It's always time to exercise your mind
The more we think, the better we'll think. At least that's what I heard on the way to work this morning. Researchers have figured out that those of us who keep our brains active into our senior years are actually less susceptible to the mentally debilitating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
This is good news in and of itself. If things like adult education, intellectually stimulating reading, hobbies that engage our minds, or jobs and volunteer commitments that make us think can help us keep our brains healthy, then we've got a pretty painless way to deal with a pretty painful problem.
What is also good news, however, is that this is consistent with what we already know about what makes for good emotional, physical, mental, social and spiritual health in our senior years. It is very clear that seniors who are regularly and consistently involved in a variety of activities live healthier and longer lives than couch potatoes do. Sure, genetics and environment play a part as well, but our own choices as to how we live our lives make a big difference in the long-term quality of those lives.
It is already clear that today's seniors are much more active then their predecessors. Part of this is that seniors today have more resources and are healthier than previous generations, but part of it is also the healthier choices they are making. And it is likely that as today's 50-somethings move toward retirement, they will continue and expand on this trend.
Even the idea of retirement is being rethought. More and more people approaching what previously would have been retirement age are choosing to continue in their jobs, opt for part-time work, or even explore entirely new vocations. Some of this is now driven by a lack of financial resources, but often it is because today's newly minted seniors simply aren't ready to "retire" the way we have thought about it in the past.
This all has implications for younger folks as well. If our idea of the good life is to go to work and then come home and sit in front of the TV - which, sorry to say, is not among the activities considered to be good for our brains - then we are setting ourselves up for problems later on. We are just not nourishing our mental, emotional, physical, social or spiritual selves the way we need to if we are going to live long and healthy lives.
On the other hand, if we are regularly involved in educational or other activities that expand our minds, as well as in activities that promote physical fitness, emotional well-being, social interaction and spiritual centeredness, we can actually immunize ourselves to some degree against many of the problems we associate with aging. (Please note I said "many" of the problems, not "all" of the problems, or even "most" of the problems. But, hey, it's still something.)
Regular involvement in such activities is important, and that usually involves developing some habits. Since developing habits takes time, it is a good idea to make mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually stimulating activities a part of our life sooner rather than later.
This might be a good time, then, to take an inventory of just how we are spending our time. Then let's ask ourselves whether we have built into our days the sort of activities that contribute to a longer, healthier and ultimately happier life.
• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."