Delay our decline!

Let’s hear it for Super or Pension, reduce our tension. As we are all aging in our bracket, we can aim to delay our decline. There are a few aspects to consider, to approach the slowing down or not, for active aging.

For example, we can reduce cognitive decline by challenging our brains in realistic tasks, such as old fashioned crosswords or puzzles in any format, even digital. Reading is good brain food, some people prefer audio books to hear at home or when driving. We can retrain our attitude, focus on sustaining our own futures.

Personally, being a keen crafter, I have been inspired by my older sister to resume old knitting skills of the past, creating woollens for donations with my nanna’s old patterns. Sorting colour shades, and following intricate designs is amusing this grey senior. Much unweaving is taking place, but it requires far more concentration than my more favoured hobby of crocheting. The end results are very pleasing. Writers and bloggers practise literacy in action, so do need some exercise for our well-padded sit upons.

Maintaining our motor function is vital at this stage. I know a pal my own tender age in the early seventies, who can still run half-marathons, as well as doing his yoga class three times per week. We might not aspire that high, but we can walk in fresh air or at a gym, lift weights, manage normal tasks, and manage back conditions with approved exercises provided by health providers. I have found some exercises recommended online are not suitable for certain mobility concerns, so best to check with the experts. Lately, I have taken up an online class in the practice of Yo Qi, which is a mixture of Yoga and Qigong, very calming to focus on flexibility and wellbeing.

These choices are realistic for daily living as a solo nester. I have no complaints about my medical providers, as I am one face in the medicare system We can all wake up with a good vibes attitude, and soldier on with a smile, which is the best medicine of all. Most days are pearls, when all is well, and our plans for action in aging are achieved. If I have any medical issues or need scripts, my ever capable health providers are available. If our general health is basically sound, we can have a lot to be thankful for, awesome. My family are alive and kicking, must have good genes. But we take nothing for granted with health, while delaying the decline.

On the flip side, we aging must keep aware of the potential for side-effects when combinations of pharmaceutical remedies are prescribed. I find it best to take some of my pharmaceuticals in the evening, as they make me dizzy. Then I lie down, dizzy in bed. In the morning, I wake up, and soldier on with a smile. My vital signs are currently the best they have been since 2010. For that important reason, I ackowledge the up-to-date advice from my medicos.

Delaying the decline is a work in progress. We also need to keep our friendship base, and contacts in our community groups. Basically, the human race belongs in some tribe or another. Friendship maintenance can mean understanding what some people might be struggling with as they age. Like any age group, some aging folk are more social, they schedule at least one daily activity in their neighbourhood. Some more reticent seniors like keeping to themselves. Each to their own in our tribe.

Overall, delaying the decline we may face one day is part of the natural stages we are experiencing. We can all be practical, have some dreams to achieve still, and reduce as many stressors we can. Far less tension for our aging in action.