Buzz
When did you last step out of your comfort zone? This week, we explore why our enthusiasm for learning diminishes as we age and how we can rekindle it, featuring insights from journalist Tom Vanderbilt. Discover the cognitive advantages of acquiring new skills and hobbies and how they can enhance your connection with the world.
Tom is the acclaimed author of Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice, and his newest release, Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning.
Tune in to The Upgrade above or find it on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and NPR One.
Key Moments from This Week’s Episode
Excerpts from the Tom Vanderbilt Interview:
The instant rewards of diving into a completely unfamiliar activity:
I discovered it to be immensely enjoyable and surprisingly liberating...It forces you to adapt and learn. It embodies the essence of the Buddhist idea of “beginner’s mind,” allowing you to see the world anew, much like a child would.
Why it’s crucial to walk away from a new endeavor that fails to bring fulfillment:
On the flip side, don’t hesitate to abandon something if it doesn’t resonate with you. Society often discourages quitting, but life is fleeting, and your leisure time is precious. This is one area where you have complete autonomy, so use it to pursue what truly matters to you.
How acquiring a new skill can enhance your focus and engagement when it’s needed most:
Like many in today’s world, I’ve struggled with distractions from devices, making it difficult to focus on tasks like reading. However, while working on this book, I discovered that activities such as drawing demanded my full attention. The sheer volume of visual details to process left no room for distractions, and hours would fly by unnoticed. It was a refreshing, almost meditative experience, akin to a mental workout. This deeper engagement with the world felt revitalizing, especially during the past year. I came across an article in a psychotherapy journal highlighting the importance of learning new skills as a way to stay connected during isolating times. This form of self-care isn’t selfish—it’s vital.
For more insights on the value of learning new skills, we encourage you to listen to the full episode.
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