Stop Acting Your Age: 5 Ways to Stay Young at Heart

Older adults have been getting a bad rap lately. Everywhere you look, there are videos about old men yelling at neighborhood kids or silver-haired women calling the police over a noisy pool party.

So what is going on? Why do some older people act this way?

Research suggests that people do not suddenly become miserable with age. These attitudes often develop gradually over time. As we grow older, we become more comfortable with our opinions and less willing to have someone question them. Some people begin to feel they have already experienced everything life has to offer. Others start to view the world through the lens of negative news stories and conclude that people are basically selfish or untrustworthy.

Of course, that is a broad generalization. Many older adults remain just as kind, optimistic, and open-minded as they were when they were younger.

But Why Are Some People Like This?

As we age, we can become set in our ways and resistant to being told anything, especially by younger people. We may hesitate to admit when we are wrong or do not know something, preferring instead to just dig in.

Unfortunately, the younger generations no longer respect their elders as some older people feel they should. Much of the knowledge we spent decades acquiring is now readily available online so our wisdom and experience is no longer wanted.

We also need to remember that older adults are a group in name only. Beyond the decades in which they were born, they may have very little in common. You cannot define an entire generation by a single trait. Older adults are just as diverse as any other age group.

For our part, we often assume certain changes are unavoidable when we age. While aging does bring challenges, we cannot blame everything that goes wrong on old age.

Take memory lapses, for example. Research shows that memory does not necessarily decline dramatically with age. Many people remain mentally sharp well into their 90s and beyond. Yet when we walk into a room and forget why we went there, we instantly blame aging. When a younger person does the same thing, nobody thinks twice about it.

The truth is that there is no reason to change the way we think simply because we have reached a certain age. If you have always been active, independent and curious, age alone will not remove those qualities. In fact, many of the ornery older people we encounter today were probably ornery when they were younger too. Sometimes age does not reduce bad behavior, it amplifies it.

So How Do You Stay Young at Heart?

To stay young at heart, I offer five ideas:

1. Be Curious

You have not seen it all and the past does not determine the future. Life moves quickly, and it is important to stay engaged with how the world is changing so it doesn’t leave you behind.

Keep stretching your boundaries by exploring new places, meeting different people, and considering unfamiliar ideas. As we age, our world can become smaller, especially after retirement. Curiosity and acting on it keeps it wide open and exciting.

2. Keep Moving

I am not just talking about exercise, although that matters too. I mean everyday movement.

It is not always possible to get to the gym or go on a long hike, but regular movement throughout the day can improve health and reduce the risk of many chronic conditions.

Walk around the block. Take a few laps around the mall. Park farther away from the grocery store entrance. Wander down every aisle instead of rushing through with a list. Small choices like these can add thousands of extra steps each week.

A simple stretching routine a few times a day can also improve flexibility, circulation, and overall comfort.

3. Socialize

Having friends of different ages, backgrounds and life experiences helps keep you connected to fresh perspectives and makes you more tolerant of other people and cultures.

Have you noticed that conversations among peers often reduces to a series of complaints and medical ailments. Conversations with younger people frequently focus on plans, goals, opportunities, and possibilities. That’s why it’s important to socialize with as many generations as possible as often as possible.

4. Experiment

By our 60s, we pretty much know our preferences. That is exactly why it is important to try something new as often as possible. Experiment with different foods, hairstyles, hobbies, classes or travel destinations. Aging starts to feel limiting when we stop taking chances.

Each morning, challenge yourself to do one thing that feels unfamiliar. It does not have to be dramatic. Visit a new coffee shop. See a movie by yourself. Explore a different neighborhood. Life is still an adventure, but you have to get up off the sofa.

5. Learn

Nothing keeps you young quite like learning.

Whether it is a cooking class, a pottery workshop, a foreign language, or even your first attempt at coding, there is something out there for everyone.

Groupon often offers discounted classes, and many senior centers provide instruction in activities such as Tai Chi, Mahjong, painting, and fitness. Local recreation centers, libraries, and parks frequently offer low-cost opportunities to learn something new.

Volunteering can also expose you to new skills, new people and new experiences without the pressures or rigidity of a job.

It is possible to grow older without growing old. It just takes a willingness to get out of your comfort zone and spread your wings.

Let’s Chat:

What have you done recently that has changed your life? Do you like being old? How do stereotypes about aging people affect you?