May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and Canada, and in the United Kingdom, it is observed from May 12-18. INTIX is a community known for embracing growth and connection, making this a meaningful time to remember that personal well-being matters as much as professional success.
Lifelong learning is already a cornerstone of the INTIX experience, from the annual conference to webinars, Wednesday Wisdom calls and ongoing professional development. But did you know that continuous learning isn’t just good for your career? It is also good for your mental health. Research shows that learning keeps your mind active, builds emotional resilience and fosters a deeper sense of purpose. For ticketing professionals navigating an ever-evolving industry, lifelong learning isn’t just a strategy, it is also a form of self-care.
Here are four benefits of lifelong learning and how it supports emotional and psychological well-being:
1. Boosting brain health. Exposure to new learning experiences is key to maintaining brain health, according to the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas. Engaging with new information and challenges helps the brain adapt by creating new neural pathways, a key aspect of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize and respond to change.
"In the morning, I'll read research, listen to podcasts and do some writing for about an hour," Dr. Caroline Leaf, author of Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and founder of the Neurocycle app, recently shared. "This acts as a regular brain-building exercise, which 'feeds' the brain with new and challenging information that's well-digested, meaning it's deeply understood."
The good news is you don’t have to sign up for a class right away, although you certainly could! There are countless other ways to stimulate your mind. Try joining professional networks like a regional ticketing group, attending a workshop or conference, accessing self-learning resources online, exploring new hobbies, listening to a podcast, taking part in a webinar, reading an article or non-fiction book or learning about a place you will be travelling to in the future. Every new experience contributes to your brain's growth, and the benefits of learning go far beyond career advancement.
2. Enhancing emotional resilience. Beyond boosting brain health, lifelong learning is powerful in building emotional resilience, adapting to change and effectively managing stress. When you continuously challenge yourself to learn and grow, you train your mind to see obstacles as opportunities, not roadblocks, contributing to stronger mental health. This kind of emotional flexibility is especially valuable in ticketing, where adaptability, quick thinking and problem solving are essential.
“In our experience, resilient people tend to be lifelong learners, continually seeking opportunities to become more mentally fit,” wrote the late Dr. Steven Southwick of the Yale University School of Medicine and Dr. Dennis Charney, Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. Southwick and Charney studied resilient people for more than two decades.
In their book, Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges, they reference a 2004 study by Cathie Hammond at the University of London. The study concluded that lifelong learning was linked to “…a range of health outcomes; well-being, protection and recovery from mental health difficulties, and the capacity to cope with potentially stress-inducing circumstances; … self-esteem, self-efficacy, a sense of purpose and hope, competences and social integration. Learning developed these psychosocial qualities through extending boundaries, a process which is quintessential to learning.”
3. Fueling purpose and fulfillment. As emotional resilience grows, so does a renewed sense of purpose, underscoring the importance of finding fulfillment through lifelong learning. Indeed, it can inject fresh energy into your personal and professional life. Whether you are picking up a new skill or exploring an unfamiliar subject, education can reignite passion, renew your commitment, improve self-esteem and build confidence. It is also a powerful way to break through feelings of burnout or stagnation. The growth and accomplishment that come with continuous learning boost motivation and significantly contribute to mental well-being.
“Adult learning has been shown to increase self-esteem, confidence and self-efficacy throughout the lifespan, but may be most effective when the concepts or skills are meeting a need for the learner,” wrote Emma Parkhurst, Extension Assistant Professor at Utah State University. “[Lifelong learning] also increases confidence in our ability to learn and to share the information with others and gives us a sense of purpose.”
Parkhurst adds, “Some experts suggest that setting and achieving goals and learning new skills can lead to positive feelings of accomplishment. People engaged in learning report feeling better about themselves and a greater ability to cope with stress, as well as feeling a greater sense of hope and purpose.”
4. Enhancing social engagement and networking. Taking part in courses, workshops, conferences, or other learning opportunities offers meaningful pathways for social interaction, allowing ticketing professionals to connect with experts, peers, mentors and like-minded individuals. These interactions can help foster a sense of belonging and build a supportive community. Strengthening these types of connections is vital for maintaining good mental health and well-being.
For ticketing professionals, continuous learning is not just a career strategy — it is a path to enhanced mental health. Whether you are just starting or already well-established in your career, ongoing learning helps build resilience, strengthen connections and foster a healthier mindset for greater professional and personal fulfillment.
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