The Benefits of Maintaining a Sense of Youth

Markus H. Schafer and co-author Tetyana P. Shippee, a Purdue graduate who is a research associate at Purdue's Center on Aging and the Life Course, compared people's chronological age and their subjective age to determine which one has a greater influence on cognitive abilities during older adulthood. Nearly 500 people ages 55 to 74 were surveyed about aging in 1995 and 2005 as part of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S.

What they found was that these people who felt "young" for their age were more likely to have greater confidence about their abilities a decade later. It seems that, while the chronological age was important, the subjective age had a stronger effect.

I believe that how old you are matters, but beyond that it's your own personal interpretation of your "age" that has far-reaching implications for the process of how and when you "actually" begin aging. For example; if you feel old beyond your own chronological age, chances are greater that you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that we associate with aging than if you perceived yourself as more youthful.

So, what comes first? Does a person's wellness and happiness affect their idea of aging and activities or does a person's ability to remain active contribute to their sense of wellness. there are plans to address this in a future study.

For now, you can bet on the fact that there is a tremendous emphasis on being youthful in our society. Depending on the severity, this can have a negative effect for people of all ages. People want to feel younger, and so when they do inevitably age, there seems to be a loss of confidence in their cognitive and physical capabilities.

However, if one really is "as old as you feel," there may be benefits of trying to maintain a sense of youthfulness by remaining physically active, keeping up with new trends, and taking classes or learning new skills that feel invigorating. I know of plenty "forty somethings" and over that are learning new technologies as a way to improve their cognitive abilities.

Be careful to understand that I am not talking about the physical attractiveness of youth. That particular type of "youthfulness" is disproportionately applied toward women. The type of youthfulness I'm writing of resides in all of us. It is the magic that keeps us ever grateful for life and wondrous of what it has yet to bring us. It is the bi product of hope.

Remember: "Wellness is not a luxury, it's a necessity."

Live Life Well,

John Aaron Villarreal

Comments

When Should I Get a Massage and How Often?

This is a question I get often… Let’s face it, if it were up to massage therapists we’d say that you should get a massage every day, but in reality – very few people ever have the means or time to make this scenario play out in their lives. So technically speaking, your frequency should depend on how much you like massage, how often you experience chronic pain, and your budget. If you’re able to afford it, getting a monthly or weekly massage works best at helping prevent injuries by catching tight areas before they become problematic. With my more athletic clients (runners, weightlifters, gymnasts), I usually recommend timing their massage to coincide with the times they are training their hardest. For example, runners can develop tight hamstrings and hips, gymnasts and weight-lifters can get tight shoulders. These tight muscle groups can elicit injuries over time if they aren't treated by massage. If you are physically active, I recommend getting a massage within 24 hours ...

Coffee Has Health Benefits

Anyone who knows me knows I love my Joe…. err, “cup of joe” that is. In fact, I’m enjoying a cup as I write this post. However, as a wellness professional that little admission of guilt has gotten me a few sneers and looks of condescension. Caffeine is BAD for you, they say! Well, perhaps abusing caffeine may be “bad” for you, but ‘caffeine’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘coffee.’ Despite this fact, coffee has gotten a bad rep over the years after a few health experts linked it (or rather, linked caffeine abuse) to several diseases. But is coffee actually that bad? Probably not; new research shows that drinking coffee in moderation provides numerous health benefits. Antidepressant It might seem a little odd to find that coffee could help with depression, but new research has shown that it does just that. Now, don’t go throwing out your prescriptions or quit counseling just yet though, coffee is not a cure for depression. Rather, the caffeine in coffee helps regulate your mood trans...

What To Do When You’re Chronically Stressed

Of all the modern-day ailments that seem to affect us, none is more pervasive than stress. Everywhere you turn, there are factors lurking to redirect you from your peaceful pursuit of happiness and lock you in the clutches of “stress.” What exactly is stress—and what more insidious effects does it cause? The dictionary defines stress as “great pressure or force; strain.” In today’s world, we think of stress as the result of too much pressure laid upon us by life, causing mental worry or anguish. This, in turn, manifests itself in tight neck and shoulders, headaches, nervous stomach, etc. But these physical and mental conditions are really only the beginning. Studies show that stressful situations can develop into more threatening health conditions. For instance: A sudden or unexpected stressor can activate your adrenal glands, which sends adrenaline and other hormones into your bloodstream. This brings about an increase in your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood f...

John Aaron Wellness

Search This Blog