Feeling Old? Perhaps it’s All in Your Head!?
Is it just physical activity that keeps us young, or is there something else too?
I personally don’t believe it’s physicality alone that keeps us young.
After all there are some days when moving our bodies can make us feel much older! You know what I mean?! Those days when everything aches, especially your knees… when the idea of keeping moving and feeling old later is a bit daunting.
I do believe, most strongly, that keeping our brains active and running on all cylinders, has wonderful benefits for keeping you young.
We all know the power of the mind… We can create whatever we choose by changing the way we think, our mindset, our language and our attitude.
We can even change the way we speak about others and ourselves to impact how we feel about ourselves. In fact, being careful with our language when we talk about ourselves is crucial to our self-esteem and happiness.
Listening to what you say about yourself – reinforcing the good and minimising the negative, is a great start to “reframing” how old, or young, you feel.
Do a Personal Stocktake: Know Yourself to Feel Younger
If you constantly saying “I’m not enough” to yourself … or “I’m too fat”, “I’m too old”, “I’m not smart”, “I had no education”, “I don’t look as good as all my friends” … isn’t it about time you STOP.
Take a look at the Stocktake page which provides inspiration on where to begin to change and how to move forward … just follow the arrows!
Then rehearse repeating compliments, that others pay you, over and over to yourself. When someone says “I love that colour on you” repeat to yourself “I look good in this colour”, or when they say “You look fabulous”, say “I look fabulous”.
When someone compliments you saying “You’re so smart”, repeat to yourself “I’m so smart”.
When you’re told “You don’t look your age”, say “I look good for my age”.
If someone says “Your daughter looks like your sister”, tell yourself “I’m looking young today”, or if they say “I envy your figure”, remind yourself “I’ve got a great figure”.
And when you’re complimented with “I wish I could remember things like you do”, repeat to yourself “I’ve got a good memory”.
5 Easy Steps to Getting and Feeling Old Before Your Time
If we are intent on becoming a lazy old lady, that’s what will happen! Warning sarcasm ahead…
Becoming old is a really simple process. Anyone can do it. Just follow these 5 steps:
it’s true that there is a change in our mental ability as we age, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you just let yourself slide into it. You are worth the fight!
Workouts for Your Brain to Keep the Lazy Old Lady Away
If you exercise regularly, whether it’s dancing, walking, gyming, running marathons, whatever, congratulations and well done you.
Keeping physically active helps your body and brain to keep ticking over.
We all know that a healthy body makes a healthy mind, and we must mentally stimulate ourselves to stay sharp and alert and avoid becoming old too soon …
My personal favourites are brain games, like those you find on Lumosity and BrainHQ. A search of your local bookstore can yield some exciting finds too
You can also try some of these …
□ enjoying a daily puzzle or the crossword – did you know there are six common types of crosswords?
□ choose mental arithmetic rather than using the calculator … I use my fingers when needed
□ read more – go to the library and become friends with the Librarian, or join an online book club or one with local people (pandemic permitting). Or even start your own book club?
□ stretch your mind a little with bridge, or chess, maybe even play games on your mobile phone
□ socialise to practice listening – join a local choir, gardening club or knitting circle
□ learn something new – find a course, day, evening or weekends; perhaps some online classes or audiobooks
□ expand your world – go out more … especially to museums, theatres and galleries
□ get involved – go back to work, start a new job or volunteer
□ exercise – for half an hour at least three times a week or take up speed walking… with weights!
Happiness: Being Young at Heart … and in Your Head
In 2014, I wrote a book called 25 Ways to a Happier, Healthier You. I wrote this book after a friend of mine began to prematurely age due to severe unhappiness. That unhappiness took her beautiful smile from the world and withered her into an old lady before my very eyes.
Everything within the book is not only a plus for your physical health but is intended to help with your mind too. After all, happiness is a sure-fire way to not grow old sooner than you would like and avoid being that Lazy Old Lady!
The Pandemic
One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a general lack of socialisation; especially for those 50 and over. At a time when we are being kept apart for our own good physically, our mental health is being put at risk.
You could even use it as an excuse to slide into old age. And of course, much of this is tricksy if you’re still isolated.
However, I want you to fight and resist the urge. Take control of your thoughts, the things you say to yourself and never ever become that lazy old lady.
A version of this article first appeared on Sixty and Me.
