Brain Food: How Adult/Continuing Education Nourishes The Mind And Body

Contributed by Jennifer Goldman

Unfortunately, many adults who missed out on the education of their dreams earlier in life subscribe to the discouraging adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Whoever came up with this ageist viewpoint of adult learning was clearly ignorant of the fact that adult and senior students actually have an edge over kids when it comes to learning. What’s more, continual learning stimulates the minds and bodies of adult students in ways that promote healthy ongoing development.

What puts adult students at an advantage over children and twenty-something year olds in the classroom is primarily the adult student’s practical life experience. Unlike most younger students, adult students have gleaned plenty of knowledge from their everyday exposure to “the real world.” They have a history of using common sense logic to draw connections between concepts, as well as a practiced ability to apply this understanding to hands-on situations. Adult students are also accountable for their actions. They know that hard work is the only way to get results. And not only are adult students better able to focus as a result of their greater maturity, but they also have many more practical skills than younger students. Through their experience with holding jobs, raising children, and/or managing a household, they have honed their time management skills, learned to prioritize multiple tasks, and focus on crucial information while blocking out less pressing distractions.

In addition to possessing skills that have a direct relevance to the classroom learning process, adult students tend to be more driven than their younger peers. One of the reasons for this powerful motivation on the part of older students, is that adult students often have a strong appreciation for their long-awaited shot at pursuing the education they’ve been dreaming of for so long. Many also revel in the opportunity to form new social acquaintances. For those still working, adult education courses may mean career advancement or the ability to switch to a more interesting field. For others, continuing education offers a respite from boredom—a chance to shake up their everyday schedule and expand their horizons.

The natural motivation that so many adult students feel when it comes to learning new things is only perpetuated by the uplifting effect that learning has on their minds and their overall well being. By challenging and stimulating their minds, adult students actually fire signals across neuron synapses, building new signal circuits and prompting the growth and development of underutilized areas in their brains. As an extra bonus, the empowering sense of accomplishment that adult students feel through their continuing education goes a long way to lift students’ moods, and eliminate prior feelings of frustration that stemmed from a perceived lack of momentum in their lives.

Adult continuing education does more than just stimulate the mind and boost people’s spirits. It also has a positive impact on the physical health of adult students. In fact, studies have proven that acquiring new knowledge and skills through a formal educational setting, helps students establish a greater awareness of their health conditions, and makes them more apt to seek treatment when something seems amiss. The critical thinking skills obtained through continuing education also result in a student’s enhanced understanding of the effects of lifestyle choices, good and bad. Exposure to newer technologies in the classroom (possibly through learning how to use a computer and accessing up-to-the-moment info on the Web) can additionally open older students’ minds to the benefits of modern medicine’s newest treatments. Continuing education can likewise positively impact an older student’s health simply by placing them in a safer environment than is the typical workplace. If a student gains new career skills, for instance through basic computer training in the classroom, he/she is likely to apply those skills to gain a more lucrative career, and better earnings can frequently mean better healthcare choices for the student. Some participants in continuing education programs may even be eligible for student health insurance coverage.

The gratifying experience of pursuing and continuing education is bound to empower the adult student, relieving the unhealthy stress of trying to figure out how to make the most of your newfound free-time, or worrying about your future financial security.

For those of you who missed out on the chance to pursue your desired education earlier in life, there’s no better time than the present. No matter your age or place in life, there is nothing more revitalizing than a new and challenging idea.

About the Author:
Jennifer Goldman is a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader living in Denver, Colorado.

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