To live a full life in old age isn’t exactly a walk in the park. It’s more like doing an obstacle course in wobbly legs, dimmed eyesight, and creaking joints.
On top of those physical difficulties are psychological and mental issues that can affect our decision and sense of direction.
But must we just stay on the sidelines, as plain spectators in the drama of life? Can we no longer jam it up with the rest of humanity? Or give life one last “GO”?
No way, as far as I am concerned. And you should feel the same way, too. No matter how old you may be, you are never completely out of juice; you can still live life as fully as you want to.
And this is what this article is about – what it is and, hopefully, show you some of my secrets in doing it.
But before that, let’s wade into the meaning of a “full life.”
What is a full life?
One time, my young sister remarked how lucky I was to have children who are taking good care of me
On the surface, she was right. But beneath my serene facade is a constant conflict.
As a live-alone senior, I have a constant battle with loneliness and diminishing feeling of self-worth, especially during mealtime. Not very long ago, I ate with my late wife and two kids who took turns in washing the dishes. Now I eat alone and wash the dishes (which I hate) myself.
There are days when it’s so tempting to give in to these negative thoughts, were I to disregard their potential catastrophic results. But I can’t. So I make lemonade from the sour lemons life has dealt me with. I chose to live a full life.
And this brings us back to what it is…
A “full life” can be a different thing for different people. We are all unique and our perspective of life differs from one another. We have different backgrounds, experiences, aspirations in life, social status, etc.
But on the whole, it is the joyful acceptance of one’s lot – regardless of the abundance or scarcity of the material resources at one’s disposal.
It is to cherish each moment of each day, free of the guilts of yesterday or the anxieties of tomorrow. It is having someone or something to love, do things you love doing, and having something to hope for.
Having a full life is not to be free of imperfections but to ride out each one with a grateful and brave heart. It is to have a perfect balance of one’s spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of one’s existence.
And this article will show you how.
DIY Tips in Living Fully
We all want to live life to the fullest. To enjoy each moment of our remaining days, unencumbered by any worries, cares, or apprehension that riddled us in our younger years.
We want to try something new, something different. We want to explore places we’ve never been to before, lounge on a beach in some tropical island, or go on a safari.
Or we can simply draw out the child in us and romp in the rain or spend an hour in a children’s park.
While some seniors are actually living it up, a lot suffer from age-related issues that limit or hamper their desire to do so. Issues like money, isolation, failing health, death, or separation with a spouse, estrangement from children, etc., can easily take the spark off their zest for living.
And under these trying situations, these DIY tips are very handy. They are easy to do an don’t cost much or anything.
1. Keep busy:
Nothing is more satisfying than knowing that your day was well-spent; that you did something productive and useful.
As a live-alone senior, by default, I do everything in order to survive, i.e., go out to buy my necessities, cleaning the house prepare my own food, wash my dishes, do the laundry, etc. And I still do my regular exercise.
When everything is done, I log on to my laptop and write blog posts or articles for clients.
Your schedule need not be as hectic as mine, but do establish a routine of gainful activities and stick to it.
Being busy is good for the body and mind. It is fulfilling to know that you have spent your day doing something worthwhile, interesting, and useful.
2. Be well-nourished:
Nourish yourself well to be able to function normally every single day. By “nourish” I mean have your daily intake of necessary vitamins and minerals. No need to go on a special kind of diet unless instructed by your nutritionist or doctor.
But go easy on food that can exacerbate arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure if you are suffering from any or all of them.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has a very informative article about elderly nutrition. Read it instead of getting tips from your friends or barber.
And always be hydrated. Dehydration is one of the major causes of elderly hospitalization.
3. observe home safety
In the U.S., an elderly is admitted into emergency rooms every 11 seconds due to a fall, and every 19 minutes, one dies from the accident, according to National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Ironically, falls are not age-related but are caused by unsafe conditions at home. When you walk on wobbly legs or dimmed vision, a frayed rug or a loose floor mat is an accident-in-waiting.
To accident-proof your home, have a family member or home-safety engineer go over it to eliminate all potential hazards. Staying in a hospital due to a home accident is hardly living your life fully.
4. have enough sleep
Nothing can ruin your day more than lack of sleep the previous night. It makes you irritable, dizzy, and lazy.
Don’t hang on to the common belief that elderly people need fewer hours of sleep each night. You must have at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night to make you feel energetic and refresh the following morning.
I go by 6-7 hours but I take mid-day naps.
5. Don’t be a hermit
Don’t shy away from the world. Get out and mingle. Keep in touch with family and close friends. With the Internet, it can still be done even with the prevailing lockdown due to the Covid19 pandemic.
But do keep a circle of “healthy” friends – those that can help you boost your self-esteem. This kind of friends reduces stress and anxiety. They can improve your overall well-being and may increase your longevity.
6. Mind your physical and mental health
The majority of seniors 65 and above have, at least. one chronic medical condition. But modern science has treatments and interventions to all these that can help you live a happy and productive life.
Do follow your doctor’s instructions and always stay on the safe side. Don’t take unnecessary risks that may result in undesirable consequences.
Exercise your body as well as your mind.
Some studies show that a healthy lifestyle can slow down mental decline. Stimulate your mind by reading, doing crossword puzzles, or watch educational videos. There are tons of it on YouTube.
7. Be grateful
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
It is important because it helps generate more positive emotions and relish good experiences which, in turn, improve your health. It allows you to better deal with adversities and helps nurture strong relationships.
Gratefulness creates happiness – the trademark of a full life. Amy Collette sums it beautifully when she said, “…It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.”
I am now on Cloud 9. But getting here wasn’t easy for a worrier like me; one who tends to over-think. I got here after taking a long and serious look inwards and resolutely deciding to get rid of those things that stopped me from enjoying life more fully.
You can do the same, though maybe in a different route. But you must. You owe it to yourself after years of slaving to build a career and supporting a family. Now it is time to soar, to reach for the clouds, and live your life as fully as you can – while you still can.
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Image: One More Cup of Coffee
~oOo~
