Does life really get harder as you get older? It gets down to choices. Here are four simple ones.
It’s a question we’ll face at some point on our journey.
I recently experienced the 20th anniversary of my 60 birthday. Hard to believe that I’ve gotten this far.
I haven’t had a dramatic life but have had my share of ups and downs. I’m fortunate that I started making better decisions about my self-care before getting to mid-life and believe that has helped me carry good health deep into my third age.
With good health and learning from my ups and downs, I have found life easier as I’ve aged. Not because I have achieved anything out of the ordinary financially but because I’m more aligned with the talents I was gifted with and the skills I’ve acquired.
While it may be a bit harder to get around physically, it’s easier to get around mentally.
For most of us, age brings a modicum of wisdom, and part of that is learning to not waste time, energy, or mental bandwidth on things that are out of our control which, as it turns out, are most of the things that we are tempted to worry about.
With age comes the awareness that there are big holes in the cultural guidelines that we were expected to adhere to as we matured. If we are lucky, as we age we begin to re-evaluate the need to conform and to compare ourselves to others or to materialistic standards.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t get easier for many as they age. Many are trapped in bodies with blue-print errors (rare) or that have been abused through poor health habits in the earlier decades. The average American experiences 12+ years of debilitating chronic illness in their final years, more than any other developed country on the planet.
If one enters mid-life (the 40s or 50s) in poor physical condition, the stage may be set for an unpleasant and challenging second half or third age.
Another key component that makes aging more tolerable is having an active and vibrant social network, especially one that is not made up of only same-aged people. Social isolation is a major contributor to poor health and a shortened lifespan and can become a challenge as we age and friends and family pass on.
Four essential choices.
Making aging easier thus gets down to this:
- Take charge and protect your health.
- Keep making friends and stay close to family.
- Never stop learning and have a purpose, something that you want to accomplish that challenges you both physically and mentally.
- Don’t give in to the cultural pressure to retire. Full-stop retirement has been shown to undermine the above and ultimately make life harder.
Can you add to the list? Let us know your thoughts with a comment below.
I really enjoy reading your articles. Thank you !
I’m having a problem with having a purpose. At 57, I don’t work and never had a career. I always want to volunteer in my town but with aging parents and an autistic 21 yr old daughter living at home I find I don’t have time. I always think well, maybe my purpose is just to take care of my family. 🤷♀️
Yeah in your case the purpose is take care of family.
I guess it’s a legitimate purpose. Thanks Phil!!!
Totally Heather –
Purpose is what gives our life meaning – why we get up in the morning – caring for your parents and your daughter takes your focus. However, hope you get some down time / respite for yourself. Important to care for the carer.
Thank you!!!
Beautifully stated. Thank you!
Unfortunately I see some people giving up on life they exist hoping praying for social security. I recently hit 60 in my case as an educator that gives me my purpose. Because education has changed and it’s more virtual online it means I can invest more time to my craft, my skill by transferring transmitting complex information to people who want to change their lives. I never planned to be an educator I had done everything to get out of the field but things didn’t work out that way and I’m happier for being in the education profession. Living peacefully with purpose thank you Gary.