From the start, the Baby Boomer generation born between 1946 and 1964 embraced an anti-establishment attitude. Boomers came of age between two major wars, during a time of unprecedented prosperity as well as dramatic social change. We embraced technology and a new culture, making it our own and sharing it with the rest of the world ever since.
Boomers made our music, rock and roll, a featured expression of our identity as a generation. Access to transistor radios let us listen to a kind of music different than our parents: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones along with the rest of the British invasion; and the Motown Sound out of Detroit. We were the first generation to grow up with television.
It is therefore no surprise that Baby Boomers have been dubbed the “never-say-die” generation.
As Freddy Mercury sings, “Who wants to live forever?”, we can’t help but think of our creaking knees and sore back muscles. The man sounds very optimistic, but how do we get some of that, even though we are now called Seniors?
It’s not quite the world’s best kept secret that keeping your mind and body as young as possible is the key to the extension of one’s youth.
We look at four key aspects of how to drink from the fountain of youth as long as possible.
1. Stay Social
Being social is a major part of staying young – you don’t have to give up on being a social butterfly. Seniors who socialise more, can ward off those mental and physical health issues longer too.
Having a variety of positive social supports can contribute to psychological and physical wellness as one gets older. Support from others can be important in reducing stress, increasing physical health and defeating psychological problems such as depression and anxiety.
Join a book club, a prayer group or a rolling ball team. Sign up for an art class or start a dinner club. Once you start, you’ll be surprised how easy it becomes to make additional friends.
2. Adopt a healthy diet
Eating good foods that are rich in nutrients are vital in promoting mental and physical health. Looking after what you ingest can keep chronic health issues like obesity and “senior moments” far away.
Eating more vegetables and fruit rich in minerals and vitamins could do the trick – it can help you maintain a healthy weight, stay energised, and get the nutrients you need. A healthy, balanced diet also lowers your risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
3. Exercise More
Exercise kind of tapers off as people age, but a senior who exercises regularly will definitely keep those aging blues at bay.
Prior to starting any exercise, you should consult your physician and you definitely don’t need to start training for a marathon. Refer to Ripple’s Winter edition and our article “Fitness Myths debunked” for more on this topic.
When it comes to preventing cognitive decline, you may be better off working out than doing a crossword puzzle. A study that spanned over 40 years found that middle aged people who have a high level of physical fitness are nearly 90% less likely to develop dementia than moderately fit people. It also showed that when highly fit people aged, they developed dementia an average of 11 years later than people who were moderately fit.
The goal is to get up, get out, and get moving!
4. Never Stop Learning
The mental health of anyone is essential, but this is especially beneficial as you age. To keep those “senior moments” out of the picture for years to come, hit the books! Keeping your brain sharp is important. Aging can result in a number of cognitive issues, but studies have shown that staying mentally engaged in new things can reduce risk of memory loss.
Learn a new language, take up a hobby like Sudoku or crossword puzzles.
Age is just a number after all. As you’ve never been a shrinking violet – why not combine at least three of our four hacks and start dancing! You can socialise, exercise and learn a new skill, perhaps even get some nutritious food afterwards.
A recent German-based study, which compared dancing and endurance training in elderly volunteers for eighteen months, shows that both can have an anti-aging effect on the brain, but only dancing corresponded to a noticeable difference in behaviour. The difference is attributed to the additional challenge of learning new dance routines.
Aging causes a decline in mental and physical fitness which can be made worse by conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. A new study, published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, shows that older people who routinely exercise can reverse the signs of aging in the brain, and that dancing has the most profound effect.
So, dust off those blue suede shoes and we’ll meet you down on the corner. The fountain of youth is winking!
