This holiday season, the trends around gifts for adults can be classified by one word – comfort. Adults are asking for comfy blankets, super soft socks, cozy pajamas, etc. You get the idea.

Some trend trackers will say this has to do with the overall world we live in. As a rule, adults are seeking comfort because our world is unpredictable and not always comfortable.

So, what can these trends tell you about how to provide learning for your audience? Here are a few ideas.

1. Reassure learners more often than you think!

Being comfy cozy means knowing you’re in the right place at the right time. Customers of any kind will report feeling lost if they don’t receive enough reassurance throughout the purchase process. Your learners are no different!

Find ways to reassure them they are on the right path, both for their own learning goals and for the system they are using. Some organizations offer L&D incentive programs that include chances to work or learn remotely. Adding this extra layer of comfort and flexibility around learning lets them know their way of learning is the comfortable, right way for them.

2. Celebrate their wins!

Comfort means feeling cared for, and if learners are not seeing celebrations for their achievements, they might feel neglected, ignored or worse!

According to a study from Glassdoor, 83% of employees say they don’t receive enough recognition at work. Celebrating their learning achievements is a great way to make them feel noticed and valued.

Look for ways to celebrate the personal goals your learners have rocked! Don’t be afraid to help them celebrate in non-traditional ways. Seeing a certificate or checkmark is great, but receiving a personal “congratulations on your achievement!” note is better. Are you looking for ways to not just acknowledge, but celebrate their learning achievements?

3. Personalize the experience.

Wherever you look, customers are demanding more personalization. Learning should be no different.

Personalization is all about comfort. If I feel like you know me, I’ll trust you a lot more. If I feel like you understand my challenges personally, I’ll be comfortable knowing you are on my side in helping me through them.

Personalization is all about knowing your learner. Adaptive learning can be a part of this, but it’s important to foster meaningful relationships around the person, not just the learning path itself. Find ways to understand your learners and then reflect their personal preferences back to them.

Bonus comfort – Create community.

Another way to provide comfort and reassurance is to provide community experiences for learners.

Each learner wants to know “I’m not in this alone.” A community of learners who are seeking the same knowledge, the same answers, the same comfort is a way to help your learners feel supported. Litmos did a great job recently providing a community experience with their Litmos LIVE Virtual Summit! (And you can still access the amazing on-demand L&D sessions.)

Comfort beats churn.

Deloitte reports that 71% of Millennials who are likely to leave an organization in two years are unhappy with how their skills are being developed. And in case you didn’t notice, there are many reports stating that access to a rewarding L&D program is the number one reason Millennials stay at their jobs. Simply put, you have to invest in their future if you want them to be a part of yours.

Investing in a personal and caring learning environment creates a culture where learners want to keep learning and sharing. Make learning more comfortable and they’ll pay it forward by investing a little more of themselves!