Aging and self-care are an integral component of living well as we age, so taking better care of yourself as you age is paramount. This may involve regular exercises, healthy meals and sufficient sleep; or spending quality time with loved ones and participating in hobbies like painting or gardening. No matter what form self-care takes for you personally – remember it can improve your mood, increase health benefits and lead to a richer, more fulfilling existence!
Researchers of gerontology and life-span psychology have long explored the concept of self-care in old age as an area of inquiry. Two psychological approaches have coexisted and been dominant within scientific literature over recent decades: conservative approaches promoted by authors such as Baltes suggest engaging in physical, cognitive, social activities to maintain fitness across lifespan while developmental approaches maintain that personal development remains possible even as one gets older.
Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data, the author surveyed healthy older adults’ reported behaviors related to maintaining functional independence and self-care. She identified frequency and variety of maintenance activities performed, and related them back to mental health conditions in older populations. Furthermore, older women participated more in maintenance and personal development activities than men.
Breaking the Age Code is an insightful book that challenges traditional stereotypes about aging and empowers readers to rewrite their own aging narrative. A must-read for anyone seeking an active, fulfilling retirement life!