Thoughts on Aging
How to Grow Old
Gracefully
March 9, 2009
It's a fact that we all grow old. It's also a fact that we have little, if any, control regarding the overall aging process. Yet, what is positive is the fact that we can control how we live while we age. We control what we eat. We control how we exercise. We control our sleep habits. We control our social lives. We control much more about our aging than we care to think about. The fact that we are all going to grow old should not stop us from living a healthy, happy, and productive life.
When I was a young teenager, I remember how mad I was that I had to ride my bike everywhere because my father either refused to give me rides or he was not available for that chore. Now, I look forward to riding bikes to the beach or the store with my ten year old daughter - just because it's fun. Of course, my joints ache a bit and if I did the bike riding thing too many days in row, you would need to fill me with indomethacin to reduce the inflammation in my joints. Still, that part of growing old is worth the effort (and the pain).
So it goes for all of us who are in the midst of aging: from the 40 something "has-been" athlete, to the 70 something "stroke victim." We all have "a something" that reminds us of how the aging process is affecting us. Yet even with the inevitable weight gain, the need for reading glasses, and the inability to touch our toes, we can make living a positive outcome even if aging may not be so positive.
Below are a few ideas that you, and your care recipients, can practice in order to make living through the aging process a positive and rewarding experience:
Be happy. Take things one step at a time. Enjoy the little stuff and remember everything is little stuff.
Plan your future. Even if you are 80 years old, plan what the next year or two will bring for you. Plan a trip to some distant land. Plan to see your grandchildren. Just keep thinking and planning your future.
Work out more. Plan out a regular and exciting exercise program. Walking, going to the gym, swimming, even dancing are ways that both keep the body working at its best and can be fun.
Step up your social life. See friends, or make new friends. Companionship is so important to keep the spirit up and soul relaxed.
Volunteer your time. Find that hobby that you have always loved and begin to teach it to others. I've been teaching sailing for nearly ten years - I love it, and people are so grateful for me sharing my experiences.
Laugh at yourself. Many of us have had trouble laughing at ourselves when we were young (we take everything too seriously). Get over that as soon as possible. We are all pretty funny people, or at least we all do some funny things. Enjoy those moments.
Sleep better. One of the keys for more energy is to sleep better. Obtaining the right amount of sleep every night can make the world of difference in the energy that one has to expend during the day. Check with a doctor if sleeping is a consistent problem for you or your care recipient.
To age better, we must learn and practice the tricks listed above before we hit the mainstream aging process. If you can make those few simple suggestions habits before retirement age, you have a good chance of taking the aging process and making it into the golden years we all have heard about for decades. Aging is going to happen whether you like it or not. Why not embrace life and enjoy the ride?
March 9, 2009
It's a fact that we all grow old. It's also a fact that we have little, if any, control regarding the overall aging process. Yet, what is positive is the fact that we can control how we live while we age. We control what we eat. We control how we exercise. We control our sleep habits. We control our social lives. We control much more about our aging than we care to think about. The fact that we are all going to grow old should not stop us from living a healthy, happy, and productive life.
When I was a young teenager, I remember how mad I was that I had to ride my bike everywhere because my father either refused to give me rides or he was not available for that chore. Now, I look forward to riding bikes to the beach or the store with my ten year old daughter - just because it's fun. Of course, my joints ache a bit and if I did the bike riding thing too many days in row, you would need to fill me with indomethacin to reduce the inflammation in my joints. Still, that part of growing old is worth the effort (and the pain).
So it goes for all of us who are in the midst of aging: from the 40 something "has-been" athlete, to the 70 something "stroke victim." We all have "a something" that reminds us of how the aging process is affecting us. Yet even with the inevitable weight gain, the need for reading glasses, and the inability to touch our toes, we can make living a positive outcome even if aging may not be so positive.
Below are a few ideas that you, and your care recipients, can practice in order to make living through the aging process a positive and rewarding experience:
Be happy. Take things one step at a time. Enjoy the little stuff and remember everything is little stuff.
Plan your future. Even if you are 80 years old, plan what the next year or two will bring for you. Plan a trip to some distant land. Plan to see your grandchildren. Just keep thinking and planning your future.
Work out more. Plan out a regular and exciting exercise program. Walking, going to the gym, swimming, even dancing are ways that both keep the body working at its best and can be fun.
Step up your social life. See friends, or make new friends. Companionship is so important to keep the spirit up and soul relaxed.
Volunteer your time. Find that hobby that you have always loved and begin to teach it to others. I've been teaching sailing for nearly ten years - I love it, and people are so grateful for me sharing my experiences.
Laugh at yourself. Many of us have had trouble laughing at ourselves when we were young (we take everything too seriously). Get over that as soon as possible. We are all pretty funny people, or at least we all do some funny things. Enjoy those moments.
Sleep better. One of the keys for more energy is to sleep better. Obtaining the right amount of sleep every night can make the world of difference in the energy that one has to expend during the day. Check with a doctor if sleeping is a consistent problem for you or your care recipient.
To age better, we must learn and practice the tricks listed above before we hit the mainstream aging process. If you can make those few simple suggestions habits before retirement age, you have a good chance of taking the aging process and making it into the golden years we all have heard about for decades. Aging is going to happen whether you like it or not. Why not embrace life and enjoy the ride?
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