We’ve all had tough days at work, whether it’s due to a performance conversation, missing a deadline or a conflict with a manager or teammate. It happens to all of us and sometimes even the smallest challenges can impact your day.
After a rough day we often turn to our family and friends, or maybe a favorite TV show or workout routine to shake things off. And while investing time in learning probably isn’t what comes to mind for most of us, it can be one of the best ways to recharge.
Through our recent research, released today, we found that learning not only helps people build skills and improve in their job, it can change one’s mindset, boost confidence and reduce workplace burnout.
Take a look at why you should consider building learning into your workplace self-care routine and the key moments when professionals are turning to it.
The outcome of learning is...confidence!
An overwhelming number of professionals (66%) say that they feel more confident after they spend time learning. This is closely followed by feeling more motivated (65%), successful (53%) and proud (52%). This matters the most to Gen Z: nearly two thirds (61%) say they feel more successful after they've spent time learning.
The good news is that a confidence boost can happen in a matter of minutes. With online learning right at your fingertips, you can watch a bite-size course and learn new skills in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee.
Sleep, exercise and spending time with loved ones helps burnout, and so does learning
The majority of professionals (68%) say they are less likely to feel burnout when they are learning and growing in their role and more than half (52%) consider it part of their self-care routine along with sleeping, eating healthy and exercising.
When it comes to self-care in the workplace, our research shows people want to learn. In fact, people say learning is more important than a day without meetings or calls.
To make learning part of your self-care routine, one tip is to start small. This could be learning on your commute, a coffee break or even in-between meetings. Before you know it, it will become a daily habit.
Surprise: curiosity is driving people to learn, more so than a promotion
Compared to just one year ago, what’s motivating people to learn new skills is changing. This year, curiosity breaks into the top three motivators, compared to 2018 when the desire to get a promotion was a top factor.
Men are turning to learning after a promotion more so than women
It’s not a surprise that the number one moment that motivates people to learn is when they are stuck on a task at work. But what may be surprising is that more than a third of professionals say being inspired drives them to learn. This is the greatest among the younger generations: nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials (45%) say that inspiration motivates them to learn, compared to just over a third of Gen X (35%) and Boomers (34%).
Interestingly, men are investing in learning at a much greater rate than women once they’ve been promoted. More than a third (35%) of men say they’re motivated to learn after a promotion, compared to only 28% of women.
You’re not alone if you’re dealing with difficult situations at work
When it comes to handling difficult moments in the workplace, the number one moment that people turn to learning is after they make a big mistake. This is closely followed by dealing with a difficult teammate or manager, with nearly half (49%) of Gen Z and Millennials saying a difficult teammate drives them to learn.
If you’re dealing with any of these situations at work, you are not alone and LinkedIn Learning can help. We have hundreds of courses that can help you overcome and manage these difficult moments at work. Take a look:
The learning mindset: happiness, fulfillment and confidence
The result of continuous learning? Stronger engagement. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of professionals say they feel more fulfilled and happier at work when learning and developing new skills. This research is also validated by Glint data that shows that the top drivers of engagement among employees are career growth and the opportunity to learn.
Bottom line: not only does learning help you build skills throughout your career, it impacts your mindset too. By spending time learning and making it part of your workplace self-care routine, you can reduce burnout, boost your confidence and most of all, be happier.
Methodology: The survey was conducted online for LinkedIn by Censuswide in July 2019, amongst more than 2,000 working professionals, ages 18-74, across the US.
Topics: Career success tips
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