As American comedian George Burns famously said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” Here are some suggestions on how you can stay young at heart, irrespective of the date on your birth certificate.
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Exercise your brain. We all know about the importance of regular physical exercise. While physical exercise is also good for the brain, the concept of “use it or lose it” also applies to our mental health. This means that we need to exercise our brains by challenging them to do unfamiliar tasks. Some of the more common examples of brain exercises are – learning a foreign language or a musical instrument, doing crosswords or Sudoku, doing brain exercises from the internet like Brain HQ and Luminosity.
Stay connected to the world. Know what’s going on in the world and in your community. Keep abreast of current affairs and modern culture. This makes it a lot easier to talk with your grandchildren.
Don’t live in the past. Sure, you had some good times all those years ago but you probably had some bad times as well. There’s no sense in continually comparing the present to a rose-coloured version of the past. What’s more, the past has gone and you can’t go back there. The present is where we are and that’s what we need to focus on.
Be grateful for the good things you have rather than wishing for the things you don’t have. By comparison with most countries, we in Australia are doing pretty well. It’s a good idea to remember this and be grateful on a regular basis.
Think before you open your mouth. Some older people seem to think that their years give them the right to make all sorts of judgements with no thoughts to others’ sensibilities. The “cranky old man” act gets pretty boring after a while.
Keep up with technology. Mobile phones and computers are here to stay. It’s not necessary to be as proficient as all the Gen Ys in the Telstra shops, but it’s desirable to be able to find your way around the internet, handle emails and know how to work an iPad. This enables you to research medical information, make travel plans and be a functioning member of the human race in the 21st Century.
Don’t dress like an “old” person. Tracky daks are comfortable and fine around the house, but it’s not a good look to wear them when you go out (unless you’re doing some exercise).
You’ll find lots of useful tips on how to enjoy your life after 60 in our four books on various aspects of life in retirement. They are available on our web site at www.retirementbooks.com.au.
