You in your 50s, 60s and 70s

As the old adage says, “age is just a number” and being 50+ isn’t a death sentence like many believe.

Being older means you are comfortable in your skin, have what you want in life, and more than likely you have a raised a family you are proud of. You’ve put in your time, dedication, and hard work.

So here are some tips to keep you in top form whether you’re in your 50s, 60s or 70s.

The 50s

Be proud of hitting that 50 milestone. Here’s what you can do to make sure the next 30 years of living is nothing but the good life.

Regular exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon (unless that’s your thing), but not being a couch potato will increase the longevity of your life. Get up and get that heart muscle pumping to make you stronger.

Nutrition. What you fuel your body with is just as important to what you do with your body. A cheeky cheat day won’t hurt you but 7 cheat days in a row might.

Regular checkups. No matter how much you exercise and how well you feed yourself, make sure you visit your doctor for annual check ups. As your arrive at the golden age, there are things you should definitely keep in mind like getting screened for colon cancer and because you’re 50, you can get a free bowel cancer screening kit HERE.

Regular eye exams. Your eyes are hopefullly still untouched by cataracts, but that doesn’t mean you can hit the beaches without a pair of sunnies! Get tested for macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Power your brain. You’ve still got your brain and now you’re at the age where you can use your knowledge, learning and experience to solve problems. To keep it that way, lower your stress and skip the sweets as sugar encourages the buildup of plaque that is part of Alzheimer’s disease.

Brush and floss regularly. Keep those pearly whites by flossing daily and brushing twice a day. Not only does it keep gum disease at bay, it decreases your risk for diabetes.

Keep your friendships/romantic life active. Whether you’re playing tennis with the boys or stealing moments with your love, having an active social or romantic life decreases the chances of feeling lonely and depressed.

Whether you are living the high life or just high on life, being over 50 is freedom to be you. Celebrate everything you’ve done and make the next 30+ years even better.

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The 60s

Aussie potato farmer Cliff Young won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon at 61 years of age.

What are you going to accomplish in your next 20 to 30 years?

If you rolled your eyes and thought, I’m too old, then you’ve got another thing coming! Here’s what you can do to make your 60’s better than your 50’s and enjoy the 20+ years you’ve got left.

Know the numbers. We’re not talking about phone numbers or credit card numbers, but your blood pressure and blood sugar numbers.

Update your vaccines. Get yourself an influenza and pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccination. If you are 65+, it’s FREE via the National Immunisation Program. Also ask your doctor about being vaccinated against shingles too.

Exercise. You don’t have to spend hours at gym, but you do have to move. A low impact exercise like tai chi is just as beneficial as walking. Staying fit will help lower risks in diabetes and keep your heart healthy. Bonus, it can also keep your mind in healthy too.

Stay aware of how painful headaches, numbness, loss of vision and other symptoms that  could be related to transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini stroke

Protect your eyes. Buy yourself those sporty sunnies you’ve been eyeballing! You need them as your natural tears now contain less oil that is needed to keep your peepers lubricated AND if you haven’t done so, make sure you get checked for cataracts.

Get your bowels checked. It’s not fun to talk about but get yourself screen for bowel cancer. You can do it from the privacy of your own with the Australian Government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Buy yourself new shoes. Our feet flatten out as we get old and that means you could go up a size in shoes.

Moisturize. You mature skin doesn’t stay hydrated and you need to keep your skin supple, soft and hydrated!

Live the life you deserve! You’re in the age group with the Meryl Streep and Liam Neesons of the world. Just like them, you can make the most of everything you have!

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The 70s

Bondi (NSW) local Cyril Baldock swam the English Channel at at 70 years young so don’t you dare think your life is winding down or near the end because you’ve still got plenty of gas in the tank to keep on trekking down the Yellow Brick road of life.

Here’s what you can expect in your 70s.

Your ticker might need a new battery. Your doctor might suggest receiving a pacemaker as coronary problems affect us more. The new charge will give you plenty of life to chase the grandkids across the beach!

Consider a companion animal. A companion animal or pet could decrease health risks as cancer and heart disease and for those that feel alone. 95% of owners talk to their pets. 82% say their pets help them when they feel sad. 71% said their pets helped them when they felt physically bad.

Eat healthy. A cheat day of Maccas with the grandkids won’t hurt you but 7 days of it might. Make sure you eat those fruits, veggies and nuts.

Get checked for diabetes. Just like your 50’s and 60’s you need to know your blood sugar numbers. It can affect your heart, brain, eyes and more!

Maintain the brain. One serving of dark leafy greens and food rich in lutein and folate help slow cognitive decline of the brain.

Test your hearing. Hearing loss can increase risk of dementia.

Protect your eyes. It’s the same as if you were in your 60s, (link to 60s), you need sunnies to protect your peepers. Your natural tears now contain less oil that is needed to keep your eyes lubricated. Claude Monet was diagnosed at the age 72 for cataracts, get yours checked for cataracts too!

We can’t stop aging or the hands of time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t live like we will live forever! Growing old doesn’t mean giving up. Keep living and having fun.

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