Love Every Age

You’ve made it. The kids are pretty much launched. Your finances are not the source of stress they once were. You get to spend more time with the people you love. And you’re not that fussed about what anyone else is thinking about you.¹ The bottom line is, you’re FINALLY back to being the you that existed before life got crazy-busy a few decades back.

So pick up where you left off—and make life better than ever. Now that you have the breathing space, you can pause and consider how you want to do that—to think about how you can improve your quality of life, no matter what your age is. Here are some thought-starters:

Staying Healthy

Conventional wisdom: “Everyone gains weight when they get older.” Okay, maybe wrinkles are inevitable, and yes, our metabolism changes. But there are ways to adjust your diet and activities to keep the body (and mind) you’ve always had.

How? Researchers tell us it’s a great idea to set an attainable goal, then build from there. Start using that fitness tracker you got for your birthday (perhaps setting a goal of 5,000 steps a day) or try the health app on your smartphone.

Here’s another idea: Think of what health aspect you’d like to work on, and choose the appropriate activity. For example, if your goal is to strengthen your core, try a  Pilates class.. Or let’s say you want to keep your mind super sharp; maybe it’s time to try a new hobby, which is great for the brain—take a painting class, or start journalling for 30 minutes a day.

Eating Well

You want to live longer and healthier, look your best and keep mentally well.¹ What you eat is an important thing you can do.

Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables—everyone knows the benefits of a healthy diet. And frankly, just the thought of them can be boring—that is, if we keep thinking about them in the same way, and doing the same things we always have. So, how about considering how fortunate we are to be living in this part of the world, where we have such abundance, and embracing that? Why not explore different dishes, and new ways to prepare the “same old” foods?

Eating healthy can truly be an adventure—have fun trying new delicious recipes while controlling portion size. There are so many chefs, bloggers and authors with recipes online and in cookbooks. There’s never been a better time to experiment with eating well.

Loving Life

Living life to the full—time to get back into it! Recall your young adulthood and what you loved about it, and start doing those things again: Go to the movies. Hang out at a coffee house with friends and talk about them. Check out the library—not to study but, rather, to find books you’ve always wanted to read. Meet a good friend, or your spouse, at the art gallery and then head to the pub for the afternoon. Work your way around your city’s restaurants—yes, even the ones that don’t look all that appealing from the outside.

And hey, a thought for all you travel lovers: Open up a map of the world, close your eyes, and point to somewhere on it. Make that your next travel destination. Sign up to get email or text alerts for last-minute travel deals, and keep your passport up to date. Now you’re ready for anything.

Let life surprise you, on a daily basis. That’s an exciting, positive way to live—and it’s there for you to reach out and grab.

 

¹Source: Survey of national Zoomer Promotion subscribers December 2016, 4,169 responses.