Aging Well - What's It All About?

Welcome!

Hi,

I’m Dr. Janice Walton, an 87-year-old widow and psychologist with extensive experience in both work and life. I have a Ph.D. in Psychology and have worked in the mental health profession for 30 years.

I have a unique perspective on the concept of aging.

Typically, articles about aging focus on exercise, managing illnesses, and the dimensions of wellness. All of which is sound advice.

However, the Aging Well Newsletter does more than that.

Together, we look at how to:

1. Understanding the mind-body connection in later life

2. Enhancing our quality of life as we age

3. Having agency and control in the healthcare system as we grow older

The underlying goal is to examine how these issues interact to help us age well.

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection in Later Life

Research highlights the importance of the mind-body connection, pointing out how physical health practices - regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep affect our mental states and stress management, which in turn directly influences our physical health, boosts immunity, reduces chronic disease risk, and improves lifestyle choices for a longer, higher-quality life by using meditation, qigong, yoga, and mindfulness.

Similarly, experts claim that chronic mental health issues shorten lifespan by increasing physical ailments and stress, highlighting how deeply intertwined psychological and physical wellness are. Ignoring that fact can worsen age-related issues, while nurturing it can support our overall vitality and health.

The mind-body connection is crucial for longevity, as well. How long and how well we live a healthy life depends on genetics, lifestyle, and environment; an understanding of the mind-body connection can extend it. Ignoring one aspect leads to a decline in the other, but caring for both creates an integrated approach to health.

We’ll talk about:

• What’s Normal Aging and What Isn’t

• The Body We Live In vs The Self We Still Are

• The Body as a Messenger

So the Mind-Body Connection is a valuable tool in our pursuit of aging well.

With that in mind, as the foundation, let’s look at the quality of life as we age.

Enhancing our quality of life as we age

Quality of life is a broad term that reflects our overall satisfaction with life, encompassing health, wealth, environment, and social factors, as well as feelings of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose.

Aging involves balancing physical, mental, and social well-being, encompassing independence, purpose, strong relationships, and the management of health challenges and chronic diseases.

Proactive strategies such as regular exercise, healthy diets, adequate sleep, stress management, meaningful social engagement, and proper planning are keys to enhancing our quality of life.

We’ll talk about:

• Why Anger and Ability Increase with Age

• Letting Go and Reinventing Yourself

• Acceptance is Not Giving Up- But it’s Often Misunderstood

But there comes a time when we may have health concerns to contend with, so we will want to know how to take charge if or when that happens.

Having agency and control in the healthcare system as we grow older

Despite our best efforts, bodies age, and we may have to manage our medical care or that of a loved one. Professionals, friends, and family may offer sound advice, but only we know what’s best for us. So, sometimes their suggestions get in the way, which brings us back to the value of developing the mind-body connection and listening to what our minds and bodies tell us.

We’ll talk about:

• Contribution without exhaustion

• Navigating the medical system without losing ourselves

• Hard conversations we can’t avoid

---

EVERY FRIDAY

• You will receive an article about preparing for and managing life as an older adult.

• Numerous tips and resources based on my years of experience.

---

Here’s a sample of reader favorites:

Aging Well Is Harder Than It Sounds

The Toughest Decision I've Ever Made

Beyond Wellness