Keep learning
Learning new things is a great way to keep our minds active and make us feel happy and fulfilled.
Learning new things can also help us meet new people and feel more confident, which improves our mental health and wellbeing.
Try new experiences, see opportunities, and challenge yourself. You could join a class to learn a new language or play a musical instrument, take a course to discover a new hobby, or try out a new recipe. Read, write, draw, paint—find something that works for you.
Setting goals and achieving them can give you a sense of purpose and control. Think about what you want to do and achieve, and give it a go.
Getting started
There are many learning opportunities in Staffordshire. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Check out the Staffordshire Adult and Community Learning Service. They offer many exciting and free short courses for adults and families.
- Learn about Open Door, a work placement program for Staffordshire jobseekers to gain work experience, develop skills, and build confidence.
- Staffordshire Connects is an online tool to find community support groups, organisations, and services near you. Search for “Activities and Clubs” to join a local group, meet new people, and learn new things.
- Libraries are great places to learn new things. Join your local library to access books, audiobooks, and find out about local activities and events.
- Look for opportunities in “Learning, work, and volunteering” to learn new skills or find help with finding work or volunteering opportunities.
- Find out about the free Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training, available via the Staffordshire Everyone Health Service. MECC is about using our everyday conversations to help people make positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing and recognising opportunities to talk to people about their wellbeing using the skills of asking, listening, and signposting to local support.
Remember, learning new things doesn’t always mean getting qualifications and taking exams. There are many ways to keep learning all around us. Find activities that work for you and make them part of your everyday life.
Get learning
It’s not always easy to squeeze something new into your day, but keeping our minds active—even in small ways—can really give our wellbeing a boost. And the good news is, it doesn’t have to take loads of time!
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
If you have five minutes:
- Do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle.
- Maybe add a puzzle book to your basket on your next trip to the supermarket.
If you have half an hour:
- Look up a new recipe to try out. Taking a walk to the shop for the ingredients will help you to Be active too!
- Visit your local Library and take out some books on a new subject that interests you. They even have free online resources that you can access too.
- Visit Staffordshire - Local Heritage Hub | Historic England and research the rich history of Staffordshire. You could even plan to visit some of the historic sites in the county. You can also find out more about the history of Staffordshire by visiting the Staffordshire History Centre.
If you have a little longer:
- The Open University offer nearly 1000 free courses available in a variety of different subjects. Why not browse through their Free courses and see what grabs your attention?
- Pop on a podcast or TED talk about something you’re curious about – it’s a great way to learn while you relax.
Disclaimer
We’ve shared some ideas you might find useful, including websites, resources and apps. These are suggestions only and not officially linked to Staffordshire County Council.