Rethinking Life After 60: Day 11: Lifelong Learning, Your Brain’s Best Ally

 Retirement doesn’t mean you stop learning, in fact, it’s one of the best times to start! Whether you’re trying a new recipe, picking up a language, or taking a class for fun, keeping your brain active adds energy, confidence, and joy to daily life. One woman’s story of learning French just to talk to her grandkids might inspire you to try something new too.

Retirement isn’t an end to learning, it’s a golden invitation to keep your mind active, curious, and engaged in new ways.

Staying mentally sharp isn’t just about avoiding decline, it’s about growing. Learning something new activates the brain in powerful ways, builds confidence, improves memory, and can even help stave off loneliness and depression. And the good news? It doesn’t have to be academic or complicated to count.

What counts as lifelong learning?

• Trying a new recipe or learning to cook a new cuisine
• Taking a course online or at a local community center
• Reading books outside your usual genres
• Learning a new language, skill, or hobby, even in small doses
• Playing strategy games, crosswords, or brain teasers
• Joining a discussion group or book club

A true story: A second language, a second wind

María, 68, retired from her job in administration and wanted to stay connected to her grandchildren, who were growing up bilingual in French and English. Though she had no experience learning a second language, she enrolled in a free beginner French class at her local library. It was hard at first, but it opened a new world.

Two years later, María’s not only able to understand and respond in French, but she also has a new group of friends from the class and now volunteers at a French English story time for toddlers. “I didn’t just learn a language,” she says, “I rewired how I see myself.”

The New York Times games I play with my wife is a perfect fit, combining fun, mental challenge, and connection. Games like Wordle, Connections, or crosswords sharpen vocabulary, pattern recognition, and memory, all while bringing joy and bonding time into your day. Even better: sharing a little playful competition keeps you accountable to each other in a good way.

Your brain loves novelty. Feed it often. Whether it’s a new word, a new idea, or a new skill, it all adds up to a stronger, more adaptable mind, and a more satisfying retirement.