From my vantage point as an 86-year-old, I’ve identified some habits that might be beneficial as we age.
The relationship with ourselves. This requires practicing self-compassion and self-awareness, accepting changes, and maintaining connections.
Experts say that a positive relationship with ourselves is critical for healthy aging - it influences how we perceive and adapt to physical and social changes associated with growing older.
Truth be told, I need to work much more on this.
Planning. The choices we make today will affect us in the years to come. Drinking sodas, smoking, or playing video games all day as a teen will have consequences when we are 40, 60, and 80 years old. Will we be able to do what we want then, given what we are doing now?
I made several right decisions when I was younger: I didn’t smoke or drink, and I exercised regularly. Today, I’m relatively healthy, exercise daily, and take no prescription medications.
Dealing with our feelings. As we get older, we’re likely to experience a range of emotions due to the changes and losses that can and do occur. So, acknowledging them and helping them heal is essential.
Experts suggest we identify our negative feelings about aging, reframe our perspective, and actively engage in activities that promote our well-being and sense of purpose.
My emotions remain a significant issue. There have been so many losses and so many things I want to do, but can’t do as easily. I acknowledge the facts, but being okay with them is another story.
Attitude. Experts say that a positive attitude about aging is linked to numerous health benefits, including a longer life, slower aging, better physical and mental health, and increased resilience.
We can maintain it through various strategies such as practicing gratitude, repeating positive affirmations, engaging in activities that promote well-being, and stepping out of our comfort zone.
Conversely, negative perceptions about aging can lead to poorer health outcomes, such as a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic stress, and depression.My goal is to maintain a positive attitude. Some days I’m pretty good at it; others, not so much.
Self-talk. We have an ongoing internal conversation with ourselves. Experts say it’s a common behavior. However, as we age, our self-concept may be significantly impacted by physical, social, and psychological changes. Positive self-talk can be a powerful tool for maintaining mental and physical well-being. In contrast, negative self-talk can worsen the challenges.
My inner critic can be vicious when I’m unable to handle problems on my own. Time for a change in that regard.
Listen to yourself. Friends, family, and professionals often have an idea of what we should be doing and how we should do it— but that may not always be the best answer.
I listened to them for most of my life. However, I now know that listening to myself and my body is equally important. In the long run, I know myself best!
P.S. I’d love it if you could share the Aging Well newsletter with others. I want to share the lessons I’ve learned throughout my life and caregiving years with as many people as possible. Above all, I want to continue expanding our community of readers.
Janice Walton is a psychologist, a widow, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a writer. She has written over 300 articles for Substack during the past five years.