Have You Turned into a Lazy Old Lady?
Is it activity that keeps us young, or is it something else? Personally, I don’t believe it’s physical activity that keeps us young. There are some days when it can make us feel much older. You know what I mean; those days when everything aches, especially your knees!
But I do believe, most strongly, that keeping our brains active and running on all cylinders, keeps us away from the stereotype of the lazy old lady.
We All Know the Power of the Mind
We can create whatever we choose by changing the way we think, our mindset, our language and our attitude.
We can change the way we speak about others and ourselves. In fact, being careful with our language when we talk about ourselves is crucial.
Listen to what you say about yourself and when you recognise it as negative, start reframing.
Stocktake
If you constantly use the “I’m not enough” talk… I’m too fat, I’m too old, I’m not smart, I had no education, I don’t look as good as all my friends… STOP. This is your low self-esteem talking and you need to pull it up by the bootstraps.
If We Are Intent on Becoming Old, That’s What Will Happen!
It’s a process which involves:
- Closing your mind
- Acceptance of how things are
- Dressing like your own granny
- Refusing to look at anything new
- Refusing to admit that this is not what you had in mind for ageing
Change in our mental ability is expected and accepted as we age, but it doesn’t necessarily mean deterioration.
Take Control of Your Mind, Not Just Your Body
If you exercise regularly, be it dancing, walking, weightlifting, running marathons, whatever, well done of you. Keeping physically active helps your brain to keep ticking over.
I think we all know that a healthy body is a healthy mind, and we must all mentally stimulate ourselves to stay sharp and alert.
There are plenty of things you can find to do here on Sixty and Me. Plus a few other things which you may not have added to your repertoire. Yet.
How about trying one or more of these?
- Enjoy a daily puzzle or crossword. Did you know there are six common types of crosswords?
- Choose mental arithmetic rather than using the calculator. Use your fingers if needed.
- Read more. Go to the library and become friends with the Librarian or join an online (or local, pandemic permitting) book club. Or even start a book club with your circle of friends!
- Stretch your mind further with bridge or chess or computer games. Lumosity is a favourite!
- Socialise – join a local choir or gardening club.
- Start a course, or a day, evening or online class.
- Go out more, especially to theatres and galleries.
- Go back to work or start a new job.
- Volunteer
- Exercise for half an hour at least three times a week or take up speed walking. With weights!
Several years ago, I wrote a book called 25 Ways to a Happier, Healthier You and everything within the book is not only a plus for your physical health but is geared to expanding your mind.
So determine that you will take control of your mind and never become a lazy old lady.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you turned into a lazy old lady? Why do you think that is? What can you do to move away from that stereotype? Please join the conversation!
Tags Brain Health
Some days, yes, depending on the weather. I volunteer 2 days a week at
my church. I have to walk 4 blocks uphill to get there and back. That is good exercise for me. Not enough I’m sure but something. The other 3, I may have appointments or housework (which is a workout). Saturday is a watch cooking shows or meet a friend. Sunday is church then read the Sunday paper. Sometimes a “do nothing” day in which I recharge. Sometimes I visit my local library or sit in a park. For instance, today is Memorial Day. Poured rain most of the day. My plan was to read, nap, do some laundry and binge watch. I was up and down…doing this and that.
I do not beat myself up about my do nothing days as I was a caregiver
3 times and had a long commute to work for years before I retired.
I would like to do another volunteer gig this summer. The hot weather
affects me more at 65 than it did when I was younger so being out there
ripping and running in the heat is not something I wish to do. I agree that we
must keep our brains and bodies active. From the pandemic, so many
activities occur online…AARP has wonderful online classes and activities
that keep us connected, Exercise, cooking classes, classes to learn new
things. By the time we have gotten to be seniors, we have done a lot in life,,,so I take offense to the “lazy” old lady title. I say we have earned
our down time. Just do not go down completely. Balance the on the
go with the down time.
We are blessed to have choices.
Right at this very moment I just feel as if I want to walk away from life itself. No children, no support. No close or long term friends. Husband been seriously ill for twenty years – almost died six times!!! He was unable to work. I had a small business but had to walk away because I wanted and needed to care for my husband. So for the past twenty years we have struggled to live on a government pension. Our long term investments amounted to nothing because the project manager’s crooked dealings. Thus leaving us penniless. Fire completely destroyed out property. My husband health has worsened. I have been diagnosed with a rare spinal disease. I know we have to be strong…….but how much garbage and trauma is too much. ???