Life Changing Wellbeing Goals For The Unmotivated!

 Unmotivated? You are not alone!

At this time of year people around us may be setting new goals and resolutions. Targets can often be short term such as to lose a stone by the summer or to get that promotion. They can be more driven by today’s needs and not tomorrow’s and can be big audacious goals which feel overwhelming. However,  not everyone has the energy for that at the moment! You can do something simple for your wellbeing which could be just as impactful. So, if you want a focus, but running a marathon isn’t doing it for you,  I challenge you to consider a serious long term goal by answering the following question:

 “What kind of 80 year old would I like to be?”

We have all seen people in their 80’s who are frail and also those who remain independent and engaged in life. Serious illness can befall any of us, but let’s assume that nothing drastic happens to you. What skills, abilities, physicality and emotions would you like your future self to have?

Physical goals

I am very fortunate to have had a grandmother who was free of illness and lived independently until she was 99. In her youth she walked a lot and encouraged me to do the same. Being independent as I get older is important to me and I recognise that it is harder to become someone who can walk a mile at 80 if you can’t walk 2 miles at 70 – why 2 miles? Well, that gives your body a bit of leeway in case your knees are feeling their age! So what positive physical attributes does your 80 years old self have and how can you make it a habit today? For example, I want to be able to comfortably walk 3 miles in my 80’s, so my goal is to be able to do 6 miles now.

Can you stand on one leg?

Balance Test

Did you know that people falling over costs the NHS around £450 million every year? 66% of these patients are typically over 80 according to www.gov.uk. Lots of older people are fine until they ‘have a fall’ therefore having greater stability earlier in life and maintaining it will hopefully avoid this. Not surprisingly, having good balance is also a powerful indicator of long term health.

Studies have shown that there is a simple test to see if you are likely to suffer a serious fall in your retirement. How long can you lift one leg off of the ground, with your eyes closed, without toppling over? This is called the single leg stance assessment and don’t worry if it’s not great today as this is something you can improve and could be your health goal moving forward. Take a task you normally do everyday such as brushing your teeth and do it on one leg. Eventually your balance will improve and the cumulative effect could help you to age healthily.

If you are wondering what typical results for this test look like, studies have shown that those under 40 can stand on one leg for 45 seconds with their eyes open and 15 seconds with their eyes closed. This reduces to 41 seconds open and 8 seconds closed in the 50 to 59 age groups. So practice now! What else can you do to improve your stability today? Tai Chi and Yoga are both low impact activities that can reduce your stress and improve your balance.

Mentally

Mental decline is something most of us expect as we age and menopause and stress can make us feel that this decline has already started. Consider how you can remain mentally active by making it a habit now. When was the last time you did a crossword or played scrabble? Learned a language or read a book on an unfamiliar subject? Watch a YouTube video every day on a topic you haven’t considered before; learning keeps you mentally engaged.

Socially

Be social! As we age ‘can’t be bothered’ can set in and lockdown may have started this trend in you already, whatever your age. Feeling part of something is great for your wellbeing but trying to fit in to a new group or hobby later in life can feel daunting. Consider what you can do now whilst you have more confidence and maybe a partner to join in with you to get over that ‘can’t be bothered’ feeling. When you are 80 you may wish you had done more when you were more able and you could be 30 years out of practice of being sociable.

Financially

Does financial security feature in the life of the 80 year old you? The earlier you face your finances the better. According to a 2019 financial wellbeing survey by Perkbox, money is the biggest cause of stress for employed adults, and over a quarter of adults feel stressed about finances every day.

As a Chartered Financial Planner who advised clients for 20 years, I saw both ends of the spectrum. I advised those who had planned well but carried on working in a job they didn’t like that made them ill. I also helped those with no plan at all who worried about the future. In all cases awareness makes a huge difference and can give you more options. Maybe you can ditch the day job sooner than you think!

A few changes today may enable you to reap huge benefits later in life, so get some advice on your retirement position. Let’s give your 80 year old self the finances to support their lifestyle! Remember that good habits today will have a positive impact and move you closer to your goal. It’s never to late to start, but the sooner you do the greater the rewards and the easier it is to achieve the life you want, both now and in the future.

Finally

The kind of 80 year old you want to be could be a wonderful great-grandparent or a thriving artist – so think about the small changes to your habits you can make today to help you pave the way, and achieve those benefits both now and for many years to come. This isn’t really about saving the good times until you are 80, it’s about finding the motivation and making small changes for the long term impacts, which will also bring those positive effects today.

Happy goal setting!

References:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/falls-applying-all-our-health/falls-applying-all-our-health

https://www.perkbox.com/uk/resources/blog/financial-wellbeing-survey

If you are interested in finding your motivation and improving your wellbeing take a look at My Wellbeing Club!

“SENSIBLE, APPROACHABLE, DO-ABLE, NON-JUDGEMENTAL AND PRAGMATIC…” Liz Blackburn