What do the healthiest people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s have in common? According to one geriatrician, it is not a daily supplement or a punishing workout. It is something much simpler, and something any of us can do.
Dr. Stephanie Rogers, a professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, says the patients she sees thriving later in life all share one trait. They never let themselves get too comfortable.
In an “Expert Tip of the Day” feature for TODAY.com, Dr. Rogers explained why comfort can quietly work against us as we age.
“If we’re always doing the same thing, our body will get too comfortable and stop adapting, improving or even regenerating as well. However, if we’re always slightly switching things up a little bit, our body has to stay on its toes.”
She is not talking about pushing yourself to the point of pain or exhaustion. Small changes are the whole point.
Challenge Yourself a Little Every Day
Dr. Rogers says the goal is to keep your body and brain adapting. That can look different for everyone. She suggests options like:
- Trying a new strength-training routine
- Learning a language
- Taking up a creative hobby
- Traveling somewhere new
- Spending time with people of different ages
The key word is new. When you introduce something your body and mind have not done before, they have a reason to keep growing.
Your Attitude Matters, Too
Dr. Rogers also points to something less tangible but just as important: how you think about getting older.
“Studies show that people who have a positive view of aging really do age better,” she told TODAY.com.
She was careful to add that aging and disability are not failures. “There’s a lot that we can do to adapt and be happy and thrive, and sometimes improve or reverse age-related conditions,” she said.
The takeaway is an encouraging one. You do not need to overhaul your life. You just need to keep giving your mind and body new reasons to grow, one small challenge at a time.
