Use it or lose it is a very popular expression that has been
around for quite some time. As one gets older you realize that little by little
you lose the ability to do some of the things that were easy not so long ago. Now
some of those things could be physical and some could be mental but the bottom
line is to get to work and limit those loses.
I am not as flexible, fast or agile as I use to be. Over the
years I have gotten slower although some of you would doubt that. I do still walk
fairly fast and but I know I don’t walk anywhere near as fast as I use to. You
see I have someone to compare my speed with, my daughter. We don’t go shopping as
much as we use to but when we do and are walking from store to store I think to
myself, “Slow down Jennifer, I can’t keep up!” So I know that I have slowed
down and old age is catching up but I know that I must keep moving or risk losing
even more. I try to stretch and do yoga to keep flexible. Work my core and do
weights. The little I do is not enough but at least it is something and something
is better than nothing.
Experts tell you that as you age you should introduce new
activities or try new things so that your mind is active and learning. Some of
these ideas include using your non-dominate hand for everyday activities, doing
puzzles, reading, learning a new hobby and the list goes on. Apparently brain
cells are just like the other parts of your body, use it or lose it. I do read
and do puzzles every now and again but this summer I can say that I have tried
some new hobbies and gained some new skills. I have learned to make jam, tried
my hand at pickling and today learned to make bagels. While I am a good cook
and baker these new skills required me to use my mind in new ways and think. The
key to keeping your mind sharp is to use it by requiring it to think.
It is so easy these days to get complacent and do aimless
activities to fill your time. The next time you find yourself flipping the channels
looking for anything and I mean anything to watch on the television get up and
move instead. It can be as simple as walking in place or if the weather is nice
taking a short walk around the block. Try standing on one foot and see how long
you can balance then do it with the other foot. Instead of using auto-dial the next ime you make a phone call try to remember the phone number and punch in
the number yourself. Recite multiplication tables, state capitols or say the alphabet
backwards. Take the time to learn something new or try a new activity. Do something
every day to keep your body and mind active. Make “use it” not “lose it” part
of your positively healthy choices every day!
