If learning is part of a well-rounded set of activities that you are doing in your life, then it will lead to several positive effects. One, learning new things, by itself, with nothing else, reduces cognitive decline and increase brain health. But optimal learning and brain health also derives from physical activity and sleep, so it's a small part of the puzzle.
EDIT: Brain health also derives from a healthy social life, I forgot to add that to the list involved. Having friends that are interested in learning the same things as you, and discussing it with them, help you to develop self-checking techniques.
Also, Alan Kay pointed out in a speech in the last few years that our economy is doing really poorly right now producing researchers, and people who understand research, and you really can't get there without a good education.
I'll go one further and suggest that 'Transfer', which is the application of understanding of one topic to another, is one of the prime sources of what we consider 'innovation' or 'paradigm shifts'.
I feel as if that should be enough proof that education is an end to itself, but I need to be really clear: continuing education doesn't need to have a goal, and I would strongly discourage you from adding one. I go to the gym all the time without goals. I go for walks everyday, without goals. Each of these items are basic maintenance.
Learning new things _well_ is basic maintenance for your brain. If you want to do continuous learning then you should install Anki, get a notebook and learn Cornell notes, then go out and take a quick class, lecture, or study material.
If you are learning something new, the fastest way to learn and retain the material is to move to self-testing as quickly as possible. I can go over this in more detail, but perhaps the first class I would recommend would be "Learning How To Learn" (Coursera), which produced a serious attitude shift in me about learning and what I am capable of as a human.
EDIT: Brain health also derives from a healthy social life, I forgot to add that to the list involved. Having friends that are interested in learning the same things as you, and discussing it with them, help you to develop self-checking techniques.
Also, Alan Kay pointed out in a speech in the last few years that our economy is doing really poorly right now producing researchers, and people who understand research, and you really can't get there without a good education.
I'll go one further and suggest that 'Transfer', which is the application of understanding of one topic to another, is one of the prime sources of what we consider 'innovation' or 'paradigm shifts'.
I feel as if that should be enough proof that education is an end to itself, but I need to be really clear: continuing education doesn't need to have a goal, and I would strongly discourage you from adding one. I go to the gym all the time without goals. I go for walks everyday, without goals. Each of these items are basic maintenance. Learning new things _well_ is basic maintenance for your brain. If you want to do continuous learning then you should install Anki, get a notebook and learn Cornell notes, then go out and take a quick class, lecture, or study material.
If you are learning something new, the fastest way to learn and retain the material is to move to self-testing as quickly as possible. I can go over this in more detail, but perhaps the first class I would recommend would be "Learning How To Learn" (Coursera), which produced a serious attitude shift in me about learning and what I am capable of as a human.