With age inevitably comes a decrease in patience for certain things in life. It’s taken years to understand what you do and don’t like, not to mention those new aches and pains outlining a need for comfort. These are the 18 things that become intolerable as you get older.
Noisy Environments
Excessive noise becomes more of an irritant as you get older, and with age comes increased sensitivity to the world around you. It can be harder to concentrate in very loud settings, and the urge for more peaceful surroundings becomes a number one priority!
Not Getting Enough Sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, the idea that older adults need less sleep than young people is a common misconception. It’s extremely important for older people to get adequate sleep, and not getting enough becomes increasingly intolerable when you feel sluggish and unmotivated.
Uncomfortable Furniture
Ergonomic support is important no matter what your age, but as you get older, you become increasingly aware of posture and persistent back aches. You also prefer more supportive seating and firmer bedding, making those hard wooden chairs you could deal with in your youth a no-go.
Slow Technology
There might be a stigma attached to older people and technology, but the reality is older people require fast technology just as much as the rest. Outdated technology is frustrating, and user-friendly interfaces that operate quickly to simplify tasks are much needed as you get older.
Crowded Places
Crowded places are worth the effort when you’re young; you’d make sure you were first in line at the concert, in the middle of the club’s dancefloor, or shopping in chaotic sales. However, as you get older, crowded places result in feeling overwhelmed, and smaller gatherings with more personal space become the preference.
Excessive Screen Time
Excessive screen time is harder to deal with as you age. Eyes seem to strain more easily, and you have less patience for screens in your downtime if you use them a lot for work. You also gain an increased awareness of the impact of screens on mental health as you get older!
Fast-Paced Lifestyles
Fast-paced lifestyles can easily give you whiplash as an elder! You no longer have the drive to risk burnout, so you prioritize stress management and improved routines for a more relaxed pace. Leisure time and enjoyable hobbies take precedence over work, making a snail-paced life feel like a dream.
Unhealthy Eating Habits
The CDC explains that adults who eat healthily “live longer and have a lower risk of obesity.” It’s a reality that’s easy to ignore when you’re young, but as you get older, ditching junk food becomes more of a priority in order to take better care of your health.
Unpredictable Weather
When you get older, you become more sensitive to temperature changes. Some people might be more prone to hot flashes or cold sweats, and unpredictable weather fluctuations are more disruptive and can often ruin the mood. They may even cause stress over what to wear for the day!
Inflexible Work Schedules
As you age, the need for a more flexible work arrangement becomes more important as you try to balance work and life. A healthy lifestyle, including work demands, is key for older people. There is more of an appreciation for those employers who prioritize employee wellbeing, which we think is great.
Cluttered Spaces
You’ll have far less patience for clutter as you get older; the desire for organization increases with age, so much so that huge decluttering efforts in your home are the norm. You have less sentimentality for items taking up too much space, becoming far more willing to have a clear out.
Intense Physical Activities
Exercise is key for older people, yet high-intensity exercises become more difficult as you age. The NHS advises that those over 65 should “aim to be physically active every day, even if it’s just light activity.” Aiming for high-intensity exercise every day is difficult, so gentler activities work just fine.
Negative Media Consumption
Negative and emotional news has a greater impact on mental health as you age, as you gain an increased awareness of the impact too much negative media consumption has. It’s important to balance it out with uplifting stories and neutral media content, or better still, the real world!
Uncomfortable Footwear
There’s a reason most older people ditch the high heels for comfortable flats; with age comes more of a sensitivity to ill-fitting shoes and how lack of support can be detrimental. Foot health becomes more important as you get older, so footwear should always encourage good movement, with style coming second.
An Overbooked Social Calendar
Social obligations become more overwhelming as you get older, which means an overbooked calendar inevitably leads to stress. Older people can only tolerate smaller, more meaningful gatherings, with the opportunity to recharge and relax in between commitments with family and friends. That’s the way we like it, too!
Noisy Neighbors
When you’re young, who you have as your neighbor seems less of a priority. As you get older and appreciate the comforts of home more, however, your neighbors (and how much noise they’re making) have more of a potential to disrupt you. So, raise your concerns with them and hash it out!
Traffic Jams
There’s no doubt that time becomes more precious as you get older, so why would you want to waste it sitting in traffic congestion? Route planning is a number-one priority for older people who want to avoid traffic delays at all costs. This is also why older people now appreciate remote working more!
Uncomfortable Clothing
Finally, comfort trumps anything in terms of outfits when you get older because your body becomes more sensitive to tighter, less breathable fabrics. Healthline reminds us that signs of your clothing being too tight include numbness, tingling, and skin irritation, all of which you have less patience for these days, and quite rightly!
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