It’s one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

Lifelong learning is a process of personal development that enables people to keep learning, growing, and exploring new interests throughout life.

It is an ongoing process to actively seek new knowledge or skills, often in response to new challenges or opportunities. It also means creating experiences that cater to your interests and desired outcomes as a learner.

“Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you’ll ever have is your mind and what you put into it,” says Albert Einstein.

Lifelong learners are passionate about their interests, so if your topic, subject or what you are learning doesn’t make you come alive, you are on the wrong path. It’s an investment in your future that can make you a better person.

Lifelong learning is a chore for many people — something that feels like an obligation. It’s a struggle because they associate it almost exclusively with going back to school as an adult and taking classes. They see it as something they have to do, not something they want to do. And, like any chore, they force themselves to do or rush through as fast as possible.

If you think of lifelong learning as a chore, you are doing it wrong. Lifelong learning has nothing to do with formal or structured learning.

Instead, it simply refers to making a conscious choice to keep growing and developing intellectually — no matter your stage in life — as a way of upgrading and improving your store of knowledge.

Austin Kleon explains, “School is one thing. Education is another. The two don’t always overlap. Whether you’re in school or not, it’s always your job to get yourself an education.”

The most successful people are “lifetime learning machines”

Lifelong learning doesn’t have to be a chore. When you approach lifelong learning with excitement and a positive attitude, you will find it much easier to stick with it and even be enjoyable.

“Those who keep learning, will keep rising,” says Charlie Munger. To be successful in life, Munger recommends you become a “continuous learning machine.”

“Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading, cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day,” he said.

Lifelong learning should be something you are excited about and look forward to. Something you want to do, not something you must or have to do. That means not trying to force self-directed learning into “drudgery”.

Learning at any point in your life can be beneficial on many different levels. Learning new things keeps our brains active and improves cognitive abilities. It can also give us new skills that help us advance in our careers and even lead to more work opportunities down the road.

Learning new things can also help you cope with stress in everyday life by relieving tension and providing a sense of fulfillment.

Research also shows that people who proactively seek out new knowledge and skills in their leisure time tend to be happier and healthier than those who don’t make it a priority. Lifetime learning something new is challenging but worth it in the end.

Here’s a simple process to embrace lifelong learning.

First, make sure you’re learning something you’re actually interested in. It will feel like a chore if you’re forcing yourself to learn something you hate or don’t care about. But if you’re learning something you’re excited about, it will be much more enjoyable.

And most importantly, don’t try to do too much at once. Learning can be overwhelming, so taking it one step at a time is essential. Break down your goals into small, manageable pieces, and focus on one thing at a time.

You can read a few pages of your favorite book in the morning or later in the evening when you relax. Learning is fun when you control the pace.

Continuing learning works better when it’s also something that you can keep coming back to for as long as you want, in your own time and schedule. That way, you control how fast or slow things go.

You decide the pace of your learning journey and the frequency of your dates. You don’t need to be on anyone else’s timetable but your own. You can make learning engaging and fun.

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is,” Isaac Asimov said.

Lifelong learning opportunities are everywhere — books, courses, podcasts, documentaries, video lessons, learning apps, networking experiences and connecting with people smarter than you. And the best part is, you can learn whatever you want! Make the experience personal.

There’s so much to enjoy about constantly pushing yourself to grow and learn new things. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the ride!

This article originally appeared in Medium.