Try something new!
Take a positive step this autumn with the Yours Try Five pledge: have fun, learn new skills and boost your brainpower!
It's all too easy to talk yourself out of trying something different – whether it’s dabbling in crafts, learning an instrument, or taking a new fitness class – especially in later life. Perhaps you feel anxious about making a fool of yourself, or being disappointed at the reality of what you can achieve (you might know how a painting looks in your head, but put brush to paper and it's a different matter). Or maybe there's a feeling of 'what's the point?' about a new endeavour: it's unlikely to lead to a new career or a big lifestyle change. Perhaps a hobby feels selfindulgent, or a waste of time.
Now: take all of those thoughts and put them firmly to the back of your mind! Not only are we more capable than we sometimes imagine, but there's a world of new pleasures to be gained by taking the plunge. "When we deliberately cultivate the spirit of adventure, optimism and openness to new experiences, it has the effect of slowing down time," says psychologist Catherine Hallissey. "We’ve all had the experience of going on holidays where we pack in many new experiences and time seems to move more slowly. It’s incredibly beneficial for our wellbeing and our enjoyment of life."
Not to mention the benefits for your brain – eg: juggling has been proven not just to relieve stress but to boost brain development too.
“Learning new skills such as a new language leads to cognitive growth, including improvements in short-term memory and cognitive
‘There are advantages to trying things later in life’
control (the ability to switch efficiently between tasks),” says Catherine. “It can also lead to a huge boost in self-confidence and self-esteem.”
Better with age?
If you're nervous about being a beginner when you're no longer school-aged, there are specific advantages to trying things later in life. Our brains are better at recognising patterns and can also draw on years of accumulated wisdom and knowledge (known as 'crystallised intelligence'). Vocabulary skills peak in our 50s (and in some studies around 65), and the ability to recognise emotions in others rises at 40 and tends to remain high. “As we get older, one of the advantages we bring to learning new things is that we tend to have more realistic expectations with how much time and effort learning new skills requires,” says Catherine. “We tend to be less perfectionist and more accepting of our mistakes.”
If there are multiple things you want to learn, even better. A study of people aged 55-plus found that those who learned three new skills at once found they not only acquired proficiency in these areas, but they also improved their overall cognitive functioning.
How to do it
Aim for competency, not mastery – that is to say, you don't have to become the best cross-stitcher or Italian speaker in the world (who is, anyway?). The point of learning is exactly that: to be a learner. In all its messy glory! “Remember that you don’t need to aim for brilliant - one of my favourite mantras is 'good enough is good enough',” says Catherine. “Whenever things are hard, remind yourself of why you’re doing it. Think about times you overcame similar challenges and draw strength from those experiences.”
Aiming to get better than you were when you started, to create a piece of art you'd be happy to hang in your home, or to be able to order a coffee in a foreign country, is a great and – importantly – an achievable goal.