It’s easy to romanticize youth, but when you really think about it, you’ll probably realize that it’s much better to be a grown adult. After all, once you’re in adulthood, you have a better sense of who you are and what you like, and plus, you just have the freedom to make your dreams come true. That’s not something that we should overlook.
Still, there’s no avoiding the fact that growing older does come with its own complications. It can be a little more difficult to remain happy and energetic. However, just because it’s slightly more difficult, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Far from it! There are plenty of people who have thrived later in life, and you can too. You just might need to work for it. In this post, we’ll outline some effective, tried-and-tested methods for thriving no matter how old you are.
A Positive Mindset
Step one: cultivate a positive mindset. This can make all the difference at any age — the prospects of a 20 year old with an enthusiastic, positive attitude would be much better than someone who was stuck in a negative cycle. Guiding the river in the right direction can be transformative.
Of course, it’s easy to want a positive mindset. After all, who doesn’t? The question is really: how do you get one? Researchers have looked into this, and come up with some effective methods for nudging your thinking in the right direction. Positive self-talk, keeping a gratitude journal, and spending time with positive people can all do wonders for how you see yourself and your future.
Managing Your Body
Your body is the greatest asset you’ll ever own, and it’s important to take care of it. As we age, we naturally gather physical issues that can make it more difficult to live life to the fullest. It’s important to remember, however, that there’s nearly always something that you can do about it. After all, with billions of people on the planet, you can be sure that other people have also dealt with the issue — and have come up with a solution. If you have back pain or shoulder pain, both of which are common in people aged forty and older, then take action. Through at-home exercise and professional help, you can effectively manage whatever physical issue you’re dealing with.
Challenging Yourself
One of the fun things about being young is that we’re always doing new things and challenging ourselves. Sometimes, it’s not even challenges that we want to do, but that we have to do. As we get older, the amount of times when we have to do something outside of our comfort zone becomes fewer and fewer. In fact, once you’re settled in life, you might never need to do something that challenges or scares you.
So why not seek one out? No one ever pushes themselves to do something and then ends up regretting it. Whether it’s trying stand-up comedy, going on a solo adventure, or whatever else comes to mind, you’ll find that it can be a great way to breathe new life into your existence.
Finding the Good Habits
It’s possible to feel older than you really are. Our daily habits can trick us into feeling a way that’s out of sync with how we should or could feel. For example, if you’re routinely drinking alcohol, then your body may well feel sluggish. You can put that down to age if you like, but it’s probably not correct! By looking at your habits, you can take years off your life, both in the sense of how you feel and look.
So what kind of good habits are we talking about here? For that, it’s best to look towards older people who seem to be bursting with life, and do what they do. Eliminating alcohol, taking cold showers, practicing breathwork, and investing in a good night’s sleep have all been shown to have a noticeable impact on physical and mental well-being. Give them all a try for a month or so, and you’ll likely find that you feel much better.
Push the Mind
Studies have repeatedly shown the importance of keeping the mind sharp as we age. After all, if you don’t use it, then you’ll lose it. Engaging in a few brain-boosting activities a day can help to keep stagnation at bay. Some easy ways to challenge your mind are to do a daily crossword, play chess with friends (this also helps you to stay social), and read. If you find it difficult to sit down and do these things, then start small — even 10 minutes is better than none at all, and over time you’ll find it easier to practice for longer. It’s like going to the gym, just for your mind.
Get Creative
Everyone is an artist, and don’t let anyone tell you any different. You have something to share with the world — or at least to express — and you won’t regret making an effort to do so. There are a million ways you can show your creativity. For instance, what about writing a book, producing a series of art pieces, or writing a song? These, of course, are all big undertakings, but so what? The modern world makes it as easy as possible to get started with these kinds of endeavors. Indeed, you can learn to write/draw/play an instrument through YouTube alone.
Accepting Change
Finally, perhaps the most effective way to fully make the most of life as we get older is to accept that things change. The people who seem to struggle the most are the ones who try to hold on to days that will never come back. It’s important to look forward, rather than look back. Those days of yesteryear may have been brilliant, but there’s nothing that says tomorrow won’t be just as good! If you can embrace change, rather than trying to fight it, then you’ll move through life with grace and respect. And that will always lead to a happy and fulfilling life.
