Your 60s are a huge decade; you retire, your body changes, and you find new things in the world that bring you joy. Life can be just as enriching as the decades before, but only if you make some changes, such as these 20 things to stop doing after 60.
Ignoring Technology
As much as new technology may seem alien to someone in their 60s, having not grown up around it, it’s important to keep up with the times. The world is becoming digitalized, with many everyday services, such as banks, shifting their business online. If you fail to keep up, you could be left behind.
‘Forgetting’ to Exercise
Yes, it hurts a bit the next morning when you wake up, but exercise does wonders for your body. Older people need to stop making excuses for avoiding exercise, especially as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out that regular physical activity can prevent or delay many symptoms of old age.
Over Eating
It may be hard to turn down an extra plate of food, especially when you’re in the presence of good company. However, what you must remember after 60 is that your metabolism won’t quite be what it used to be back in your earlier years, so it’s best not to over eat.
Only Traveling in Groups
Being alone and in your 60s is no excuse to put off your dream vacation, provided you feel physically up for it. Traveling alone is every bit as enriching as traveling with a group, as you can operate on your own schedule and go exactly where you want to go.
Telling Yourself You Can’t Learn Anything New
There’s a common misconception that older people have an inability to learn new things, which is far from the truth. Skills may not come as quickly to you in older age, but the chances are you’ll have more time to practice, so it all balances out!
Putting Yourself Down
You might be joking when you put yourself down, or it might be part of a self-protection barrier you’ve subconsciously put up over the years. Either way, you should start giving yourself more credit; it’s not easy to get to 60 years of age in one piece!
Telling Yourself You’re Too Old to Date
It’s easy to think of yourself as being too old to date when you’re in your 60s. However, this isn’t the case, as the areas of the brain that respond to falling in love are still just as active in older age as they are when you’re in your 20s! So, don’t give up.
Stressing
Some people are bigger worriers than others, which unfortunately can’t be helped. However, there are stress management techniques that you can use to help you cope with your feelings. Holding onto stress will only affect your overall mental well-being and stop you from having a truly fulfilling life.
Not Sleeping Enough
According to the National Institute on Aging, a lot of older individuals aren’t getting enough sleep at night. This isn’t good because not only will getting sufficient sleep benefit you physically, but it will also prevent mood swings, stop you from yawning throughout the day, and help you manage relationships more efficiently.
Overspending
While it’s great to go out and spend a bit of your hard-earned money from time to time, be careful not to go too far with it. If you’re coming up to retirement, there will be a severe drop in income, so it’s important to have a reasonable amount of savings as a backup.
Staying Lonely
Being lonely as you head into older age can result in feelings of isolation, which have severe knock-on effects. Social isolation can result in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as affecting your physical well-being, triggering strokes and heart disease. Try to keep friends around you!
Smoking Cigarettes
All smokers have been warned about the dangers associated with the habit, from respiratory issues to the increased risk of developing cancers. Smoking is known to cause existing health conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, so do you really want to be doing this after 60?!
Heavy Weight Lifting
Even if you challenged Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Mr. Olympia title in the 1970s, it’s probably time to stop lifting heavy weights once you get to your 60s. You’ll only put your body in harm’s way; just lift lighter weights instead, which are very beneficial to an older person, helping to retain muscle strength.
Drinking Too Much
It’s fairly easy to develop an unwanted drinking habit as you head into your retirement years, as you no longer have to be 100% fresh for work the next morning. However, one drink will often lead to two, which can lead to three… and so on. Stick to enjoying the occasional drink instead.
Skipping Doctor’s Appointments
The older you get, the more important it is to schedule and attend doctor’s appointments on a semi-regular basis. As the World Health Organization suggests, older people are at greater risk of disease due to the emergence of complex health states known as ‘geriatric syndromes,’ so don’t ignore your doctor!
Worrying
By 60, you’ve probably stopped worrying about a lot of menial things, such as the size of your nose, the oddness of your socks, or what others think of you. It’s certainly not the time for anxiety, and if anything, it’s time to let yourself loose from the shackles of worry.
Taking Time for Granted
This may sound morbid, but after hitting 60, you should be living every day as though waking up was a special occasion. While this way of thinking would ideally be commonplace with people in their 20s as well as their 60s, it becomes even more important the older you get.
Avoiding Difficult Conversations
If you’ve had a long-lasting feud and wish that things could be the way they used to be, you should stop wasting time and get in touch! Life’s too short to let grudges get in the way of spending time with people, however much you believe the disagreement to be their fault.
Ignoring Your Weight
While you may be feeling as though you have nobody to impress once you hit your 60s, you shouldn’t stop watching your weight. As Verywell Health states, maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce your risk of developing health problems, and you’ll feel healthier and happier, too!
Neglecting Your Own Interests
Last but not least, when you haven’t put yourself at the top of the priority list for a long time, it can be easy to forget that what you want is important. If you want to do something, do it, even if it involves having to gently let someone down. Never neglect your own interests, especially after 60!