the case for continuous learning

why staying curious might be your superpower

Hi guysss <3 On Wednesday, I welcomed spring with a list of ins and outs and a note on why it’s good for our brains to shake up our workouts every so often. Today, I want to dive deeper into that idea — because it’s not just our bodies that benefit from change and challenge. Our brains do, too.

It turns out that learning new things is one of the most powerful ways to grow as we get older. Whether it’s a new form of movement, a creative hobby, or an unfamiliar concept - we should be trying it.

The Multidisciplinary Dilemma

I’ll be honest: this has never really been a problem for me. I’ve always been curious —about everything. School was like one big science lab to me. I loved experimenting. I devoured books just as willingly as I tinkered with Adobe Creative Suite or mastered balance sheets. I studied neuroscience like I did calculus, and wrote research papers on post-boom Irish society. Learning how things work, no matter the domain, has always felt intuitive.

But part of me has often wondered—is this a good thing? Wouldn’t it be easier if I had one clearly defined passion? Like, say, medicine or law? Wouldn’t it be more practical to have a niche?

Instead, I’ve spent years accumulating a wide range of skills across disciplines. While some people have called my multidisciplinary mind a “superpower,” it’s also made me feel scattered. Even when I’m fully immersed in one project, I often feel like I should be nurturing the other skills I’ve started to develop. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

It’s tempting to envy the creators who stick to one niche and build their entire brand around it, especially in the age of content. Being a food influencer feels more “right” than being a food-crypto-psychology-art-music-finance influencer.

But here's the twist: the world we're living in actually rewards those who know a little about a lot.

Here’s why.

Learning New Things Matters More Than Ever

We’re in a period of rapid transformation—technologically, economically, socially. The half-life of skills is shrinking, and roles that once felt “safe” are evolving or disappearing altogether.

According to Deloitte, two to three million of today’s jobs are expected to vanish in the coming years. A report from McKinsey & Company advises that to stay relevant, workers should spend at least half a day per week learning new skills. That’s not a bonus. That’s a necessity.

“Executives estimate that 40% of their workforce will need to reskill in the next three years as a result of implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI).

We need to make reskilling a strategic imperative to capitalize on this technology while minimizing disruption.

The commoditization of AI will be a change agent for the reskilling revolution.”

- Igor Tulchinsky, World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

What does this mean for you and me? It means that adaptability, curiosity, and a diverse skill set aren’t liabilities. They’re assets.

Where previous generations may have been rewarded for loyalty to one company or mastery in a single area, today’s job market favors those who are agile, creative, and ever-evolving.

While this is in part about survival, it’s also about fulfillment.

The Psychology of Growth

Here’s the really cool part: when we learn something new, we’re not just preparing for a changing economy, we’re enhancing our well-being.

Engaging in meaningful challenges can put us into a flow state, a term coined by Hungarian psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Flow is that magical feeling of being so absorbed in what you’re doing that the world falls away. He called it “the secret to happiness.”

Neurologically, learning strengthens neural pathways and creates new ones, increasing cognitive reserve and long-term brain health. Life coach and wellness expert Dennis Buttimer, M.Ed., put it simply: “We’re meant to grow, stretch, extend and expand.”

In fact, as psychologist Marlies Scholtens has noted, when we grow intellectually, we also grow relationally. The more open we are to learning, the more open we become to new ideas, conversations, and relationships. Ever notice how your best conversations often happen when you’re deep in shared curiosity with someone?

“But Who Has Time?”

I get it. Adulthood is overwhelming. You’re not just working: you’re also figuring out taxes, fighting cockroach infestations, trying to eat vegetables, and texting everyone back. Who has time to learn new things?

Here’s the truth: learning isn’t about making time to learn. It’s about making learning a priority. You don’t need to go back to school or block out ten hours a week. You just need to make room for curiosity.

Start with 30 minutes a week. A new podcast, a short course, a book that stretches your brain. Think of it as an investment in your ability to live a dynamic, joyful life.

Tiny Recommendations for Continuous Learning

• If your work involves writing, take a free or low-cost digital marketing course so you can eventually promote your own projects. (Google Digital Garage and HubSpot are great places to start.)

• Get a kindle! And connect it to your nearest public library for free books and audiobooks. Kindles are easy to carry everywhere - and therefore an accessible way to learn, learn, learn, even on the go.

• Sign up for a short online course in psychology or behavioral science—understanding how people think can deepen everything from your communication to your creative work.

• Learn how to use a design tool like Canva or Figma, even just for fun—being able to visually translate your ideas makes your creativity more multidimensional.

• Learn the basics of coding, even if it’s just HTML/CSS. It opens up creative control over your website or blog.

• Experiment with a new medium—clay, embroidery, collage, songwriting. Don’t aim to monetize it. Just see what happens when you use new materials to express your inner curiosities.

In Conclusion: Okay, fine. I’d Rather Be Curious

Yes, I’ve struggled with having “too many interests.” Yes, I’ve doubted whether being a generalist would ever pay off. But if the alternative is to shut down my curiosity in favor of certainty, I’ll choose to follow the messy, exploratory path. And quite honestly, I’d choose this path any day. How else will I have wonderful stories to tell my grandchildren one day? (Just like all of my own have told me over the years - take my Grandpa who started a bank while traveling the world and writing several books at the same time - talk about versatility! It’s in my blood).

To those of you feeling unsure about your eclectic brain: trust it. In a world that keeps shifting, the ability to learn and adapt is the niche.

<3 Delaney

✨Additional resources on learning new things:

• The flow state: the science of the elusive creative mindset that can improve your life, by David Robson, The Washington Post

• The mind-body benefits of learning a new skill, Piedmont Hospital

• 11 Benefits of Learning Something New, Natalie Sisson

• Why we must bridge the skills gap to harness the power of AI, World Economic Forum