Welcome to the first instalment of The Six-Week Wellbeing Plan, a new series here at Starts at 60. Each Saturday over the coming weeks, we’ll walk you through simple, genuinely evidence-based habits across different areas of your wellbeing, from your brain to your body to your everyday sense of connection and purpose. No fads, no expensive gadgets – just small, realistic changes backed by real research, that you can actually fit into an ordinary week.

We’re kicking things off with your brain: why picking up something completely new might be one of the best things you can do for it, and why it’s genuinely never too late to start.

Why your brain notices when it’s not being challenged

If you’ve noticed it takes a beat longer to recall a name these days, or that juggling two things at once feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. Cognitive function – essentially your brain’s ability to process information, learn and interpret the world – naturally shifts as we age. It’s one of the key markers doctors look at when assessing brain health, and for most of us, it does gradually change over time.

Here’s the encouraging part: a growing body of research shows that genuinely simple, everyday changes can help protect your brain and keep it working well for longer. And one of the single best things you can do is learn something new.

The science behind it

The reason learning matters so much comes down to something called neuroplasticity – your brain’s ongoing ability to adapt, rewire and grow, no matter your age. As we get older, the rate at which the brain generates new neural connections naturally slows, making it a little less flexible than it once was. Left unchallenged for too long, that slowdown can contribute to mild cognitive impairment, one of the recognised risk factors for dementia.

The good news is that novelty and challenge act like a genuine workout for your brain. Taking up something new encourages the formation of fresh neural connections, which can help build resilience against future cell loss. It also tends to lower stress (which, left unchecked, negatively affects memory and decision-making), and triggers a release of dopamine, the same feel-good chemical behind so many of life’s genuine pleasures.

There’s also something worth knowing about full immersion in a new skill. When you’re genuinely absorbed in learning something, whether that’s a language, an instrument or a new craft, you can enter a state researchers call “flow” – a kind of quiet focus where the self-critical, analytical part of your brain switches down a notch. That’s not just pleasant. It’s genuinely good for your mental health too.

Habits worth trying, the Australian way

You don’t need to travel overseas or take up an exotic instrument to get the benefits here (although if that’s genuinely your thing, we say go for it). Some of the most effective brain-boosting habits are things many of us already have easy access to right here at home.

Learn a language. Encoding two words for the same object genuinely keeps your brain flexible, and you don’t need formal lessons – a language app during your morning cuppa or the drive to the shops is enough to start.

Try your hand at drawing or sketching. Research has found that doodling, colouring and free drawing activate the brain’s reward centre, while also improving spatial awareness and motor skills. You don’t need talent, just a willingness to have a go.

Practise a little mindfulness. Simply being genuinely present in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s pottering in the garden, walking the dog or having a cuppa with a friend, and gently returning your attention when your mind wanders, has a real, measurable effect on reducing stress.

Join a book club, or simply talk about what you’re reading. Regular reading keeps the brain active and has been linked to slower cognitive decline, and reading aloud appears to offer even more benefit again.

Get into the garden. Whether it’s planting a veggie patch or simply keeping the lawn in order, research has found gardening helps preserve cognitive function, and may even be linked to a longer life.

Consider a U3A course. Australia’s University of the Third Age network runs affordable, genuinely social courses on everything from history to photography to a new language, specifically designed for older Australians wanting to keep learning. It’s a wonderful, low-pressure way to combine a new skill with real social connection, which carries its own wellbeing benefits again.

Three tips to make it stick

Pick one thing, not five. Rather than launching into several new hobbies at once, choose a single skill you genuinely have the time and headspace to commit to.
Choose something you’ll actually enjoy. Build on an interest you already have. Motivation matters far more than ambition here.

Start small. Learning something new doesn’t require a grand commitment. Swapping twenty minutes of phone scrolling for sketching, a language app, or a few lines of a good book is more than enough to begin.

Next Saturday, we’ll move on to the second pillar of The Six-Week Wellbeing Plan — Howe your Diet Influences Ageing – so keep an eye out, and in the meantime, we’d genuinely love to hear what you think of the series so far, or your suggestions on new things that you can learn. Write to us at community@startsat60.com

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.