Embracing the Aging Process

When we talk about aging well, we generally think of people who are in their 50’s or 60’s, but the impact of aging begins in our 30s. By 25, most of us are done developing. The brain finishes development between 23 and 27. Once our psychological development stops, our bodies begin the aging process in earnest. This means that a lot of people start to feel the effects of aging in their 30s. My point of view as someone approaching 60 is that we are never too young or too old to embrace the aging process and make the most of what we have. There are drawbacks and benefits to each new phase of life. Understanding the physiological as well as psychological changes we are undergoing can help us maximize the benefits and limit the drawbacks.

One of the first changes we go through is the changes to our brain. Once our prefrontal cortex is developed, we are better able to understand cause and effect. This means we are better able to envision and plan for the future. The next big change is changes to our metabolism. This means that what we eat has a bigger impact, and how we exercise will need to be responsive to this. Staying active across your life is an important part of physical and mental health. What staying active looks like can vary. It can be doing gentle stretching and having an online community that you interact with on a regular basis. Reflecting on what you will realistically do is the key to finding the right level of active for you. Once we build in the habit of being active, it is easier to maintain. Occasional resets as we age and move through different stages of life ensures that we are not over taxing ourselves and that we our being responsive to our psychical and emotional needs.

We are never too young to think about aging. The sooner we embrace that we will age, the better off we will be when it comes to accepting the changes that come with aging. Understanding that we will change and need to adapt is vital to embracing the aging process. Finding novelty can help a lot with understanding that each new phase of life offers new perspectives and choices. Aging has a lot of benefits.  The biggest benefits are generally in the areas of patience and understanding. As we age, we grow based on our life experiences. Seeking out novel experiences will keep life fresh and bring into focus how you have matured. Living a life full of activity will help keep in focus that no matter what age you are, you can still thrive.