Learning isn’t just for those in school or job training. Research shows that a lifelong commitment to expanding our knowledge can be a gateway to a range of health benefits. Embracing lifelong learning helps us step outside our comfort zones, infuses creativity into our daily routines, and can keep boredom at a minimum.
Beyond the thrill of new discoveries, continuous learning can also lead to enhanced memory and improved mood, and a be buffer against age-related cognitive decline.
To explore the diverse approaches for doing this, we reached out to a range of Life Time experts who shared their favorite methods and insights. Their experiences and guidance illustrate how continuous learning can lead to greater satisfaction, resilience, and a more vibrant, engaged life. Draw inspiration from these five strategies for more seamlessly weaving learning into your daily routine.
1. Find books, magazines, podcasts, or videos on topics you enjoy.
I am an avid reader and podcast listener, so those are the two main ways I stay apprised of what’s happening in the healthy-living space. I’m training for my first marathon right now and have been listening to podcasts that are both personally inspiring and informative during my runs. Not only do the podcasts keep me entertained, but they often contain information, tips, and tricks that keep me going when I feel like I want to stop.
– Jamie Martin, editor in chief of Experience Life magazine, cohost of the Life Time Talks podcast, and vice president of content strategy at Life Time
As a Life Time member, team member, and coach, I’m fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge from the experts here at my fingertips. I like to dedicate 10 minutes a day to reading articles and posts from Experience Life — my go-to source for inspiration, resources, and learning. While I’m a big fan of the digital content, the magazine is my favorite. I prefer learning from Experience Life because their content is always accurate and current, and I can apply what I learn to enhance all areas of my life.
– Roz Frydberg, group fitness coach and ARORA ambassador at Life Time in Ontario, Canada
Right now, I’m focused on learning how to mix music using a DJ board so I can incorporate my mixes into the group fitness classes I lead. I primarily use YouTube to learn how to do this — I love watching DJs mix while they explain music theory or break down song structure concepts. It’s a lot of fun, but man is there a lot to learn! It’s been challenging, but I’m grateful for every obstacle and misstep along the way as they’ve improved my skills and made me a better DJ.
– Emma Graves, studio master trainer and Dynamic Personal Trainer at Life Time in River North, Chicago
2. Follow trusted experts on social media.
While social media tends to get a bad rap for unreliable sources, following pages that feature updates from credible health and wellness experts can be quite helpful. These snippets of information catch my eye and keep me inquisitive about the industry. For example, creatine used to be considered nearly as controversial as steroids. Today, it’s one of the most researched supplements with proven benefits. This shift shows how important it is to stay informed and continuously learn to keep up with the latest developments.
– Sean Toy, Dynamic Personal Trainer, vice president of customer engagement, and area director for the Massachusetts area Life Time clubs
Social media can be both a positive and negative place to learn health-related information. I follow a few researchers and coaches on Instagram who consistently share reliable and valuable content. They often post about their current research or upcoming publications, which means I’m among the first to learn about their findings. I love that we can stay more up to date than ever before.
On the other hand, impressionable minds need to be mindful of the content they encounter on social media. With the rapidly changing landscape of health and wellness, it’s easy to be manipulated by unreliable sources or misled by inaccurate information.
– Joe Meier, Dynamic Personal Trainer and personal training lead at Life Time in Eden Prairie, Minn.
As a journalist who spent the first few years of my career as a fact checker, I am particular about the sources behind the information I’m consuming. There are certain resources I trust and seek out, and others I avoid. When it comes to social media, I vet the information I come across for quality and have learned that we have to challenge some of the ideas we come across on those platforms. I’ve also made a point of curating my social media, so I’m not inundated with content I don’t care about and am not interested in.
– Jamie Martin
3. Listen to friends, family, and colleagues.
A lot of my learning is inspired by my clients, coworkers, and friends. By focusing on their concerns and questions about movement, nutrition, and overall well-being, I make sure to stay informed on the latest health and wellness information, guidance, and techniques. To best support their healthy-living journeys, I commit to digging deep into valuable information and thoroughly learning about these topics.
– Lindsay Ogden, Dynamic Personal Trainer and fitness and nutrition coach at Life Time in Eden Prairie, Minn.
My fellow members and class participants often share valuable information and experiences with me that I would never have discovered on my own. I pay close attention to trends — carefully differentiating between fleeting fads and lasting ones — as well as impactful practices that I can use to guide others with similar experiences. For instance, I recently read an Experience Life article on knee-strengthening exercises that I loved. I tested the concepts myself and then incorporated them into my ARORA Fit and ARORA Total Body classes for my clients to reap the benefits.
– Roz Frydberg
Learning from those around me is so important for my development. By asking questions, staying humble, and acknowledging that I may sometimes be wrong, I often am introduced to alternative perspectives and approaches, which enhances my understanding of the world and keeps my routine fresh, engaging, and growing.
This ongoing curiosity keeps life exciting and fulfilling. Not only do I remain knowledgeable through continuous learning, but also passionate about my pursuits. This helps me grow in my own life while also contributing positively to the lives of others.
– Alejandra Blanco, lead general at Life Time in Coral Gables, Fla.
The podcast I host, Well Said, allows me to uncover deeper truths about personal growth, mental health, and relationships through honest discussions with diverse guests. I am blessed to engage in conversations with extremely intelligent people across a range of fields, including experts on physical and mental health, mindset coaching, and those with unique life experiences. I’m constantly learning from others, and the best part is that I get to share this knowledge with even more people around me.
– Sydney Kaye, senior brand and communications manager at Life Time
4. Try working with a coach.
I spend at least one hour a week meeting with an executive coach to reflect on my experiences and explore ways to enhance my skills. This helps me to better support my team and become a more effective leader. Each week, I strive to integrate new insights into my work at Life Time by sharing them with my team through discussions, one-on-one meetings, or even brief conversations.
– Alejandra Blanco
5. Foster a growth mindset.
I joined Life Time in 2015 with a focus on strength training, but my passion for learning led me to yoga. Embracing this new interest, I transitioned my career from the medical field to become a full-time yoga leader at Life Time. The physical practice of yoga not only helps me grow in bodybuilding, but the wide-ranging health benefits of yoga itself has allowed me to reshape my entire adult life — and it’s also reshaped my career.
Today, I am halfway through my 300-hour yoga teacher training and have learned so much more about the practice, including the philosophy and the history behind it. I’ve come to realize that the more I learn about health and wellness (especially yoga), the more there is to learn!
– Corey Brueckner, boutique general manager at Life Time Studio in Hackensack, N.J.
I believe in adopting a growth mindset, which involves recognizing when it’s time to absorb new knowledge and when it’s time to apply what I’ve learned. During learning phases, you gather insights, ideas, and new knowledge. You then can transition into an action phase, where you focus on implementing what you’ve learned and creating new habits from it. By maintaining this balance, it helps you to avoid chasing trends and instead integrate valuable knowledge into your life, ensuring ongoing personal growth and managing information overload effectively.
When you find yourself bored of learning and no longer curious, that is when growth stops. We can always improve and continue to put more work into being the best versions of ourselves — that is why continuous learning and growing is vital to our overall well-being.
– Madden Zappa, studio lead at Life Time in St. Paul, Minn.
Learning isn’t limited to reading research or listening to educational podcasts; it can also come from actively doing and experimenting. Taking action leads to gaining experience, which I believe is one of the best ways to grow and learn.
I like to live by the principle that “if something isn’t growing, it’s dying.” Embracing continuous learning and staying curious is key to ongoing growth and personal development.
– Lindsay Ogden
