AGEING is part of life and with experience, comes knowledge, compassion, experience and some challenges.
By taking a well-rounded approach that includes physical health, mental wellbeing, social engagement, and looking after our finances, we can lead fulfilling and engaged lives.
Maintaining physical health is crucial for ageing well.
So regular exercise, eating well, and generally adopting the use-it or lose-it approach with strength and flexibility is essential.
Not everyone is blessed with a healthy body due to illness or injury that has occurred earlier in life.
However, it’s useful to consider what might be possible for us, there are always new things to try and small improvements to be achieved over time. Start with walking and body weight exercises and go from there.
Look for information online, community groups to join, and talk with your GP about the right approach for you.
Mental Health
Looking after our mind and outlook on life is equally vital for overall wellbeing.
As we get older, we know that our physical body will gradually decline.
This can be the opposite for our mind. We can become stronger, more resilient, and even happier as we grow older.
Find activities that stimulate the mind, such as puzzles, reading, learning new skills like a language, or rediscovering old ones such as an instrument you once played.
It’s not about mastery but continually challenging our mind to stretch and grow.
When a mental health concern arises, treat it like a physical issue and seek professional help.
Most people are likely to have something come up over time and talking helps enormously – it may not change the situation, but it can change your outlook and capacity to deal with it.
Social Engagement
Maintaining an active social life and engaging with the community can be one of the great parts of growing older.
“Active” means something different for everyone, so avoid comparisons or judging yourself.
It may be once per fortnight or several times a week. Volunteering, participating in group activities, or joining clubs can help grow social engagement. It’s ok to try things on for size, so give it a go.
Money matters
Managing our finances aligns with our goal of ageing well.
By budgeting, tracking expenses, and avoiding excessive debt, we can ensure that our money goes further and supports our lifestyle.
However, limited financial resources do not necessarily limit our options.
