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Learning keeps you healthy.
It’s long been known that learning and education can provide social and economic benefits that can profoundly improve someone’s life — but now it’s clear that learning is also a vital part of our mental health, as well.
Daily learning helps with self-confidence, feeling a sense of purpose, and nurturing connection with others. According to a study in the International Journal of Lifelong Education, people focused on learning said they feel better about themselves and gain a greater ability to cope with stress.
We could all use a little more positivity and hope in our lives, right? Luckily, we live in the age of the internet, with limitless possibilities for gaining knowledge. So here’s a few places to explore online that stimulate the mind.
Khan Academy
The Khan Academy has become well known among educators for its unique and powerful approach to learning science and math-related subjects. As a nonprofit organization, all of Khan Academy’s courses are free, yet the quality remains on par with the best paid courses available.
“We empower teachers to support their entire classroom. 90% of US teachers who have used Khan Academy have found us effective,” the website says.
Skillshare
While not free, Skillshare casts a wider net than Khan Academy, with teachers and creators offering myriad classes in various crafts, like painting, music or photography.
While some of their online classes are free, many of the best are only available through Skillshare’s premium account, which will cost you $15 per month or $99 for the year.
Code Academy
If you agree with WordPress that “Code is poetry,” and you’ve always been curious to learn more about it, then Code Academy is the place for you.
The site provides beginner lessons for free, allowing you to decide if this discipline is really for you. If you like it, then the professional version costs around $20 a month. Just because you can’t afford a coding bootcamp doesn’t mean you can’t learn through free (or at least cheap) online classes.
Duolingo
Learning a new language has always been a popular choice for those seeking a new project or hobby. While the internet is overflowing with language-learning apps and websites, Duolingo has emerged as one of the most popular for its fun, colorful approach to learning language through short games.
If you only dimly remember whatever you learned in your high school Spanish class, then Duolingo will likely provide a much better learning experience.
Basics with Babish
This slick website offers fun videos about how to approach many basic recipes — and quite a few original recipes as well.
“Basics with Babish is a cooking show dedicated to creating a knowledge and understanding of basic cooking styles and techniques,” the website says.
MixCloud
MixCloud might be best known for its plethora of aspiring DJs, but the audio platform also boasts a wide variety of thinkers, journalists and spiritual leaders offering enjoyable and educational content.
Many podcasts popular on other platforms make their way to MixCloud, which offers a variety of programs including Harvard Business School, featuring the leading thinkers in business and management from Harvard Business Publishing, Guardian Science Weekly, which taps science writers for analysis and interviews from the worlds of science and technology, and even spiritual teachers like John de Ruiter and popular podcasters like Aravind Balasubramanya, who spreads the teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
There’s tons of options for improving your productivity through online learning, so get started with something new today!
