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5 Keys to Staying Happy as you Age
Posted Date: 10 Mar 2008 Resource Type: Articles/Knowledge Sharing Category: General
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Posted By: Olufemi Member Level: Diamond
Rating:  Points: 2
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What are the key ingredients to a happier old age--it's easier than you think. Some people think those who are decades older have less reason to be joyful. But more people in their 60s and 70s report being happy than do those in their 40s, according to a recent survey conducted for bank HSBC of 21,000 people in 21 countries, spanning four age groups from 40 to 80. Following are some of the secrets to staying happiness.
1. Live a More Meaningful Life
Among U.S. respondents, 89% of those in their 70s and 87 percent of those in their 60s said they were happy most of the time in the previous week versus 78 percent of those in their 40s who responded. What's their secret to aging happily? Good health and a decent standard of living don't hurt -- but those factors don't play as big a part as you might think, researchers say.
The truth is, people generally get happier as they age. How often one feels sad, angry, disgusted, contemptuous--that frequency declines. And in addition to that, when negative emotions occur, they don't last as long, according to research from studies of people age 18 to 100-plus.
2. You're Different Than Me
Of course, individuals' happiness varies. Studies of twins indicate genes likely make a person more or less optimistic, and parents' happiness also affects people. But unhappiness is generally not connected to aging. There are a lot of unhappy 80-year-olds, but if you look, on average there are a lot more grumpy young men than grumpy old men. We just don't call them grumpy. We call them angry or irritable.
Two 75-year-old people can vary widely in their outlook. But the fact that one is unhappy isn't necessarily age-related. The 'grumpy old man' is not about aging, it's context--it's somebody who has been confronted with all kinds of problems, is losing a sense of control or power, or is dealing with a sense of loss in a maladaptive way.
Health matters, too: Very sick people aren't as happy as healthy people. But that's true at all ages. If you compare younger and older people in poor health, older people are doing better than younger people. Older people even experience lower rates of depression. Even among frail older adults, morale is often comparable and at times higher than younger adults.
3. You Know What You Want
Greater happiness is likely related to a desire to make the most of one's remaining time. When people perceive time is limited, they focus more on well-being. For instance, they get rid of the riff-raff in their lives and select the people who are most important. You figure out what makes you angry and how to avoid that and what you can do in your life to adjust. People get better at doing this over time.
Brain function changes too. Brain imaging studies find older peoples' brains react less intensely, and for less time, to negative emotions. Improved morale as we age is probably a combination of ... perspective on life and changes to the amygdalae, a part of the brain that processes emotion.
4. Money Isn't Everything
You'd think money would drive happiness. Not necessarily. Money matters very little to happiness, except at very low levels of money. For those struggling to pay a mortgage or buy food, a little money can have a huge influence on their happiness. Once you get a bit of security and comfort, whether you make $40,000 or $440,000 a year has a very small influence on happiness.
Uncertainty matters more than money and has more influence on happiness than most other circumstances. For instance, if you are offered a steady, yet small, stream of income for life, no matter what your previous income had been, you'll adjust. One lesson: Insurance can offer important peace of mind, particularly in the event of an unexpected health problem. If people are smart, they'll invest wisely in [disability] insurance. Even though it reduces your current income a little, it gives you that security.
We tend to think that having more money so we can purchase more goods will bring us happiness, but there is such a small relationship between how much money you have and how happy you are. It makes more sense to have a little more insurance than having the latest iPhone. It's good for your happiness.
5. Keeping Busy
If you connect happiness with a longer life span, try staying active. Longer lives are correlated with people continuing to engage in activities they feel are important. It has to be something that's substantive and matters, such as taking care of a grandchild, volunteer activity three days a week, continuing to work rather than retiring. Something that makes a difference in the person's life is life-enhancing. They enjoy it more and live longer than those who have nothing in their lives.
Younger adults might consider setting the stage now for such activities. They may want to think about how they can approach ongoing education, exploring different areas that would set the stage for development later on. Maybe they could take a class now and later become a photographer.
Courtesy
Olufemi
Nigeria
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