Reskill & Retool your most valuable asset…

Have you every thought about what it might take to keep your amazing brain in tip top shape?  As you enter a new job or are assigned new tasks you are learning, rapidly.  However if you STAY in that same position, or your job becomes monotone or static you could be at risk of a slow brain death.  How you manage your career and its money maker are of huge importance as you leverage employment opportunities and aging well.  At WorkBC we value you, your skills and incredible contribution to the labour market… but do you do Brain Burpees? 

So how do we keep our minds nimble, stretched and firm? How do fearless leaders stay on top of their game? IS Muscle Memory a thing? Can we be too old to be taught new tricks?  

Matthew Solan Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch says “active aging involves more than moving your body. You also need to move your brain.”  “When you exercise, you engage your muscles to help improve overall health,” says Dr. Ipsit Vahia, director of geriatric outpatient services for Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. “The same concept applies to the brain. You need to exercise it with new challenges to keep it healthy.”

A fun way to do this is to sharpen your No. 2 pencils and go back to school. “New brain cell growth can happen even late into adulthood,” says Dr. Vahia. “The process of learning and acquiring new information and experiences, like through structured classes, can stimulate that process.”

About 17% of adults older than age 35 are enrolled at a four-year college or university, or a community college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And because more campuses now offer free or discounted tuition for seniors (with no earned credits), there are more opportunities for older adults to explore a variety of subjects and interests.

“The focus is not to earn a degree, or even take multiple classes, but to focus on a class to keep mental activity thriving,” says Dr. Vahia.

It does not have to be a traditional academic course either, he adds. “It can be about learning new skills, like speaking a foreign language, learning how to paint, or to play a musical instrument. You can even study how to improve current ones like fixing a car or becoming more computer-savvy.”  

We’ve been speaking about the changing world and its demands for sharp and skilled workers for almost a decade— This is not new… however, NOW more than ever leaders in World Economics speak to the skills challenges we face globally.  The World Economic Forum is a wonderful resource for those eager to keep up on the rapidly changing Labour Market Landscape.  Learn about the Human Centered and Technology Skills required to compete and bring home the infamous bacon.  Let’s say this in the most non cliche way… “The world needs you! ” primed for Re-skilling, Re-tooling and Re-building.  Come on Princeton let’s get your Skill On!!