Stop Making These 10 Dumb Aging Mistakes Before It’s Too Late

I turned 70 last summer, and let’s be honest: Getting old takes real work. It’s not something that just happens to you. It’s a series of choices you make every day.

Lately, I’ve run into some of the pitfalls I’ve read about and warned my readers about. It’s incredibly easy to fall asleep into our later years, making the same stupid mistakes that drain our bank accounts, ruin our lives and separate us from the people we love.

You don’t have to go down that way, and neither do I. If we want to stay sharp, rich and happy, we need to take a closer look at our daily habits.

1. To join the “organ recital”: I remember very well when I was young listening to old people talk endlessly about their health issues. I found it strange and decided I would never be one of those people.

After all, I am 70 years old and the first conversation I usually have with my peers is the one I swore I would never have. It starts innocently enough – sympathizing with a friend’s recent illness, prompting you to bring back your latest trip to the doctor.

According to the Washington Post, the World Health Organization reports that older adults with positive views about aging live an average of 7.5 years longer than those with negative views.

I made it a strict rule to stop talking about myself as if I was breaking up.

2. Refusal to use hearing aids: This is the main problem I’ve been working on. I have been hearing impaired for many years, especially in my right ear. I finally got hearing aids a few years ago, but I rarely wore them. They used to whistle, which was embarrassing, because they didn’t fit in well, and they weren’t that comfortable.

The result? Without hearing aids, when I socialized with people, I would smile a lot and nod but hear very little of what was being said. As he kept saying “what?” It’s a cruel thing to do to people, I found that I inadvertently went into a corner and isolated myself.

That’s enough. A few weeks ago, I went back to my audiologist and had my hearing aids adjusted so they fit properly and work as intended. And I have started wearing them. Are you free? Not really, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit in the corner while my friends engage in lively conversation. That’s not just stupidity; it is unhealthy.

There is a cure for hearing loss, and although it is not perfect, it beats the rest.

3. Allowing your social circle to shrink: It’s very easy to let your world get smaller as you grow. I’ve been intentionally expanding mine, especially to include new people. Since my wife is 23 years younger than me, most of our friends are also younger.

I just got back from a Caribbean vacation and techno festival with my wife and five friends, none of whom were over 50.

Research consistently shows that intergenerational friendships are mutually beneficial, having a positive impact on your health and psychological well-being. Young people benefit from your knowledge and experience. You benefit from staying informed and relevant.

The saying, “You are as old as you feel” is true. If you want to stay connected, connect with new people. Yes, you might get a little griping and the occasional sideways glance at EDM festivals, but it’s well worth it.

4. Cessation of physical movement: Health experts are clear that staying active is mandatory as you age. Even though I know, that’s exactly what I do, unlike my parents, who keep doing nothing as they get older.

I try to ride my bike 75-100 miles every week, not only to stay healthy, but also because riding near the nearest beach makes me feel refreshed, focused and grateful for life.

5. Forgetting to smile: It sounds basic, but I consciously try to be happy and smile and laugh as often as possible. Smiling causes a chemical reaction in the brain. It releases dopamine and serotonin, which naturally increases your happiness and reduces your stress.

6. Climbing over things instead of asking for help: For those students who have not yet reached the autumn of their lives, here is some news for you: Changes in your abilities are gradual. You will not automatically realize that you are not tall, strong or not as connected as you used to be. And you usually find that out the hard way.

If something is out of reach, ask for help. Don’t ride on the furniture and save a trip to the emergency room. If your balance becomes a problem, use a cane or walker without feeling embarrassed.

We also need to keep our homes from falling apart yet – remove those slippery rugs and remove obstacles from the hallways. See our checklist of “The 10 Most Popular Home Improvements for Aging in Place.”

7. Clinging to a big, empty house: You don’t need four empty bedrooms to gather dust. Holding on to a large area wastes your cash, energy and time.

Sell ​​it, downsize and use that equity to really enjoy your life instead of paying for heating and air conditioning you don’t use. I have seen many peers refuse to let go of the family home until they are physically or financially evicted.

See “7 Surprising Things About Downsizing as a Retiree.”

8. Ignoring your estate plan: If you die without a will or trust, you leave your family with a big, expensive mess. It is selfish. Call an attorney, get your paperwork in order and make sure your family doesn’t have to fight over your property in probate court.

It’s a relief when it’s done. See “8 Important Documents to Create Before It’s Too Late.”

9. Thinking you are too smart to be scammed: I’ve been reporting big fraud for over 30 years, and I’m also a CPA. While you might think that would make me scam proof, what it suggests to me is that I’m vulnerable to overconfidence, which would make me a target.

According to the FBI, elder fraud costs Americans billions of dollars every year. Do not answer calls from unknown numbers, never click on strange links in messages and stop thinking that you are not a clever scammer.

10. Refusal to adapt to new technologies: Saying “I don’t just do computers” is not a badge of honor; it is mandatory. You don’t need to be a hacker, but you do need to know how to check online banking, use a smartphone and spot a fake email.

A study in Nature Human Behavior found that frequent use of digital technology (computers, smartphones, the Internet) was associated with a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment and a 26% lower rate of cognitive decline in adults over 50.

This is easy for me, since I run this website. But I still need to consult the wife when I can’t find something on my iPhone or how to post on Instagram. And I’m asking for help, because it’s important to keep learning. Otherwise, the world will happily leave us.