WHAT TO DO ABOUT
WELLNESS AFTER 50
Various strategies can help people maintain mental and physical
wellness as they make their way through their 50s and beyond.
lead to serious injury.
• Embrace your inner socialite.
Socialization is important
for people of all
ages, including individuals
50 and over. A 2017 study
from researchers at Michigan
State found that valuing
friendships was a strong
predictor of health and happiness
among older adults.
Opportunities to socialize
with friends may increase
as people navigate their 50s
and children move out or become
more independent. Individuals
can take advantage
of opportunities to socialize
whenever possible.
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Reaching one’s fi ftieth birthday
in optimal health is an
accomplishment to be proud
of. The hard work required
to be healthy in midlife includes
adhering to a nutritious
diet and exercising
regularly. Once individuals
cross the threshold and enter
their 50s, they can look to
some additional strategies to
maintain their physical and
mental well-being for decades
to come.
• Get a pet. Many people 50
and older qualify as “empty
nesters,” a term applied to
adults whose children have
grown up and moved out of
their homes. Some empty
nesters experience a phenomenon
known as “empty
nest syndrome,” which the
Mayo Clinic notes can be
marked by feelings of sadness
or loss. Pets can help
people over 50 with no children
at home overcome feelings
linked to empty nest
syndrome. In 2018, the University
of Michigan National
Poll on Healthy Aging found
that 86 percent of pet owners
felt their pets make them feel
loved while 73 percent said
their pets provided a sense of
purpose. Pets also can ensure
individuals
over 50 stay
physically
active and
provide opportunities
to connect
with other
people.
• Prioritize
l e a r n i n g .
Whether it’s
taking music
lessons,
going back
to school or
mastering
a new hobby,
learning has a profound
effect on aging brains. For
example, a 2013 study published
in the journal Psychological
Science found
that memory function is
improved by engagement in
demanding everyday tasks.
That study reported that people
who learned new skills
experienced greater memory
improvement than people
who only socialized or
participated in activities that
were not as cognitively engaging.
• Make an effort to improve
balance. Various factors contribute
to a decline in balance
as adults age. For example, a
decline in muscle mass that
begins when people are in
their 30s is a normal part of
aging. Over time, that natural
decline affects strength
and agility. Balance exercises
can be a valuable component
of a fi tness regimen that
help individuals reduce their
risk for falling as they advance
through their 50s and
into their 60s and 70s. That’s
a signifi cant benefi t, as the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reports that
one out of every three adults
age 65 and older experiences
a fall each year, and as many
as 30 percent of those falls
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