To ask if there is anything I can do to stop myself slowing down as I age?

[Fraudornot]

Reached a significant birthday recently so feeling the years tick away. I’m still very physically fit but wondering about the other aspects where I can see myself slowing down - examples such as how slow I am on my phone, taking so long to get out to do things, it just generally taking longer for things like figuring out directions. Does anyone know what I mean and is there anything that can be done or is it inevitable?

What people do at work varies enormously. Some jobs are boring, repetitive and stressful. They wouldn't be doing much for your cognitive ability.

This is a really major thing, for sure.

Getting satisfaction out of your job is likely to mean you will get enjoyment out of it beyond the point where you need to do it financially. A job you enjoy, and which you will have more control over into your later years, will be life enhancing. A repetitive, boring job, beyond the point where you need to do it, will probably make you decline faster, both physically and mentally.

This is one of (many) reasons why it infuriates me when people say: "No one, on their deathbed, ever regretted not working more". This is wrong on so many levels but in this case its particularly pertinent. Not working hard when you're younger to achieve a career which fulfils you could literally cost you years of your life when you're older.

I agree everyone seems to slow down when they retire. It happens between one to two years after someone retires.
Every know who has retired says they haven't slowed down, but that is not true.

"They often say they don't know how they had the time to work!"

This s a sign of slowing down. Everything takes longer. Instead of taking the dog out for a walk before and after work, you spend the morning preparing for a dog walk, walking the dog, and having a cup of tea afterwards.

Slower .. what taking time to enjoy walking the dog, enjoy breakfast ... I am not seeing this as bad

I didn't say it was bad. I said it was a sign of slowing down

But there is an implication that the slowing down is inevitable aging not a choice from freedom

As the OP hasn't said how old then it's difficult to answer but as they mentioned the phone and slowing down I'm going to guess 60.

Just keep moving. Walk every day. Lift weights. And do things that require dexterity e.g. playing guitar or piano, or crochet.

This is a generalisation that definitely doesn't apply to all.

Many pensioners like me and my friends get up at the same time we used to for work and have walked the dog, had a swim, picked tomatoes for breakfast on our allotment and are still at our voluntary job or in our language course by 9am.

There are many pensioners for whom a dog walk is a 10 mile hike on the moors rather than a shuffle around the local park with a plump old terrier.

Absolutely.

I am now able to do all the things I was simply not able to do when I was working because there simply was no time. Work was full on and I used to spend weekends catching up on cooking, washing etc, constantly chasing my tail.

I am now able to run my home properly, do the garden, volunteer, exercise, see friends, read, research, go the cinema, theatre, gigs whatever. If anything, I have speeded up rather than slowing down.

I love your outlook on life. Good on you. I hope to be like you in retirement!

Thank you @picturethispatsy . As George Alagiah said, "Life is a gift." I hope all your happiest dreams come true.

I've been retired for 5.5 years. I don't think I've slowed down at all. I'm Chair of Governors at a local school, part of a local band, I do resistance training at the gym 2 or 3 times a week and I run 5km 2 or 3 times a week. I meet up with friends for walks and lunch , look after my grandchildren, travel as much as I can (Canada, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Greece and Scotland in the last 12 months) and I'm involved in local politics.

It isn't about working - it's about keeping yourself active both physically and mentally

Interesting topic. I'm close to mid 50s and have cut down to part time work. For me it's a good balance between having more time to myself whilst still having the benefits of working. I doubt I will ever go full time again as I like having more time to spend on my hobbies and not feeling so frazzled!

That being said, I accept a level of "slowing down" and actually appreciate it. I don't want the pace of life I've had for most of my life! I want to take my time over things and not feel rushed. I want to spend a reasonable amount of time relaxing and not always being on the go.

Maybe that means I will decline or die sooner! In that case so be it! I'm not going to force myself to do things I don't want to do otherwise I'm just wasting what time I do have left! I love my life now so that's all that matters to me.

As a child the pace of life was slower
And that continued in my 20s

Endless weekends with little to do
A whole day just on laundry and housework

Having a family and things went mental for 20 years

I see this as going back to a better pace of life