Growing Old is Really Such a Good Thing

Amy Taylor September 10, 2013

Do you worry about getting old? You are not alone. Many people are anxious about adding years to their age, and having wrinkles and grey hair. But even though older people couldn’t run as fast as they used to, and often forget their keys, a growing body of research suggests that growing old has benefits too!

So what’s so good about growing old?

It Makes You Happier

The older you get, the happier you become. That’s the message of a study by the University of Warwick in England. It involved over 10,000 people in the United States and Britain. According to their findings, people who were older expressed the highest levels of happiness. In another research by the Pew Research Centre, nearly half of the respondents 75 years and above reported that their life turned better than expected.

It Makes You Wiser

It’s really good to heed advice from people older than you. According to the study by the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, and published in the journal Psychological Science, experience makes people wiser. This research contradicts the long-held belief that people tend to lose their mental edge as they age.

You’ll have fewer sleep problems

Research contradicts the popular belief that sleeping problems get more common as people age. A study by the University of Pennsylvania revealed that people at their 80s and 90s had the fewest sleeping complaints. They also experienced less daytime fatigue than younger adults. Meanwhile, those who have sleep issues were found to have health problems like depression.

You’ll become more understanding.

Along with wisdom, older adults develop deeper understanding of other people and the happenings in their environment. They also gain more empathy and compassion – two of the most desirable emotional traits that are critical for happiness and well-being.

You’ll have fewer issues with migraine.

If you used to experience debilitating headaches, you can experience significant relief as you get older. Researchers at Headache Centre of Atlanta found that people with migraine have lesser acute migraine attack than their younger colleagues. Nausea and light sensitivity appeared to decrease with age as well.

Your decision-making skills will improve.

Seniors have a richer store of knowledge and experience. Most probably, they have already gone through what young people are going through now, or what they are about to experience. The wisdom that is only earned through experience and time is a gift that is bestowed to the elderly. Research can attest to this. For example, a study by the Stanford University revealed that compared to younger people, older people tend to make better decisions because they are generally more selective about what they remember, giving more weight to more valuable things.

You get more mature.

As you get older, you will realise that having wrinkles and grey hair isn’t really a big deal. In fact, you are likely to appreciate and look at them as signs of wisdom. You won’t also care much about fashion but if ever you do, you have decades of styles to choose from. You can wear what you want, without other people teasing or judging you.

You’ll have more time for things that matter.

By the time you reach old age, it’s most probably that you are already settled in life. You must have already bought a home and a car, established your career or your business, and your kids may have already have families of their own. This means you don’t have to struggle with the everyday pressure of going to work, earning money, and taking care of your children. You have more time to spend doing the things you love, travelling the world, and connecting with friends. Isn’t that awesome?

You’ll feel younger.

The old saying “It’s all in your mind” is probably true. Just because you’re turning 50 or 60 doesn’t mean you won’t ever feel young again. Research by the Pew Research Centre revealed that majority of the participants said they felt younger than their age.

So, do you still worry about growing old? You don’t have to! Growing old comes with amazing benefits. And if you take care of your mental and physical health, you’re going to experience them all.