What is successful aging and why you should think about it early

What is Successful Aging

The concept of successful aging began in the late 1950s in the United States. Its appearance is associated with the emergence of new technologies that prolong youth, an increase in life expectancy, and economic development. Thanks to these shifts, attitudes towards old age have changed: old age has ceased to be associated only with death and disease. For many, old age turns out to be a stage in life full of opportunities.

Signs of Successful Aging

Scientists understand successful aging as the absence of chronic diseases and the ability to function effectively at a physiological and psychological level. First of all, "success" is associated with independence and general satisfaction with life.

We can say that a person has come to a successful old age when he:

has reached an average life expectancy and strives to live on;
happy with life;
kept mental and physical health, cognitive functions;
continues to develop, learn new things;
able to function independently of others;
easily adapts to circumstances, copes with difficulties, has a high stable self-esteem and a pronounced sense of self;
has friends, participates in social life;
has hobbies, interests.

In addition to the main signs, there are others that affect the psychological life of a person. Thus, the Russian gerontologist NF Shakhmatov considers NF Shakhmatov Mental aging: happy and painful. - M.: Medicine. 1996. pp. 32–36, 60–87. that for a person who has achieved a successful old age, the following qualities are characteristic.

He focuses on the present. He does not dwell on the past, although he does not have clear plans for the future.
Does not blame himself for past events. He does not look for someone to blame and does not blame himself for the wrong (from his current position) life lived.
Analyzes and revises past goals, rules and beliefs. Develops a new, contemplative and self-sufficient life position.
Rethinks past life experience without evaluating it negatively.
Perceives his state of health, social and material status as a natural state.
Discovers creativity, engages in new hobbies. Feels satisfied with these activities.
Strives to be useful to others, and disinterestedly. Helps the sick and weak, close people and family.

Why think about it early

The success of aging depends not so much on physical health as on the availability of flexible personality traits. Among them - the ability to cope with stressful and conflict situations, self-efficacy and self-control. A calm attitude to death is also important. These qualities should be developed throughout life, not hoping that in old age you will suddenly understand everything and change.

As you get older, you can count on gaining general wisdom - the ability to make better decisions about others. As for personal wisdom associated with the ability to evaluate oneself from the outside, not everyone can achieve it. The observations of The Wisdom of the Aging Brain show that personal wisdom comes when people learn to represent themselves in the opponent's place during conflicts, rather than trying to defend their position. Such a skill can be developed, for example, by meditation, but it takes time.

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for developing agile skills, but it's important to understand what to aim for. A healthy lifestyle, the presence of interests and friends, the desire for self-development will allow you to maintain a positive attitude until old age. And retire at least with the anticipation of new opportunities.