Lifelong learning is not only beneficial for your cognitive health, but also for your personal and professional growth. As a career counselor, you can help your clients who are approaching or in retirement to embrace learning opportunities that suit their interests, goals, and needs. Here are some ways you can encourage lifelong learning for clients in retirement.
Before you suggest any learning activities, you need to understand your clients' learning preferences. Do they prefer formal or informal learning? Do they learn better in groups or individually? Do they enjoy reading, watching, listening, or doing? You can use various tools and assessments to help your clients identify their preferred learning styles and modalities. This will help you tailor your recommendations and increase their motivation and engagement.
We are in essence learning machines; it is how we have progressed as a species. Our younger selves are constantly learning through exposure and testing the world around us. We become students and learn academically. We become professionals and learn through experience. But what comes after? I have a sign near my computer that says: "Its what you learn after you know it all that really counts." It reminds me that there is no point of arrival. That is what keeps life exciting. Lifelong learning is not a skill to be acquired, but an attitude to apply. Learning means asking questions. Questions expands our intelligence. Intelligence gives us the childlike energy that keeps us young and interested. And interesting to others!
I designed a Career.SecondInnings program for the employees retiring from a premium bank. Alongwith their spouses, enabled them to reflect and redesign activities that would help them to: 1. Identify their key stakeholders post their retirement from the bank 2. Reassess their strengths, career aspirations and plans for career activities that they could take up 3. Work with their spouses on the next level career plan Also, many organizations sponsor coaching certifications for their retiring employees, which help these highly experienced individuals continue to guide/coach/mentor post their retirement.
One thing I observed and learned from my grandfather was his love of learning. He was continuously reading and learning even at the age of 90. I have kept that with me as a mantra, and I tell everyone that learning should never stop. For me the goal of learning is to improve self, understand different perspectives, learn from others and explore new ideas. Learning is a great way to keep yourself well engaged. Learning necessarily does not mean books only. It can be some hobbies, new explorations, talking to people or subject matter experts or even youtube tutorials. There is so much to learn and explore all the time and its fun if you enjoy it!
I've found that for many people moving to retirement, assisting them to redefine their concept of "work" is a really great starting point. "Learning work" is often something that has been over looked or focused entirely on work-related subjects. What are their passions? How do they want their retirement to progress? What are the knowledge or skill gaps between their current situation and their goals for a meaningful retirement. Assisting them to explore these concepts and research potential solutions is a process I've always found useful
In my experience, learning is inevitable. A person of any age or employment level learns when interest is generated, or situation demands. Most of the time we adopt old proven techniques and stay away from new learnings. In general, there are two extremes at a workplace, freshers and the fully experienced, handling both is very sensitive. In my opinion to generate interest, it is necessary to promote the advantages of learning a new skill. Every individual regardless of age shall be treated as a novice to encourage and make them learn new skills. One to one discussion with experienced and learned educators is helpful. It is necessary to make sure that the client being trained should not get disheartened with the activities.
Next, you need to help your clients define their learning goals. What do they want to learn and why? How does it relate to their values, passions, or aspirations? How will it benefit them personally or professionally? You can use techniques such as SMART goal setting, vision boards, or mind mapping to help your clients articulate their learning goals and visualize their outcomes. This will help you align your suggestions with their expectations and priorities.
Part 1. It is also important to consider at least some of the principles of andragogy: a) Experience: Adults bring a wealth of experience to the learning process, which can be used as a foundation for learning. b) Relevance: Adults need to see how what they are learning is relevant to their lives. For example, developing digital skills can help older adults to: -Access government services, such as online forms, advice, and support. -Use home assistance devices, such as Alexa or Medisafe. c) Autonomy. -Improve their quality of life, by using Recreational apps, such as digital photography, genealogy, Google Earth, puzzles, or audiobooks, plus Duolingo for languages. -Brain training apps, such as Lumosity. -Therapy and mental health apps.
Retirement is not just an end; it's a new beginning for growth and exploration. To inspire lifelong learning in folks during this phase, the focus should be on understanding what drives them. What's an activity or goal that keeps them hyped? Encourage the retiree to delve into what truly sparks their curiosity. Be it mastering a new skill, like a language or an artistic pursuit, it's a personal resonance and passion that drive learning. The journey of learning itself, full of discovery and joy, becomes the real reward. This stage of life offers a unique opportunity for growth, where learning transforms from a mere task to an enriching adventure, beautifully weaving into the tapestry of life.
In my experience, it involves a personalized exploration of their goals and aspirations. By fostering open conversations about their interests and identifying areas they’ve always wanted to explore, we create a pathway for continuous learning. This might include pursuing hobbies, taking up courses, or engaging in activities that stimulate intellectual curiosity. Tailoring the approach to their unique desires not only promotes ongoing learning but also enhances their sense of purpose and fulfillment during the retirement phase.
Many retirees I have encountered want to share the wisdom, experience, and skills they have mastered. For most gaining new skills and knowledge offers limited or even marginal benefits, and they lack the youthful motivation they once had to pursue new things. What they need to learn is how to communicate with the younger generation coming up behind them. For the most part, the successes they have enjoyed resulted from their ability to draw from others. Now they need to discover how to pass along what they have acquired. Interestingly, the people I have coached have "on the side" picked up satisfying, new, and tangential knowledge in their field and other disciplines as they grow their mentoring and communicative capacities.
Explore your clients' learning goals in retirement by engaging in conversations about their interests, aspirations, and areas they wish to explore. Understanding their objectives allows you to tailor learning opportunities that align with their goals, making the process more meaningful and motivating for lifelong learning.
Once you have a clear picture of your clients' learning preferences and goals, you can recommend relevant learning resources that match their criteria. You can suggest a variety of options, such as online courses, podcasts, webinars, books, blogs, newsletters, documentaries, or workshops. You can also help your clients find local or online communities, mentors, or peers who share their learning interests and can offer support, feedback, or collaboration. You can use platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, TED, or Meetup to find quality and diverse learning resources for your clients.
One needs to look into the age group of retirement group , analyse the skills set they have gained whilst working ,a year before retirement train them on portable skills that they can utilize whilst retired, which will bring extra income and stability for them
In addition to the ones mentioned, here are 4 cost-effective sources for your clients in retirement. 1. Library- local libraries hold classes and workshops for a nominal fee and often free. 2. Community Education- check your local town or city. They typically send advertisements by postal mail. They promote learning for individuals and groups. 3. Continuing Education- Many colleges and universities have a separate division from the college, where you can earn a certificate and/ or license. There's a plethora of personal and professional options. 4. For individuals of mature age (60+), colleges and universities offer courses for audit. Tuition is either heavily discounted or waived. The charge to consumers may only be student fees.
Life expectancy is way up from retirement age. It is possible to remain productive in many ways: Presence, Purpose and Protagonism. Be present to those you care for, in activities that speak to your soul. Explore and expand what nurtures you and speaks to your nature. Know your Purpose: that idea that moves you, that feeling that stirs you up. And declare it in crystal clear communication. Be a Protagonist: take a deep-dive into self-awareness and serve your community. Coach the young who look up to you, teach those who are different from you and learn from their world views. Exchange. Explain. Expatriate your soul. Unite around Ubuntu. I am who I am because you are who you are! Every human being is an endless, pulsating source of learning.
A 2-hour training for skill development on a weekly basis is necessary to maintain balance in the work environment. Projecting internal experts to share experiences in these training sessions is helpful. The trainer from our company is helpful as he knows about the company policies and perspectives. online resources are available but experience shared is experience gained.
Motivieren Sie Ihre Kund:innen zum Experimentieren und Ausprobieren. Wi begleiten seit über 10 Jahren Menschen in beruflichen Umbruchssituationen und viele k?nnen gar benennen, was für Bedürfnisse sie eigentlich haben. Dadurch f?llt es auch viel schwieriger, das passende zu finden. Unterstützen Sie ihr eKund:innen dabei, raus aus ihrer Komfortzone zu kommen und Neues auszuprobieren. Die genannten Beispiele eignen sich sehr gut, um neue Erkenntnisse über sich selbst zu sammeln. Und begleiten sie anschlie?end die Auswertung.
Another way you can encourage lifelong learning for clients in retirement is by encouraging them to reflect on and share their learning experiences. You can ask them to keep a learning journal, portfolio, or blog where they can document their progress, challenges, insights, and achievements. You can also provide them with constructive feedback and recognition for their efforts and outcomes. You can use tools such as Evernote, WordPress, or LinkedIn to help your clients create and showcase their learning artifacts.
Sem dúvida nenhuma em todas as fases da nossa vida pedir feedbacks, refletir sobre nossos pontos fortes e pontos de melhoria é tarefa fundamental. Para uma pessoa na fase da aposentadoria, retomar sua carreira de uma forma diferente, o pontapé inicial é reconhecer toda sua experiência, talentos técnicos e comportamentais, bem como refletir sobre seus pontos de desenvolvimentos frente ao novo papel. N?o tem a ver com servir ou n?o servir, ser bom ou ruim, melhor ou pior que ninguém. Me refiro a duas reflex?es: 1 Quais s?o meus pontos fortes baseado nas minhas experiências, resultados e atitudes? 2 Olhando meu novo momento e desejos profissionais, quais conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes preciso desenvolver agora. Em um movimento cíclico.
You can encourage reflection and feedback by creating a supportive environment. For reflection, prompt individuals to consider their experiences and thoughts. For feedback, express openness, and ask specific questions about their impressions or suggestions. Example: "Take a moment to reflect on your experience. Your feedback is important to us; please share any thoughts or suggestions you may have."
Promote lifelong learning in retirement by offering tailored plans, technology workshops, community events, and skill-building sessions. Foster intellectual engagement through book clubs and mentorship programs. Under "Encourage Reflection and Feedback," establish mechanisms for clients to reflect on and provide feedback about their learning experiences for continuous improvement.
Modern retirees have frequently developed high levels of skills in their careers. Taking the time to visualize using skills for a new lifestyle can encourage excitement for lifelong learning. Identifying prior accomplishments from your work can help overcome the natural fear of change. Knowing "why" will lead to better choices for the "how." For many a career was more than income, it was a lifestyle. Embracing the new without losing the old can be a satisfying compromise. If that's not the case, the lifelong learning process will still involve choices based on tolerance for change. If change is hard, chunk options to ensure success. Gaining confidence that you can learn something new generates a willingness to continue growing.
Encouraging regular reflection and seeking feedback can unlock powerful insights for personal and professional growth. Reflecting on experiences allows for a deeper understanding of one's strengths and areas for improvement, while feedback from others provides valuable perspectives.
Finally, you can encourage lifelong learning for clients in retirement by promoting a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that one can improve their abilities and intelligence through effort and practice. You can help your clients develop a growth mindset by praising their process, not their results; by framing failures as opportunities, not setbacks; by challenging their limiting beliefs, not their potential; and by inspiring them to seek new challenges, not avoid them. You can use books such as Mindset by Carol Dweck or podcasts such as The Growth Mindset Podcast to help your clients cultivate a growth mindset.
It's about staying Busy and useful making sure you're caring for yourself as well as doing the things you wanted to or couldn't do while you were working
A growth mindset includes being OK being uncomfortable. Taking the chance to reach out and attend events in your community and network, even if you would like to stay at home where it is comfortable.
Curiosidade intelectual é algo fundamental para um contínuo processo de crescimento. Ao mesmo tempo, a busca por conhecimento é característica de uma pessoa que n?o se contenta com respostas prontas, com seguir a opini?o da maioria. O mindset de crescimento é o resultado de uma inquieta??o saudável e de um interesse por dilemas atuais da sociedade em que vivemos.
O profissional do futuro é aquele que além de desenvolver as habilidades técnicas da sua área, também desenvolve as habilidades comportamentais. Uma das soft skills para ser um profissional mais adaptável ao mercado de trabalho é ter o mindset de aprendizado. “O analfabeto do século XXI n?o será aquele que n?o sabe ler e escrever, mas aquele que n?o sabe aprender, desaprende e reaprende” disse o escritor norte-americano Alvin Toffler. Ele acreditava que toda mudan?a tecnológica transforma a sociedade de forma irreversível.
Foster a culture of curiosity by encouraging clients to explore new interests, attend cultural events, or even travel, which provides exposure to new cultures and experiences.
Helping individuals to evolve from their professional identity and to look to the future by doing a vision board around the ikigai principles. What do you love What are you great at What can you get paid for What does the world need. We are all unique in this season of life and need to introspect to move forward. This process can then unlock the learning process. We need to be clear around the direction in a longevity world.
The more you learn about the patterns you follow, the more opportunities for change you can explore, by trying to deviate from the pattern. Getting rid of the automatic pilot gives you so much other or new learning possibilities! Long life learning is also about learning about yourself and that never stops.
There are various ways to encourage lifelong learning for clients in retirement, by exploring activities to keep their mind active and engaged through personal development in topics like mindfulness, meditation, personal growth, physical exercise and yoga. This will to a very large extent support their overall well- being and in the long run help them lead fulfilling lives.
Retirement from a job or profession is not retirement from life. There is always something to learn. What did you always wanted to learn and do but did not find the time or motivation?
Yes we need to be clear- A reason for being. Ikigai explains it perfectly. This comes from a good place where life skills are inculcated at an earlier age. Everyone should understand the concept of Ikigai before they retire and they will definitely have good QOL as they age.