To wonder why learning new things becomes more difficult when you're older?

[EllaMinnowPee]

I'm not ancient but I'm older I suppose. Recently turned 50

Anyway, I've just taken on a new job. I'm self employed so do work for people.

On the one hand I can do this job as it's in my field but on the other hand, I'm literally paralysed by fear because it involves me having to learn new things - mainly tech related! I don't, for example, create images and I don't know one end of a spreadsheet from another but I need to be able to do these things.

I know I can do it but Jesus Christ, why does it seem like such a mountain to climb? I put it down to never having used a computer when at school (we had a computer room but let's face it, not like kids know it these days!)

Does age hold you back and if not, how do you overcome the overwhelming task of learning alien things?

It doesn't sound age-related to me, just that you have a mental block about technology/IT stuff, and maybe a lack of experience in the past? I'm only a year younger than you, likewise no computer education at school, and never even used a wordprocessor until I was an MA student in my early 20s, and didn't own a computer of my own for years after that.

I'm learning drystone walling at the moment, and loving it, and am also taking Arabic lessons but I'm perfectly confident in both those things. I do, however need to learn to drive in the next few months, and I'm far more nervous about that but I was just as nervous about it aged 20, which contributed to me not learning before now!

@Farrandau you could well be right actually. It IS a mental block - in the past I've always got someone else to do something tech related for me (or paid them if it's job related!)

Good luck with the driving.. you'll do it!

[quote EllaMinnowPee]@Farrandau you could well be right actually. It IS a mental block - in the past I've always got someone else to do something tech related for me (or paid them if it's job related!)

Good luck with the driving.. you'll do it! [/quote]
Well, I'm with you on the 'spreadsheets are for other people' thing, if I'm honest! I suppose the key thing is whether you're able to arrange training for the tech stuff you're worried about, rather than just feeling that you're expected to be able to do it, but don't know how? It sounds to me as if that might help -- that's it's the 'impostor syndrome' stuff where someone assumes something's in your skillset when it isn't that feels like psychologically shaky ground.

And thank you for driving good wishes -- I will need every one!

Not my experience and I'm a decade older than you. Attitude is far more important.

@toconclude yes it's an attitude thing, I'll agree. I shy away from anything that requires me to step outside my comfort zone

I need to be more @Farrandau who's out there dry walling and learning Arabic! I understand that learning new things opens up new neural pathways in the brain, this helping ward off dementia

I know what you mean OP, I sort of curl up a little inside at the idea of learning new stuff -. Am mid 40s.

I started taking adult swimming lessons after Xmas and my brain is fried after each lesson - but equally I'm really proud that I'm doing something new.

Keep going on the spreadsheets, you'll figure it out

What’s the mental block about? Fear of not being good enough? Worried about getting it wrong? Worried about breaking the computer?

I'm 46 and just started a degree apprenticeship, I think it's down to attitude and openness to learning. Being older, I have had to put in a bit more effort and reset some of the knowledge I already have re-learning it to suit, it has been tricky, at times a little confusing but I haven't found it hard as such. You need to be open to this, if not you will struggle.

As other have said, I don’t think that is true at your age or older- maybe when you get to 90 and struggle to hear or see or start early signs of dementia
I make a point of learning new skills every year - I’m retired. I had a career that meant I had to keep learning and love it so that’s what I do in retirement
But, if ever I was stressed I could not absorb information. So the more you stress about it the worse it’ll be. And everyone has preferred learning styles and most people doing the training don’t realise this. Doing things on spreadsheets you may need to sit down at the keyboard and get someone to steer you through while watching, and then time to play and find out by trial and error in your own time. Other people can just watch someone else and get the hang. Others need to write it down. Others can read a document and apply it
Try to figure out in next few months while you learn your new skills, what works best for you…then home in on how to make that work for you really well and be able to articulate that to whoever is organising your training. Ask for what you need not the 2am they prefer to teach..a good coach or trainer will adapt their style to work with you most effectively.

2am🤷🏼‍♀️Should say style

I think that our brains have just developed more lazy short cuts as we get older. So anything really new, makes them curl up a bit! I know that it takes me a certain amount (time) of practise to become competent at most things, so tbh, I just hammer away at things I can't do, til it works. I also visualise a lot to try to 'set' the knowledge.

I'm almost 50, and started amateur dramatics a few years ago, learning new scripts, songs and dances keeps my brain on it's toes and makes new systems etc at work seem less of a challenge!

I really struggle with retaining new information (mid 50's). I just have to make notes of everything I learn and will need to use again.

Yep. I'm 61 and doing Maths GCSE to prove to myself it was crap teaching and not my stupidity that made me fail my O'level 3 times. I understand pretty much everything - it's retaining the info that's the problem. Wish me luck in the exams in the summer...

Hmmm not sure OP. I think maybe you’re just not interested in tech and it is hard to learn about something that we’re not interested in.
I’m late 40s and love learning new systems and working on complex spreadsheets.
Ask me to read a book about Ancient Greece and I wouldn’t digest a single word.
I’ve always had bad memory so can’t blame that on age.
My DH (older) is going a complicated certification course for work (takes a couple of years) and psssing the exams fine.

It definitely does. Our frontal lobes become less 'flexible' as we age.

Learning something new is more difficult because there's so much information cluttering up your brain already.

It isn't age-related, it's probably just because you're out of practice at learning new things. When I was a lot younger, I taught over 50s engineers to use CADCAM (computer graphics). My bosses thought they were too old, but they took to it like ducks to water! My mum learned to use an iPad and facetime in her late 80s.

You're never too old to learn new things!

@SwanShaped it's a fear of getting it wrong and yep, not being good at it.

Lots of good advice, thanks

And yes, I'll shy away from anything technology related where I can, so to have to now confront it and learn it is daunting

It's not imposter syndrome as I know that what I have created is the gold standard among others in its field. (Gotta be a bit cryptic there)

It's just a genuine fear of tech because I cannot do it so know I have to learn. And I do feel it's vital that we keep learning but bloody hell, my brain definitely wants me to take the easy way out!

Well what’s the worst that can happen if you get it wrong? Just pretend you’re a kid. They learn all the time and don’t get bothered at all. Good luck, you’ll be so pleased once you’ve cracked it.

[quote EllaMinnowPee]@toconclude yes it's an attitude thing, I'll agree. I shy away from anything that requires me to step outside my comfort zone

I need to be more @Farrandau who's out there dry walling and learning Arabic! I understand that learning new things opens up new neural pathways in the brain, this helping ward off dementia [/quote]
Did I sound like a right smugathon?

Those two things are well inside my comfort zone, though -- I've always picked up languages easily, and I enjoy it, and there's no penalty for getting a wall 'wrong'. But driving is way outside my comfort zone, and the dangers of a collision or running a red light or ending up heading the wrong way down a motorway or something are obvious!

I remember my driving instructor saying that you need a lesson for every year of your life. The implication being you learn slower as you get order. I believed him as he must have aeen it in his job.

@Farrandau ha no. You sound like someone I aspire to be like! I don't have much of a yearning for dry walling though as not much call for it round these parts but I'm intrigued enough to google it

[quote EllaMinnowPee]@Farrandau ha no. You sound like someone I aspire to be like! I don't have much of a yearning for dry walling though as not much call for it round these parts but I'm intrigued enough to google it [/quote]
You say that until you see me veering towards you at the wheel of a car visibly muttering 'Now which one is the brake and which one is the accelerator...?'

We will both manage this. You will be tech-savvy and I will drive and not kill anyone.

Well I'm 20 years older than you and I find the main barrier to learning new things is if I can be bothered.

My husband loves tech and honestly I think some of his amazing labour saving gadgets are a waste of time, you take hours figuring out how to set them up and then half the time they fail to do what you wanted them to do. Do I was to tell Alexa to switch something when I can just switch it on? No I really don't.

So somethings I just don't bother with but if I want to learn something then I can.