Psychology Diary presents: things you should stop after 60!
Do you want to live a fantastic life filled with happiness, pleasures, and health? Then you’re at the right place because I know how to help you reach your goals. Just because you’re a senior now doesn’t mean you should stop yourself from being happy.
They don’t call it the golden years for nothing. Now it’s your time to rest and engage in activities that bring you joy and make your heart beat faster. You no longer have limits; you are free to travel, to do what you want each day, and to relax, learn, or work on and for yourself as much as you want.
With the proper routine, knowledge, determination, and social group, your golden years can become some of the best years. But for that to be possible, you have to say goodbye to particular habits. Without further ado, here are the things you should stop after 60!
1. Stop with unnecessary sacrifices
If you’ve spent the majority of your life making other people happy and putting yourself last just because you have too much on your plate, it’s time to stop. Your needs matter! Don’t agree with something or someone just because you don’t want to be seen as mean or egocentric.
If something doesn’t fill your cup or doesn’t make you smile, stop it immediately. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not telling you to be selfish but to listen to your own needs and try to make them a priority. Practice self-care, be in tune with your mind and body, and don’t lose yourself trying to please others. You’ll feel a lot better doing so, trust me!
2. Stop jumping out of bed
If you’re used to jumping out of bed the minute your alarm goes off, this is one of the things you should stop after 60. Take your time, relax, wake up when your body tells you to, and create a morning routine that you love.
Do a couple of stretches and deep breathing exercises, reflect for a few minutes, imagine how you’d like your day to go, and get in tune with yourself. These small steps will make you more present and aware, and they will bring mindfulness and calmness to your day and life. You’ll feel more positive and ready for every challenge without any sign of being overwhelmed.
3. Stop skipping blood pressure readings
One of the most important things you should stop doing after 60 is not scheduling blood pressure readings. This is a very dangerous practice that can put your health at risk. Your doctor can monitor and manage your health better this way, which can therefore help identify any potential health issues early on. As you can imagine, this is very beneficial in case you need any treatment or intervention.
According to doctors, regularly going to the specialists to measure your blood pressure, along with following their medical advice, is going to benefit your well-being and cardiovascular health.
4. Stop over-supporting your adult kids
While it’s important to show your children that you love and support them regardless of their age, one of the things you should stop doing after 60 is over-supporting them. I know it might be hard, but they’re adults, and they need to act like it.
If you over-support them emotionally or financially, they might take longer to be confident in their forces. Don’t think that you should cut them off so they can grow, because that’s not good either. Find a balance between helping them with whatever they need and allowing them to try things on their own and choose their path. It will benefit all of you! Keep reading to discover other things you should stop after 60!
5. Stop saying no to exercise
This isn’t a rule that only applies to seniors, but it’s even more important for us! Whether you had a fast metabolism when you were younger or you were too lazy to have a workout routine, this is your chance to stop with those excuses.
You surely know that having a sedentary life can cause multiple problems, such as unhappiness, excess weight, a constant desire to consume unhealthy foods, body aches, health issues, and so many other things.
Regular physical exercise is one of the best things you could do for your mind and body because it will improve your cardiovascular health, put you in tune with your body, maintain your skin’s elasticity, keep your muscles strong, shed pounds, reduce the risk of chronic disease, make you crave good foods that nourish you, and so many other things.
Whether it’s walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, boxing, jogging, yoga, pilates, stretching, or strength training with small weights, exercising will make your life better, I promise!
6. Stop hoarding
If you have a cluttered home, read this one carefully, because it’s one of the things you should stop after 60 (or as early as you can, to be honest). As you age, you probably accumulate lots of belongings over the years, and that’s amazing, but if you have more things than space, it can become a problem.
Holding on to too many things will make your home look cluttered and small, and it can make you feel anxious. If you want to make some extra money and clear your head at the same time, I recommend you block a couple of hours on your schedule and start decluttering. You can donate your things, organize a yard sale, or sell them online on Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist, Poshmark, Depop, Etsy, or eBay.
7. Stop eating everything
I know food is delicious, and there are many temptations out there. It’s hard to say no to your favorite foods, but one of the things you should stop after 60 is indulging in everything.
You probably know that your metabolism changes constantly and gets slower as you age, so it’s important to make conscious decisions regarding what you put in your body. You can indulge in all the delicious things you want, but only in moderation, or try to find healthier alternatives and cook them at home.
We’ve talked about things you should stop after 60, but let’s focus on the positive for a moment here. If you want to be healthy, have a ton of energy, be happy, and enjoy your life to the fullest, you need to pay attention to your diet.
Limit those unhealthy treats and focus on things that nourish your body, such as greens, lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies, herbs, and the right type of carbs, and you’ll notice the biggest difference.
8. Stop stressing so much
Stress has a major impact on your mental and physical health, so no wonder it’s one of the things you should stop after 60, or as early as you can, to be honest. Stressing too much will make you anxious, make you lose sleep during the night, weaken your body, and make it more susceptible to diseases and viruses.
I know that certain situations can be incredibly stressful, and while you can’t stop this completely, you can try different techniques to calm down, such as breathing exercises, yoga, walks, talking to someone you’re close to, reading, and meditating.
Do you know any other things you should stop after 60 that we didn’t include in our list? Let us know in the comments below! If you have any requests from us on what you’d like to read, share your thoughts with us.
Until next time, here’s another great post for you: 7 Toxic Relationship Red Flags You MUST Watch Out For
