AGING IS A CHOICE Part 26 – When Less is More
by Robert Manni
As we get older and start to feel the pressure of the ticking clock, we can get wired into a more, more, more mindset. What have we not done yet? Travelled to yet? Spent enough time with yet? Yes, FOMO can kick into hyperdrive. But there is a flip side to that equation. Sometimes the idea of less, less, less can be equally rewarding, if not more so. Sometimes investing less time and energy into specific areas of our lives, can result in more joy and greater health.
Here are some areas where I have found that less is indeed more.
Less Food, Less Eating
Who doesn’t love a great meal? Especially when traveling and visiting places known for its gastronomic delights. It becomes almost a sin not to indulge. So much great food. So little time. And I’m not suggesting you forego your love of food on these occasions. No, I just propose to be mindful of your body’s responses to how and what you eat every day. For instance, as we age our metabolism slows down and we tend to be more sedentary. If we maintain the same eating habits as in the past when our metabolism and lifestyle were more active, we will end up with unwanted, unhealthy pounds from eating the same foods in the same way. Here’s something to consider. Studies have shown that consuming fewer calories while maintaining a balanced diet offers health benefits including slowed aging, improved metabolism, and reduced inflammation. By choosing the right, nutrient dense foods, we can put less on our plates and less strain on our bodies. So, before you reach for your antacids or complain about the bloat after a big meal, ask yourself, Am I living to eat or eating to live? Sometimes just stopping to consider how you eat and how your body responds to what you eat will set you on a healthier path.
Less Drinking, Less Alcohol
Western culture loves to celebrate, gather, recognize achievements¾big and small, with alcohol. As a culture, we drink a lot. And as we increase in means, there’s prestige to becoming connoisseurs or aficionados of fine wines and spirits. However, for all its pleasures, alcohol consumption has its drawbacks. As we age, it can worsen existing health conditions, create negative interactions with prescribed medications, and increase the risk of falls and injuries. At the same time, older adults tend to be dehydrated and metabolize alcohol more slowly. This can be a dangerous combination. So, consider how you drink. For example, is it necessary to drink every day? And is it worth how you feel the next day after a heavy night of drinking? Five years ago, I stopped drinking alcohol altogether. Looking back, I consider this one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, particularly for my health. If this sounds radical to you, consider having less. Try it for a month and see how you feel.
Less Media, Less Fear, Less Stress
Who doesn’t feel a need to know what’s going on? So, we open and scroll whatever news and media platform we currently “trust”. Unfortunately, instead of the latest information assuaging our fears, it often stokes it. Compounding the problem is entertainment television and movies. They have become increasingly dark with an overflow of explicit violence and dysfunctional, desperate individuals. Are you also tired of actors playing prostitutes and hitmen and often winning entertainment accolades? I don’t recall a time when I’ve seen so much negatively skewed programming. I’ve made it a personal practice of cutting back on the news and scripted television and films and replacing them with the classics. Yes, films, shows, documentaries and books that have developed plots, characters, deep themes that stimulate my mind rather than depress it. Or better yet, I spend more time interacting with my loved ones and being outdoors.
I think you get the picture. The good news is that you still have time to make the best choices for yourself. Whether it relates to food, alcohol, or mass media, it’s possible to get more out of life by practicing the art of less to age-less. After all, aging well is a choice.
