9 Things To Give Up In Life's Second Half
Plus: How To Live To Be 117
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(Discussion: Science tells us our outcome is 20% genes and 80% lifestyle. What do you think about Maria Branyas’s combination? Was it all down to her genes?)
9 Things To Give Up In Life’s Second Half
Fear of ageing. Growing old is a natural process we all go through if we’re lucky. Ageing doesn’t mean decline and decrepitude unless you let it. Make a project of how you grow older in your fifties or sixties, though it’s never too late to start. Learn about healthy eating, exercise, staying engaged with others through friends, hobbies and maybe volunteering in retirement. Look on it as an adventure, a new journey into uncharted territory.
Perfectionism. Striving for perfection can cause anxiety and depression, and even burnout. Nobody’s perfect, aim for less, that’s perfectly acceptable.
Smoking. The chemicals in tobacco smoke damage nearly every organ and system in the body, leading to a high risk of disease. Respect your body and give it up.
Waiting for someone to make you happy. Your happiness is your concern, no one else’s. Only you have that power. Stop putting it into someone else’s hands. Choose to be happy now.
Caring about the things that don’t matter in the big scheme of things, mostly material possessions. The pleasure of owning ‘things’ is short-lived. Your relationships, peace of mind and your self-growth are all what are really worth caring about in life’s second half.
Cut back, or preferably, give up, alcohol. It’s linked to an increase in disease as you get older.
Negativity. A negative attitude is deadly in your older years. Science tells us that those with a negative mindset don’t live as long as those with a positive mindset. Be prepared to be criticised for your positive outlook, though. Negative thinkers believe that positivity equals denial and ignoring issues of ageing. There is no connection, it means dealing with every change brought about by age, and there are many, with optimism and resilience. It’s not always easy, but it is possible.
Outdated ideas about what is age-appropriate, in dress, in decor, in behaviour. We don’t have to change anything for the sake of age as we grow older, unless it’s to make our lives easier.
Keeping things for ‘best’. Use them now or you may never get the chance to.
How To Live To Be 117
Maria Branyas was an American Catalan who was 117 when she died in August 2024. She was, at the time, the world’s oldest living person. Scientists were interested in what had helped her to live so long. They carried out intense research into her lifestyle, habits, and biology. They found she had several genetic variants, including a gene associated with ageing brain health, ageing and cancer, heart disease and cognitive retention.
They also found that her cells behaved like younger cells, so her biology did not match her chronology. She had a highly efficient metabolism. As well as being super lucky in her genetic makeup, she ate a healthy diet. Not only did she eat the much-accredited Mediterranean diet, but she also ate three portions of yoghurt every day. Yoghurt encourages healthy gut bacteria to grow.
In 2020, she was living in Spain in a nursing home when the COVID pandemic struck. Vaccines were not yet available, and Maria Branyas contracted the disease. She recovered relatively easily. When asked by the Guinness World Records Organization what she put her longevity down to, Maria responded “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people”.
She said in a later interview that she also put her longevity down to being lucky; luck and good genetics.
What can we take from all this if we are not lucky enough to have the super genetic makeup of Maria Branyas? We know she ate a healthy diet; she did not smoke or drink alcohol; she had good sleep habits, loved gardening, playing with her dogs, reading books and spent quality time with friends and family.
So, we learn that keeping ourselves as healthy as we can, eschewing alcohol and tobacco, staying active, keeping our mind stimulated and enjoying social time with others gives us a head-start into disease-free older years. Maybe eating three portions of yoghurt a day, too, for our gut health, like Maria Branyas. Scientists are finding more and more evidence that good gut health is central to good overall health.
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DISCUSSION
Science tells us our outcome is 20% genes and 80% lifestyle. What do you think about Maria Branyas’s combination? Was it all down to her genes?
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Keeping things for best 😂😂 sooo true use it now
I really enjoyed reading this. I visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities to provide care and the residents who are social and involved in activities don’t require many visits from a provider other than check up visits. They appear happy and care free.