HOW TO BECOME A LIFELONG LEARNER

Many people can't wait to get out of school, and as soon as they've received their degree, decide to never look back. On the other hand, there are also people who enjoy learning for the pure joy of doing it-and they enrich their lives along the way. Read on to find out how you can

keep your brain engaged, learn new things, and improve your life with lifelong learning.

Keep a list of things you'd like to learn. Just like a to do list, keeping a "to learn" list will help you stay on top of all the things you'd really like to learn about. Write down areas of study, skills you'd like to pick up, or certain book collections that you'd like to read some day. Once you're done with one challenge, you'll just need to look at your list to see what's coming up next.

Take advantage of free resources. So many universities and schools offer free courses online, whether you want to learn about art or even engineering. You'd be surprised what's available to learn about for free, so check out Open CourseWare websites from a variety of schools to find out what they have to offer you.

Look in your community for learning opportunities. Many cities and towns have Leisure Learning or courses at the local YMCA. Visit your library to learn about courses and check out your local community college. There are so many places that you can turn to in your community to find ways to learn new and interesting things.

Read regularly. It doesn't matter how long it takes-just do it. Pick up a book that you enjoy reading, educational or not. It will keep your mind fresh and entertained, and you'll be learning no matter what it is that you're reading about.

Teach. Although lifelong learners really like to soak in information, teaching is a great way to learn as well. You don't have to be an expert or the utmost authority on a subject, just confident enough to share what you know with others and willing to research in order to find out what you should be teaching. Although teaching is an output of learning, it will solidify what you know and offer you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of a subject.

Lifelong learning can be a fun and rewarding practice. Take advantage of opportunities, resources, and ideas for learning to stay smart and active your entire life.