From my vantage point of 86 years, these are actions I’ve identified as being vital for us if we want to age well.
The relationship with ourselves. This relationship means practicing self-compassion and self-awareness, accepting changes, and maintaining connections.
Experts say that a positive relationship with the self is critical for healthy aging because it influences how we perceive and adapt to physical and social changes associated with growing older.The truth is that I need to practice more self-compassion.
Planning. The choices we make today affect us in later years. Drinking sodas and playing video games all day as a teen will have consequences when we are 40, 60, and 80. Will we be able to do what we want then?
I inadvertently made the right decisions when I was younger: no smoking, no drinking, conscientious use of prescription drugs, and lots of exercise. Today, I am relatively healthy and take no prescription drugs.
Dealing with our feelings. Probably, we’ll experience a slew of emotions as we get older - changes in our bodies and lives, and losses. So, acknowledging them and making appropriate choices is essential.
Experts suggest that we acknowledge our negative feelings about aging, reframe our perspective, and actively engage in activities that promote our well-being and sense of purpose.Managing my emotions remains a significant issue. There are so many losses and so many things I want to do, but may no longer be able to. I can 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: practicing gratitude, repeating positive affirmations, engaging in activities that promote well-being, and stepping out of our comfort zone.
Conversely, they say that negative perceptions of aging can lead to poorer health outcomes, such as a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic stress, and depression.I fluctuate between the two depending on the time of day. However, the goal is to build a more positive attitude.
Self-talk. We have an ongoing internal conversation with ourselves. Experts say that it’s a common behavior across all ages, but it can be particularly relevant in the context of aging.
As we age, our self-concept may be significantly impacted by physical, social, and psychological changes. Positive self-talk, our self-coach, can be a powerful tool for maintaining mental and physical well-being in older adults. In contrast, negative self-talk, the self-critic, can exacerbate the challenges.My inner critic has been vicious as I come up with problems that I can’t handle on my own. Time for a change.
Listen to yourself. Everybody has an idea of what we should do and how we should do it - friends, family, and professionals.
I listened to them for most of my life. However, I now know that listening to myself and my body is equally important as what they say. In the long run, I know myself best!
Thank you Janice!