9 Rules for Successful Aging

Each one of us is subject to the aging process that comes with years lived on this side of heaven. While the concept is irrelevant when we’re in our youth, full of vigor and functioning at optimum levels, when the gray hairs creep in and the joints start to creak, we begin thinking more about the idea of successful aging.

What exactly is “successful aging”; a term used mostly by those who haven’t reached old age yet, and desire to do so gracefully? Many see it as enjoying good health, and not being riddled with illness and chronic disease. Others define it as living life to the full, engaging in stimulating activities, and not succumbing to a life of loneliness and mental and emotional decline.

9 Rules for Successful Aging

Perhaps it is a combination of factors, all of which lead to a sense that aging is a blessing and something to be embraced rather than feared. If you’re looking ahead to your “twilight years,” here are nine rules for successful aging that you might want to consider:

Work hard for a positive outlook

Retiring from a career that brought you a lot of satisfaction or being left with an “empty nest” after years of raising a family can be difficult adjustments. The realization that your mind and body simply don’t work as well as they used to and that you’re limited by health issues can make a person feel depressed or prone to grumbling and complaining.

Successful aging doesn’t mean denying these realities or failing to “grieve” them. But it does mean working hard to focus on having a positive attitude, even when things are tough. Proverbs 20:29 tells us that “the glory of young men is their strength, grey hair the splendor of the old”; there is something wonderful about aging.

Perhaps it is the wisdom that comes with having lived through various experiences or that not everyone has the privilege of enjoying a full lifespan. Either way, it’s up to us to embrace each day we’re given with gratitude and joy.

Turn your hand to productive tasks

Keeping busy is an important part of successful aging; you must find something to occupy your mind and time as you get older. While you may not be able to continue working as you did in your earlier years, many people work part-time or volunteer during their retirement years, an activity which they cite as incredibly beneficial to “keeping them young”.

While your health may prevent you from working, there is always something productive that can be done – whether tending a garden or having a routine that includes a daily crossword puzzle – these pursuits prevent boredom and loneliness from creeping in.

Keep your mind sharp

You’ve heard it before – successful aging can be helped along by intentionally keeping your mind sharp. This includes challenging yourself mentally. Leave your shopping list at home, for example, and try to remember everything on it, play bridge, or work on sudoku. The brain is a muscle after all, and exercising it serves a valuable purpose in strengthening your cognitive ability as you age.

Eat, sleep, move

Successful aging is usually linked to a healthy diet (avoiding too much sugar and processed foods), good sleep hygiene (about eight hours a night), and gentle movement (even brisk walking that keeps the blood pumping). These basic precepts for good health have been proven over and over to yield significant benefits.

If we are looking to age well, perhaps it is time to take a good, honest, assessment of how we are doing in each of these categories. While good habits implemented early on in life set a person up for longevity, it is never too late to make a positive step toward improved health.

Keep connected

Good relationships are key to successful aging. While most people would like to enjoy the company of their children and close family in their older years, this is not always possible. Even if they live in different parts of the country or world, make it a priority to stay in touch and be involved in their lives.

Get involved in Bible studies and other activities at your church and consider joining social groups so that you interact with people regularly. Not only will this prevent loneliness from setting in, but you’ll be able to provide company for others who might be in the same space as you.

Learn something new

Taking up a new hobby or committing to learning something new is a way to embrace successful aging. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, flexing different cognitive or physical muscles, and expanding your horizons.

Many people have surprised themselves by how invigorated they have become through doing a new activity or developing a new skill. You might not be as quick to learn as you were in your youth, but being courageous in trying to do so will knock at least ten years off your mental age!

Keep growing spiritually

Remember when you were a young mother desperately short of time for prayer and time in Scripture, or a younger man working late hours at the office? With less on your plate, you can commit time to prayer, and for growing spiritually through time in God’s word.

Successful aging in the biblical sense is back-to-front, if you consider the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16 which says: “Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.” While physically we might be deteriorating, the more we invest in the health of our soul, the more renewed we will be. We will grow younger on the inside, an incredible thought!

Mentor the younger generation

While our modern Western culture tends to look down on the elderly, this is far from the case in other cultures, where older people are revered and respected. This makes a lot of sense; after all, they have more experience and wisdom to share. Successful aging could include viewing yourself as valuable and taking the time to mentor the younger generation.

Many young people lack parental figures in their lives and find enormous value in being able to learn life lessons from others. With more time on your hands, you could draw alongside a few younger people to take on the biblical mandate of the “older men and older women teaching the younger men and younger women” (Titus 2).

Keep a sense of humor!

Despite our best efforts, successful aging can elude us – we can feel frail, lonely, in pain, and fearful of what lies ahead. In these times, a sense of humor is the best medicine, even if you have to look hard to find something to laugh about! Keeping things light reminds us to keep things in perspective.

As Christians, we don’t have to feel weighed down by the burdens of old age but can remind ourselves and one another that heaven is just a short moment away; and then we will get our perfect bodies, and have no fear, sadness, or illness.

Successful aging is something we should all strive for; while we might not get it perfectly right, it is part of stewarding our bodies for the Lord and making sure that we are as useful for kingdom work as we possibly can be. It is also a mindset that we can develop, being intentional about not falling into worldly traps and complaining about our failing bodies and minds.

God sees a purpose in old age, and therefore we should ask Him how we can age gracefully and in a way that honors Him. When we see elderly people who are still zealously following the Lord, and living life to the full, it is a great witness and encouragement to everyone around them.