3 Mental Health Lessons to Learn Before Turning 50
By Brandi Goodman
Many restaurants, shops, and other local places begin offering senior discounts to those 62 and older. Other locations begin their deals for older adults even sooner. You may have just reached 50 and found yourself in the acceptable age range for receiving lower prices on certain memberships. Sure, it can be beneficial, but that doesn't mean it makes you feel great to know you reached this stage in life. Before you hit 50, there are some important mental health tips to remember that can help you make the most of getting older.
Do Your Best to Stay Positive
Dwelling on the negative can really take a toll on your mental health. If you sit around thinking about how much you'll hate getting older and everything you'll dislike about it, then you won't have any time to think about the good. Perhaps retirement age is coming around and you'll get to have more time with your family. Maybe you have grandkids you can spoil now. Try to think about the positive and the good that can come with getting older so it keeps your mind more clear.
Stay Physically Active
Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you should skip the exercise. You really should be doing what you can to stay physically active now more than ever. Aging can mean weakening bones and muscles. Physical activity can help to delay that. Exercise also releases endorphins and can be great for stress relief and enhancing your mood. When you're feeling down, working out in a fun way can help.
Share Your Expertise
Reaching an older age means you've lived a lot of life and learned a lot of lessons. You can share your expertise on various subjects with those younger than you. Find volunteer opportunities where your skills and learned knowledge may be an asset. You could help coach a team, teach a class, become a tutor, or assist with other programs where you may enjoy the activity and like helping others in the group. Doing so can help give you purpose and help you stay connected with others.
Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month both take place in May. Aging adults can really start to struggle with their mental well-being. Keeping some mental health lessons in mind before you reach the milestone age of 50 can help you realize it's not all bad. There are plenty of benefits of getting older -- more than just the impending memberships and discounts.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Decatur, Ga.