The Final Third
I’m 60 (I actually turned 61 Saturday). Turns out, that is a magic number. Medical and scientific research shows that significant molecular and microbe changes occur around the age of 60. The biggest changes are related to cardiovascular disease, immune regulation, kidney function, carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, and skin and muscle. Most of these changes look and feel like decay. Yep, I’m rotting where I stand.
I have much I still want to accomplish in this “final third” of my life. I can’t afford to fall apart quite yet. I’ve often said I want people to tell me when I’m the guy in the left lane going 50 on the interstate, so I needed to figure out how to stay at highway speed a while longer. I want to decay as little as possible as I age. I can’t lead well if I am falling apart, and neither can you.
There is good news. While aging is inevitable, decaying isn’t. Well, at least it can be significantly slowed. If you want to read a great book about this, pick up a copy of “Younger Next Year.” Turns out, there is no pill, no magic wand, no silver bullet. Reducing decay and being the best version of you isn’t complicated; it’s hard, but it is worth it. You already know everything I am going to say next.
Movement is life. We were designed to be active, to walk, run, jump, reach, pick up, and a myriad of other actions. We used to use our bodies every day to travel, grow or forage food, hunt, and build. Now we pay other people to do most of that, and they use technology. We need to move vigorously every day of our lives. Some people call this exercise, maybe we should call it living.
Food is fuel. We know better than to put bad gas and contaminants in our car’s gas tank. Yet somehow, we lose our minds at the grocery store or restaurant and load up on junk that is proven to destroy the amazing machine we rely most on. Nourish yourself. Eat well. Forget the word diet. Yes, you need to eat the calories required to live (and no more), but if you get those calories from unprocessed, natural, whole foods, you won’t have much trouble.
Rest is not optional. Leaders are notorious for working too much and resting too little. Sleep is when our brains repair themselves. (You like your brain, don’t you?) Resting our minds, bodies, and spirits actually increases the amount of work we are capable of doing when we return. Get some good sleep, find your happy place and go there often, take a long vacation (at least 2 weeks) every year and see if it doesn’t make you a better version of yourself.
So, that takes care of the physical you. Like I said, not complicated, just hard. However, to be at your best, you need to pay attention to two other areas. Your financial health and your mental and emotional wellbeing.
I won’t dwell on the financial part too much. I’m not a financial advisor (or even very smart in that area). I have a guy. You should too. Get out of debt. Save. Invest wisely. Look into long term care insurance. Have an estate plan. None of these things are difficult, but they are easy to ignore until it’s too late.
Mental and emotional wellbeing is less straightforward. The men and women who fought in WWII came home, went back to work, raised families, and got on with it. There is a lot to be said for being tough. However, as we learn more about ourselves, we have access to tools that can improve our lives significantly, and we should use them.
Social connection is as close as we can get to a cure for mental degradation as we age. If you have good friends and/or a spouse, work to improve and maintain those relationships. If you don’t have friends, get started making some. Having new experiences triggers growth in the human mind, so do some new stuff. Finally, if you are struggling mentally or emotionally, talk to someone.
Commitment also plays a role in how our minds decay (or don’t). Retirement can be a death sentence if there isn’t something else to invest energy and passion into. Start now to develop other interests (all work and no play…). Hobbies and volunteering can also be places to find those friends you are looking for.
Not 60 yet? Well, that’s great news! Start now, and you will be even better prepared (plus, you will be an even better leader right now). When leaders get better, everybody wins. Take care of your body by moving, eating, and resting well. Be a good steward so your finances don’t derail you. Nurture your mental and emotional health with connection and commitment. The final third can be the best third if you lead the Bison Way.