Keep Growing — Learning That Moves With You
- Peaches James
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
You don’t need to “go back to school” to keep learning.
You just need to stay curious and find what fits your life now.
Some of us didn’t get the chance to finish college.
Some of us were pushed into learning that didn’t work for our brains.
Some of us are just tired — from burnout, from life, from surviving.
This chapter isn’t about pushing you into more pressure.
It’s about reminding you that learning can still belong to you — in your way, at your pace.
Whether it’s five minutes on a podcast, a local workshop or picking up a new skill on the job, it all counts.
And it all builds something.
Why Lifelong Learning Matters (Even If You’re Not After a Qualification)
Jobs change.
Industries shift.
Technology keeps evolving.
Today, employers care less about where you learned and more about whether you’re open to growth.
Lifelong learning helps you:
Build back your confidence
Feel more capable in a changing job market
Explore what actually suits you now — not just what was expected of you before
Take your next step, even if it's a small one
What Learning Can Look Like Now (In Real Life, Not Just Classrooms)
Not everyone can afford to sign up to a full course and not everyone has the headspace right now.
That’s okay.
Here are some ways to keep learning:
Podcasts or YouTube tutorials — Listen while doing the dishes or travelling on the bus
Free online courses — Platforms like OpenLearn, FutureLearn or even Google Digital Garage
Community workshops or council courses — Often run by your borough or local library
Short certifications through Jobcentre referrals — Especially in admin, care or digital skills
Books or zines or TikTok explainers — If it teaches you something, it counts
AI tools like ChatGPT — You can ask questions, get explanations or practise interview answers. It’s like having a study buddy on call.
Things to Keep in Mind While You Learn Online
Not everything’s gospel.
TikTok, YouTube, ChatGPT can all be great tools.
Fast, free, flexible.
But just because someone sounds confident doesn’t mean they are correct — or right for you.
If something feels off, it probably is
If it’s overwhelming, pause and come back to it later
You don’t need to agree with everyone to move forward
And most importantly: Please Fact-Check!
If you learn something from one source, try to find it confirmed somewhere else.
You don’t need to write an essay, but the Harvard-style referencing mindset?
It’s useful.
Ask:
Where did this come from?
Who’s saying it?
What’s the proof?
And if you don’t agree with someone’s opinion?
That’s okay too.
You can still learn from voices you don’t fully agree with, even the most unexpected people can hold powerful insights.
Disagreement isn’t a threat.
It’s part of learning.
As long as the space is safe and respectful, it’s okay to sit with difference.
Fast learning is brilliant but solid learning is what sticks.
You deserve both.
Tips to Make It Stick Without Overdoing It
One step at a time — No need to overbook yourself
Write it down — Keep a note of “things I’m working on” or “skills I’m building”
Celebrate the small stuff — That one tutorial you watched? That’s learning.
Talk it through — Chat about what you’re learning with a friend or group, it helps lock it in
And if you pause for a few weeks or months?
You can always come back.
Some people went straight through school, college and uni.
Others were raising kids, grieving, healing, working multiple jobs or just trying to survive.
You don’t have to move fast but if you can keep moving, even gently, it adds up.
Progress doesn’t always look loud or impressive.
Sometimes it’s watching a video, writing one thing down or choosing to try again next week.
Discipline and consistency birth success.
Even the smallest step counts, especially on your toughest days.
You don’t need to be perfect.
Just present.
And trust: every step you take is one your future self will thank you for.
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