Learning is a journey, a discovery of new knowledge, not a destination.

It's an enjoyable lifelong process - a self-directed and self-paced journey of discovery. Understanding any topic, idea or new mindset requires not only keen observation but more fundamentally, the sustained curiosity.

Cultivating a growth or adaptable mindset can help you focus more on your most desirable goals in life. It may influence your motivation and could make you more readily able to see opportunities to learn and grow your abilities.

According to research, learners retain approximately 90% of what they learn when they explain/teach the concept to someone else, or use it immediately.

Teaching others what you know is one of the most effective ways to learn, remember and recall new information. Psychologists, call it the " retrieval practice ". It's one of the most reliable ways of building stronger memory traces.

The ultimate test of your knowledge is your capacity to transfer it to another. A better way to learn, process, retain and remember information is to learn half the time and share half the time. Example, instead of completing a book, aim to read 50 percent and try recalling, sharing, or writing down the key ideas you have learned before proceeding.

That means eating lots of foods associated with slowing cognitive decline - blueberries, vegetables (leafy greens - kale, spinach, broccoli), whole grains, getting protein from fish and legumes and choosing healthy unsaturated fats (olive oil) over saturated fats (butter).

Downtime is crucial to retaining anything you choose to learn. According to recent research, taking short breaks, early and often, can help you learn things better and even improve your retention rate.

Experts at the Louisiana State University's Center for Academic Success recommends 30-50 minutes sessions. "Anything less than 30 is just not enough, but anything more than 50 is too much information for your brain to take in at one time," says learning strategies graduate assistant Ellen Dunn.