Aging in America: How to Do it God’s Way

Recently, the beautiful wife of actor Dick Van Dyke posted a video of herself and her 96-year-old husband singing and dancing. Prolific actress Betty White passed away at only three weeks short of her 100th birthday. When we look at society, there’s a trend of higher life expectancy and some people may be asking why. Social media fills us with images of intense workout regimes or new diets.

Some people swear by Keto, others are vegan or vegetarian. The number of older Americans turning one hundred has more than tripled in 2019 compared to 1980 (according to a 2020 report from the Administration for Community Living).

Helpful Habits for Aging in America

There must be a secret to the increase in the aging population besides just new medications and medical technological advances. It starts with building habits that will contribute to overall wellness.

Water and Nutritio

Dehydration is something that sneaks up on us. People are often unaware that they are dehydrated until they feel the effects, such as headaches, upset stomach, fatigue, dizziness, and dry mouth. We go through life consuming anything but water. And we have to ask ourselves, why is it important?

Water eliminates toxins and helps the kidneys work properly. Staying hydrated can reduce constipation and other gastrointestinal issues because it keeps waste moving through the body. People who stay hydrated often have fewer headaches and report mental clarity. Drinking water consistently throughout the day will help prevent dehydration.

Water is the first step, and then comes making conscious, nutritious choices to help fuel the body. Consuming vegetables and protein will help you feel energized and full for longer. Fiber intake will help with constipation.

Berries are low glycemic, so they can help with blood sugar. As we get older, we may struggle to eat the things we should. Health issues can arise, such as diabetes, thyroid issues, and GI problems, which can create restrictions. A good rule of thumb when it comes to shopping is to shop outside the aisles.

When we consume copious processed foods with excess sugars, preservatives, and dyes, it can affect a person’s body negatively. Some people may report mood dysregulation, exhaustion, and blood sugar issues, and often the processed foods can trigger the hunger hormones. When we overeat, it can lead to severe health problems and physical pain.

Obesity can lower your life expectancy and complicate other diseases and conditions. If you are not sure where to start, make an appointment with a dietician or nutritionist to help you create a plan.

The Bible lays out a template for proper nutrition, and there’s a reason it’s there. God does not do anything by accident. Before Jesus talked about being the bread of life (John 6), he talked about how he was living water (John 4). Water is important because it’s refreshing and cleansing. Bread, fruit, and vegetables give us the necessary fuel to complete our day-to-day tasks.

Focus on movement

Movement does not have to be scary. When people think of exercise, they often think of high-intensity workouts that are strenuous on the body. But movement can include things like dance parties in the living room, taking a thirty-minute walk every day, light stretching, or even swimming. Swimming is especially effective for those who may struggle with joint or chronic pain.

The recommendation for older adults is to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week. If you prefer higher intensity exercises, the advice is for 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week. What does this mean to you? Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (exercises that get your heart pumping) can include fast walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, and biking.

Vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise, also known as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or high-intensity low-impact interval training (HILIT), ups your heart rate in short bursts with some time to recover. Speak to your doctor about the appropriate exercise for you before you begin any workout or program.

Many seniors will avoid exercise out of fear. It is important to keep moving because it can help prevent injuries in day-to-day activities or falls.

Stay flexible

Flexibility and balance exercises are just as important as aerobic and strength training. You can learn various balance and stretching exercises online or through a personal trainer. Flexibility exercises include stretching, Pilates, Tai Chi, and barre. Functional training and balance movements train your muscles to coordinate correctly to protect yourself from falls.

Flexibility includes mental flexibility, but with emotions and cognition. It is important to engage in activities that challenge the mind. This could mean crossword puzzles, word searches, puzzles, or Sudoku. This will help increase the elasticity of the brain muscles. Emotionally, it is important to develop coping skills or learn them to handle life situations better. If you find yourself unable to control your emotions, seek help from a therapist. They can help you develop effective coping skills.

Cut back on vices

Although it was considered healthy once upon a time to smoke or sophisticated to drink alcohol at various times of the day, vices have a way of giving us temporary pleasure and long-term problems. Recreational drug use, prescription drug addiction, sexual addictions, and other vices can shorten your life span, wreak havoc on your relationships, and devastatingly hit your emotional state.

Since addiction is not something to ignore, getting help as quickly as possible is critical. Seek out a faith-based therapist who can walk you through the steps. You were meant to be free from all bondage through Christ Jesus.

Get your sleep

In the Jewish culture, they believe that a person’s day starts with the night before. This would indicate that sleep is important. The Bible also talks about the importance of rest. When the Israelites were set free from Egypt, God told them specifically that they had to rest.

Why? Because they worked all the time, long hours, it was beneficial for them to take a day for themselves to spend time with God. The Bible also talks about not going to bed angry (don’t let the sun set on your anger; Ephesians 4: 26-27). Establishing a good sleep schedule is vital for overall health.

When we don’t get sleep, we can feel groggy, distracted, our bodies may hurt, and we may be irritable as well. As we age, staying asleep may be difficult. It likely starts when we have kids. Newborn babies wake up several times a night for food or comfort. This can wire us to be awake. As we get even older, life challenges and events can keep us up and make it difficult to sleep.

It is recommended that people find the sleep schedule that works best for them and stick to it, even on days off. Get a red light filter on your phone when you want to start winding down because blue light is designed to keep people awake. Try taking a hot shower or bath, then reading for a bit before bed to help you relax.

Avoid spicy foods in the evening and stop eating at least three hours before bed to give your digestive system a chance to work and lessen acid reflux. If your mattress is uncomfortable, find one that allows you to have a good night’s sleep. It is an investment.

Challenge your mind

It is never too late to pursue something that you’re interested in. When we engage in learning exercises, it will help keep the brain fit. Have you always wanted to learn carpentry or cross-stitch? Challenge yourself with computer or dance classes.

Engage with the younger generation and watch how they see things. Every generation can learn something from others. Ask your children or grandchildren about their hobbies and interests, and partake with them. It can help build relationships, and you may learn something new.

Make new friends (and visit your besties)

There is no need to isolate yourself. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17) Stay socially active. Join your local church community and make new friends. Welcome new people to your church. Find a young man or woman to befriend and mentor. Take the time to check in on friends you have known for years. Consider visiting them. We were created for community, not to lead an isolated life.

Set goals

Setting short-term and long-term goals gives us something to look forward to and work toward. By having a plan, you will push through to complete a project. Have you always wanted to write a book? What do you need to learn? How many words or pages would you need to write to finish your book by a specific date?

What about that dream garden you have been promising your wife for years? What will it take to get it done: time, money, materials? What type of plants and flowers do you need? What about the arrangements? Create a goal, break it down into sizable chunks, and assign a deadline to achieve each step. When you meet your goals, the sense of achievement you will feel will propel you to more creativity.

Be grateful

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11-12)

When God is with us, we can depend on His strength, not our own. Be grateful and content with your circumstances and lean on His wisdom to make changes to better your quality of life and situation. When you come to God and pour your heart out to Him, He will listen. Learn to balance contentment with expectancy. Keep praying, keep asking, and keep thanking God.

Although we cannot control the aging process, we can slow it down. Physical health, however necessary, is only one aspect of aging in America. Your emotional well-being and quality of life account for much. Sometimes we need the help of another person to piece together our lives. Counselors are the right people to walk you through your past to heal from hurt and be the best version of yourself in the future

Contact our reception team today if you are struggling with any part of aging in America – physically, mentally, financially, emotionally, or socially. We have therapists who would be eager to talk with you. If you are still on this Earth, God is not finished with you yet. Let us help you find purpose and plan to live a powerful, prayerful, and peaceful life.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV