Anti Aging Tips to Keep You from Becoming an Old Fart

I’ve been working on some anti aging tips to keep from becoming a grumpy old fart.

I see it happening and I find it terrifying. Too many Baby Boomers are turning into old farts. And if you think I’m pointing the finger and not worried about myself, let me assure you that I am worried about myself. That’s why last year, I wrote 5 Ways to Ensure Getting Older Makes You Sweeter Not Bitter.

As we age, the tendency is to focus more and more on yourself. We make the mistake of thinking the universe ought to revolve around us. We mentally stomp our feet and live out this thought: “This is MY time.” And when the universe fails to cooperate we get grumpy.

I get it. We’ve worked hard. We deserve a break. But focusing only on yourself can turn you into an old fart. Grumpy old people are not pleasant to be around. Instead of focusing on yourself I suggest you join me in focusing on 5 anti aging tips.

There is real power in focus. Over 50 years ago my brother and I discovered the power of focus. We got our hands on a magnifying glass. It amazed us to see what we could do as we focused the power of the sun on a single item. We could burn holes in anything!

Here’s my 5 anti aging tips to focus on which will keep us from turning into old farts:

Anti Aging Tip #1: Focus on making someone else’s life better instead of your own problems.

It’s natural to be concerned about our own challenges. But we get into difficulties if we become obsessed with our own issues. Find someone who needs help and give it to them. You will be surprised about how helping someone else with their problems will help keep you young.

Anti Aging Tip #2: Focus on developing the habit of curiosity instead of living in a rut.

In his book How to Think Like Michelangelo, Michael Gelb identifies curiosity as a key factor. Curiosity drives us to keep learning and discovering. Remind yourself of the high curiosity level in children which keeps them smiling. Avoid living in a rut by stoking your level of curiosity.

Anti Aging Tip #3: Focus on the future instead of the past.

You can’t drive a car forward while staring in the rearview mirror. Too many people try to live life while looking over their shoulder. This practice makes a person old before their time. The accumulated weight of hurt and disappointment starts to wear us down. Let the past remain in the past. Look ahead. Keep your eyes focused on the future.

Anti Aging Tip #4: Focus on staying active instead of sedentary.

Becoming a couch potato is one of the worst enemies in an effort to stay young. If you want to see some statistics about this check out this lengthy scientific article Too Much Sitting: The Population-Health Science of Sedentary Behavior. Do whatever it takes to stay active. Start walking every day at the mall, join a fitness club, connect with people your age at the YMCA, or consider biking. If you want to not turn into an old fart stay active.

Anti Aging Tip #5: Focus on what you can do instead of on what you can’t do.

There’s no doubt that our physical and mental abilities diminish as we age. We cannot do the things we could 30 years ago. But it does no good to whine and moan about these increasing limitations. It’s far better to keep focused on what you are still able to do. Key in on those abilities and be grateful for them.

I’ve met some scary old people. They are negative, see trouble everywhere, feel entitled, and have become bitter. That’s not how I want these years to be for me. I want to ReFIRE my life, not retire my life. Join me in applying these anti aging tips and let’s stay young together.

What anti aging tips can you add to this list?