As we age, its important to be optimistic about what getting older really means.
Aging is no picnic, no matter who you are. In our society however, there is an added stigma that somehow women become less vital, important, or beautiful as they grow older. It’s a messed up dynamic that we have set, and as someone who is avidly in support of women’s sports and fitness regardless of age, I have some thoughts about it. Unfortunately the mindset in our society is that aging is a horrible experience, instead of something to be celebrated. The truth is that there are a lot of good things about aging as a woman, so here are a few to brighten your outlook:
Research has shown that the brain gets better with age, as cognitive skills, verbal abilities, spatial reasoning, and inductive reasoning develop. This means that older women are smarter, which should come as no surprise to anyone.
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Older women have better relationships because by middle age, most women have experienced enough heartbreak to know what they will and will not tolerate in terms of people. Research shows that older adults are better at relationships because of their experience, so if you haven’t found the love of your life yet, don’t fret.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reported that older people are happier, and have lower levels of depression and stress. The ‘aging paradox’ states that while our culture believes younger people are happier than their older counterparts, the exact opposite is actually true.
Believe it or not, sex gets better with age. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that although frequency of sex declines with age, satisfaction actually increases. This has to do with being more comfortable, and knowing more about what you like and don’t like.
Older women tend to be happier in their work lives. A study done in 2013 found that 92% of workers age 50+ reported being a lot more satisfied with their job, compared to 80% under 30.
Age is what we make of it, just like anything else. But my belief is that if you take care of yourself, eat right, and make a conscious effort to learn what does and doesn’t work for you, aging gracefully will come a lot more naturally.
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