Getting Better With Age: How To Optimize Your Health

Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty Posted on by

When you’re a spring chicken, and you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, your health may not be the number one priority. As you get older, however, you come to realize that looking after yourself is critical. If you make the right choices and you take good care of your body and mind, you stand every chance of reaping the rewards well into your retirement years. If you’re looking to get better with age like a fine wine, here are some tips to optimize your health.

Prioritizing mental health

When we talk about being healthy, we tend to focus on whether we can still run for a bus, touch our toes or fit in the same jeans we’ve worn for a decade. The definition of health relates to physical, mental and social well being. To be healthy, you don’t just have to have a level of fitness and the ability to fight off illnesses and infections. Your mental health matters too.

Many people find it difficult to adjust to new routines and schedules when they retire. The prospect of taking a well-earned break is often more appealing and alluring than the reality. It’s very common to feel like you have too much time and to become isolated and withdrawn. Protecting and shielding your mental health is crucial as you get older. Make plans for your retirement, and devote time to hobbies and activities that you enjoy. Reconnect with friends and family members you may not have seen as much as you would have liked to over the years due to work commitments, and don’t be afraid to try new things. If you’ve got time on your hands, and you want to get out and about more, look into activities that are available in your local area and consider joining community groups. Perhaps you could join a choir, you’d like to become a member of the local golf club, or you fancy learning to dance. Whatever your interests, there are bound to be opportunities out there. Use the Internet to find out more.

When it comes to mental health, it’s also crucial to recognize that talking can be beneficial. Many people keep things to themselves and it’s particularly common for older generations to adopt a stiff upper lip attitude. It’s good to be strong, but there’s nothing wrong with sharing concerns or worries or telling a partner or a close friend that you’re feeling low or that you’re upset. If you do find it difficult to manage your emotions, and you don’t feel comfortable opening up, you might find that creative activities help you express yourself. Painting, drawing, and writing, for example, can help you get things off your chest without making you feel like you’re in a therapy session.

Image via https://www.pexels.com/photo/old-couple-walking-while-holding-hands-906111/

Maintaining an active lifestyle

You might think that as you get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to live an active lifestyle. While this may be true in some cases, many people exercise on a regular basis well into their 70s, 80s, and even their 90s. You might find that the kinds of activities you undertake change as you age, but there are myriad active pursuits that are suited to older people. You don’t have to be in your 20s to join a gym or be in your 30s to enjoy salsa classes or Pilates. Give different activities a go, and look for sessions and classes that are tailored to your level of fitness. Some sports centers also offer sessions that are designed for older people.

Exercising has a range of benefits for people of all ages, and it can help to protect the body and mind and prevent potentially life-threatening diseases. When you lead an active lifestyle, you’ll find that you feel more energetic, and you can also take advantage of social opportunities. Regular exercise increases strength, suppleness, and fitness, but it can also make you feel more confident, enable you to meet new people and provide opportunities to develop new skills. Exercise is also a natural stress-buster, and it can make you feel amazing.

If you don’t like the thought of walking into a gym on your own, or you’ve never really exercised before, there’s nothing to be worried about. There are all kinds of activities you can try, and you don’t have to spend all your time on a treadmill to get fit. Take friends to a dance or an aerobics class, or go to a beginner’s session and be open to meeting new friends. Start walking or jogging with a neighbor, or think about joining local groups or teams in the community. You might find that there are lots of activities for people your age that you didn’t know about. Use the Internet, contact local community centers and sports facilities and ask friends, neighbors and former colleagues if they know of any groups or clubs that might be of interest.

When it comes to exercise, it’s hugely beneficial to realize that every little helps. If you struggle with pain, or you don’t have the mobility or flexibility to take part in classes or to engage in a full-blown workout, even the simplest things, like walking around the block, can work wonders for your physical and mental health. Being out in the fresh air is also proven to benefit wellbeing and make you feel happier and less stressed and anxious.

If you have injuries or health problems that limit your ability to exercise, and you want to try and be more active, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or physical therapist for advice. They will be able to recommend activities that are suitable. If you have back pain, for example, you may find that swimming helps.

Image by https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerobics_class.jpg

Beating the habits of a lifetime

You might think that there’s no point in trying to give up bad habits if you’re in your 60s, 70s, or 80s, but the sooner you try, the better. If you’re a smoker, for example, you’ll start to enjoy the benefits as soon as you quit. It may not be possible to reverse the damage completely, but your health will improve. Giving up smoking, especially if you’ve been a smoker for a long time, is challenging, but it can be done. Today, many people who want to quit smoking start vaping instead. Vaping doesn’t expose you to the same chemicals as cigarettes, and it can help you to wean yourself off nicotine. You can buy e-cigarettes, pods and affordable 120 ml bottles of vape juice online. Another option you may want to look into is swapping cigarettes for nicotine patches, gum, or spray. This can help to curb cravings without exposing you to harmful substances. You might also find it easier to give up if people around you quit and if you set yourself a time limit, for example, giving up for a month. If you can do this, there’s every chance that you can quit for good.

Smoking is not the only lifestyle choice that can impact your health. Drinking too much alcohol can also have negative implications. Many people drink too much without even realizing that they’re doing it, and this is often the case with older people. If you’re used to having a few glasses of wine with your evening meal, for example, you could be exceeding the recommended weekly intake every week. Keep track of how much you drink, and if you are drinking too much, try and reduce your intake.

Picture source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-two-people-toasting-with-red-wine-2101186/

Enhancing brain power

It’s well-documented that aging affects memory. As you get older, you might become more forgetful. It’s common to experience memory problems, but there are ways of enhancing brain power and boosting your memory. One of the most important things to do is keep your brain ticking over. When you retire, and you go from working to having more time to yourself, you might find that you don’t use your brain as much. Fill your time with activities that engage the brain and challenge you. Solve puzzles, play games that involve strategizing, for example, chess, read books, and take part in quizzes and memory tests. Take time to chill out and relax, but make sure your brain is active too.

Image courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/chess-checkerboard-the-board-king-4067149/

Making changes to your diet

Your diet is vital for good health. The foods you eat should provide your body with valuable nutrients. If your diet lacks nutritional content, you may find that you’re more susceptible to illness, your energy levels are low, or you’re prone to symptoms linked to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Try and ensure that your diet is varied and balanced, keep an eye on your sugar, salt, and saturated fat intake, and make sure you incorporate foods that have nutritional value. Swap refined and processed foods and takeouts for wholegrain, complex carbohydrates, fresh ingredients and home-cooked meals, and aim for 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. If you’re not a brilliant chef, look for simple, healthy recipes you can rustle up in a matter of minutes.

Concept of healthy food- fresh vegetables

Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/45958587865

As you get older, you come to realize that your health is something that should never be taken for granted. While the risk of developing health problems can increase as you get older, there are multiple ways you can protect your health and wellbeing and ensure you get better with age.

Goodbye to our scruffy Derby

Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty Posted on by
Dog Grooming

Derby

Our little buddy Derby is no longer with us.

We adopted Derby off the streets of Nashville about 13 years ago.  Formerly his name was Mr. Wiggles – and the name fit him, but he came to our house on Kentucky Derby day so we changed his name.  Mr. Wiggles was a perfect description of him until late in life. He was full of energy and spunk – as you would expect from  a street dog.  When he wagged his tail his whole body wagged!  If a dog can strut, Derby was a strutter.

Derby made the move from Nashville to Kentucky to Costa Rica and to Florida.

We will miss you Derby, Derbster, The Disturber…

Has That Internal Fire Left You? Why?

Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty Posted on by

Madonna

Even Iggy Pop needs a purpose for continuing in life. In fact, one of the most common symptoms of dissatisfaction is feeling purposeless, feeling hopeless, thinking things cannot change, certainly not  by your action. Not a fan of making blanket statements. But it is commonly understood that one of the best means of fighting depression and listlessness is to find something you can do, and slowly build on that. It might be taking a walk for an hour each morning around the local park. It could be starting to read books again. Then are many things you might feel potential with.

Madonna is keeping our interest with her politics.

But that internal fire can sometimes leave for other reasons. We might simply feel that now we’re a little older than we used to be, we shouldn’t invest in our passions as fruitfully as we had before. Well, that would be absolutely incorrect. Age is just a number. It could be that revivifying your passions and looking to the future can help you once again kindle that internal fire.

Let’s consider how that might work:

Consider Why The Fire Left

It can be important to immediately start working on falling in love with life again. But first, it’s important to consider why that might have left in the first place. This can help you gain context to further take care of yourself, or prevent a similar issue from happening again. So, why did the fire leave?

Did a relative pass away, leaving you very sad and unable to truly process your emotions? Was it a break-up? Or was it that you’re simply not interested in that which used to inspire you? It’s not uncommon for those who become a master at a certain type of craft to feel like they want to try something new, and feel what it’s like to become a novice again, learning with passion as they find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.

It might be something hard to deal with, it might be something you simply need to brush off. But sometimes, finding why the fire left can be the first step in your journey.

Challenge Yourself Anew

As humans, we all have to deal with some form of challenge. It might be the hardship of starting a new career, of building your reputation well. It might be the challenge of overcoming a personal hurdle, or perhaps a sustained effort towards something new.

The biggest mistake you can ever make when you enter your mature years is thinking that just because you’re no longer 20, taking a sustained effort to something constructive is no longer worth the effort. That is simply not true, and will never be true, no matter how many years pass.

But what might you find as fuel for that internal fire? What could potentially help you along a path that sustains you, and holds your interest? Do you need to follow something familiar to you, or can you learn new skills entirely?

Well, it could be a contextual matter. For example, studying an online BBA could potentially help you gain more competence when opening that small business you hope to run, giving you the tools to actualize your dream. You might decide to start training in a physical sport, so you can enjoy playing with a local league table. It might simply be that you hope to finally sit down and get your novel ideas to paper, after thinking over them for 30 years. No matter what you feel necessary – let it be something that sustains you. You have likely already proven yourself during the course of your life. So do something not because others think it wise for you, but because you feel that natural inclination. It has to be more sustaining than the feeling of you doing nothing.

Another Rite Of Passage

We often think of a rite of passage as something that transitions you from youth to adulthood. We think of a young tribe member going on their first hunt, for example. That might seem like an archaic example, but it goes to show just how strong this idea has been throughout all human cultures, and just how many people have embodied it over time.

But why should that only be limited to the boundary between youth and adulthood? Surely that’s a good marker, but we go through many changes in our lifetime. The ‘you’ at twenty wouldn’t recognize the ‘you’ at forty, and likely vice versa. So why not go through another passage when we hit sixty? It’s important to consider. This is likely you at your intellectual prime, your wisdom and understanding of the world, however humble, is likely as fine tuned as it can ever be.

So why not consider your own? Perhaps you might walk the Camino de Santiago, a beautiful pilgrimage taking place in the South of France and transitioning to the North of Spain. The journey itself could be considered a meditative journey of significance that you might find yourself renewed by taking. It might be that you simply wish to travel somewhere with your family. Perhaps you wish to retire but then take on a part time job that you find most enjoyable, without a real thought concerning your income.

All of this could kickstart your fire once more. But don’t simply take our word for it. Find something yourself that you would feel enraptured by. It might even be that you:

Give Love A Chance Again

Now, this following advice might not apply to everyone. It could be that you’re quite happy in your marriage, your relationship or solitude. The idea that we need to have a romantic partner can often lend itself to toxic attitudes. But on top of that, we can sometimes find ourselves wishing for it and not permitting ourselves to take that chance. We might think ourselves too old to once again fall in love and allow everything to feel as new, as we might have once found this appropriate.

If this applies to you – remember, love can come at any time, from anyone. It might just be that giving love a chance again could be the thing that truly ignites your soul as you had hoped. Of course, don’t force it. But don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. And for heaven’s sake, stop putting yourself down. You likely have so much more to share than you give yourself credit for.

It could also be that after the sad passing of your partner, you feel as though you should never love again. Many people go through this set of very self-limiting emotions. But remember, you deserve happiness. We wouldn’t like to overstep our mark here, but it’s likely that’s what your partner would have wanted for you, too. We in no way wish to tell you how to behave or think about your love life. But sometimes, being a little more open-minded could lead you to renewed internal health.

Take Care Of Yourself

Again, those who are mature in years can often start to think that their issues do not matter. They might think that they’ve had a good run, so perhaps complaining about struggling isn’t the best course of action. But that is never true. You deserve to care for your mental and physical health as much as the next person. Understand that. Visit your healthcare provider as necessary. Make your issues heard. It’s important for you to do that, if only so you can keep your self-care as a priority – as it absolutely deserves to be, from top to bottom.

Is Something Dragging You Down?

It could be, that despite all of your efforts and practical application of our above advice, that you still feel like something is missing. This is where it’s important to reflect on the matters of your life more keenly. Is something dragging you down? What might that be?

It could be that you feel great, until your son arrives to come and visit you. It might be that your daughter in law seems strangely dismissive of you, and seems to criticize everything you do for her. That might make you feel like less of a person, and then you start to dread seeing your son or his family. Of course, this is a highly specific example, but it can show how social issues might drag you down to the point that you feel most uncomfortable.

It could be that a rational discussion getting things out into the open could help you move past an issue. It might be that cutting yourself off from those in your circle who are less than healthy for you is important. And sometimes, it could be that ‘resetting’ in a way that means the most to you could help you develop yourself and begin to walk the path you feel most appropriate.

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