Here are some encouraging science-based facts I learned about aging in 2023.

Before I present my list I want to express all the gratitutude in the world for reading this and being part of the community of fierce, curious, post menoopausal women ready to amp up their power and voice.

Let’s make a difference in 2024, together, by getting rid of society’s old-fashioned ideas and narrow definitions of what it means to age. We can be setting the record straight with our new ideals.

Let’s Go.

And TA – DA!, here is my list:

• Your most productive age is from 60 – 70 years old
• your second-most productive age is age 70 – 80 years old
• and your third-most productive age is 50 – 60 years old
• The brain of an older adult chooses the path of effciency when tackling a problem, where a younger adult will more easily get confused and choose a path of confusion and difficulty, resulting in better results in tests for older people
• This might have something to do with the way our brains can use both hemispheres of the brain when problem solving after the age of 60. Before 60, adults use only one hemisphere at a time resulting in less efficient thinking. When using both sides of the brain, it becomes more fluid and supple, resulting in more creativity and harmonious power. Creating something new after 60 only makes sense and gets more and more powerful as we age.
• Brain neurons do not die off as we age. The connections between neurons will grow and strengthen with good mental work and physical health, and they will disappear if they are lacking mental stimulation
• Absent-mindedness and forgetfullness are due to an overabundance of the information accumulated throughout your life. Try to focus more on big ideas rather than trivia
• Your intellectual ability will grow as you age, reaching your peak between ages 80 or 90, as long as you pursue a healthy lifestyle (nourishing meals, stimulating ideas, curiousity instead of judgment, plenty of sleep and rest, moving your body, getting outside, challenges for body and mind, close relationships and conversations…)
• What we lose in quick thinking as we do in our younger years, we are more likely to come up with the correct/best ideas when problem-solving. We filter better for better ideas, and allow fewer negative emotions to cloud our thoughts
• We begin to reach the peak of our brain power at age 70
• Over time, the amount of myelin in the brain increases. Myelin is what facilitates the passage of signals between neurons and results in our intellectual abilities to increase by 300%. This peak is reached between the ages of 60 – 80 years old
• Seeking awe, whether a natural phenomenon like aurora borealis (northern lights) or seeing humans beings offer safety and altruism in times of trouble, will increase our capacity for compassion, empathy and contentment
• The free and magic power of mindset can tackle most any problem
• We must love and forgive ourselves before we can love and forgive others, which helps us to create the strongest and most meaningful connections. This is true self-care
• Tiny habits work best when adapting to healthier habits: break it down into the smallest step and experience growing confidence in promises you keep to yourself (for example, I want to move my body more, so today I will do 1 pushup against the wall)
• Stacking tiny habits with the ones you already have in place (like doing that one pushup right after something else you do every day like brushing your teeth) will make any new habit easier to do
• Choosing an icon of aging, someone who represents your values and your goals, will add 7.5 years of vibrant health to your life when you adapt their example into your life
• Hot and cold therapy (can be as simple as cold shower after a warm one, but also sauna and cold plunging) increase brown fat which in turn boosts anti-inflammation, helps with anxiety and gives the best night of sleep in your life
• Blood sugar spikes have serious repercussions to our health and longevity (pre-diabetes, diabetes, cancer, endocrine health, brain fog, sleep quality, inflammation…) but can be eliminated with some simple hacks that include: savory breakfast with an emphasis on protein, sourdough bread with fiber is reduces spikes better than white bread, starting meals with vegetables, enjoying sweets after a full meal rather than on its own, taking a short walk after meals, adding vinegar in form of shots of apple cider vinegar or vinegar-based salad dressing helps your body avoid blood sugar spikes, and reducing sugar in your diet
• You may tolerate drinking alcohol less well as you grow older, and our societies acceptance of using alcohol to celebrate, reduce inhibitions, and relax may be outdated. Alcohol actually has the opposite effect leading to poor sleep, more inflammation, depression, anxiety and brain fog
• Getting outside boosts mental health, with bonus points for the sounds and sights of wilder nature
• Using daily, shorter, gentler exercise (like walking or Pilates) instead of occassional, high intensity exercise is way more effective for immediate and long-term health and longevity
• Weight lifting is a great way to keep and increase muscle mass as we age, since we tend to lose it without weight-bearing moves

Stick with me, we can learn even more, together!

Thank you for reading and growing and being curious,

Love, Barbara

PS: Did you learn something encouraging this year? Please do tell. XXOO

PPS: What will you try to add to your life to make it more fulfilling?