In the weeks following, I will be posting the entire book, Growing Older Without Growing Old, one chapter at a time. Here’s the introduction. Where relevant, I have links to e-books that discuss those topics in greater detail.

Introduction

In general, we mature and grow wiser as we grow older. Time management experts used to tell us (and most still do) that in a lifetime, we could get the equivalent of two extra years of work done if we applied their time management strategies. I bought into this concept of getting more done in less time and built my career on the virtues of efficiency. But now I would ask, “Wouldn’t it be easier to simply live two years longer? Then we could be as inefficient as we are now and accomplish just as much. And as a bonus, we would have an extra two years to enjoy whatever life offers.”

In fact, we could get ten or more additional years depending on our health and the lifestyle habits that we adopt.

Ten years ago, I changed my training programs from effective time management to holistic time management, including strategies completely different from the usual planning, scheduling, delegating, technology, multitasking, etc. These strategies include such things as sleep, personal relationships, connection to nature, energy cycles, and exercise. I will refer to these and other strategies in this book. I also cover some of them in greater detail – those that also impact slowing down the pace of life – in one of my e-books published by Bookboon.com, “Internal time management.”

It’s important to eliminate the myth that you’re old when you reach retirement age. There’s a difference between growing older and getting old. Old age is a destination. Growing older is a journey. I’m not old. I’m only 90, getting older all the time, and enjoying every minute of it. I believe my destination is heaven, not old age – and I’m in no hurry to reach my destination.

According to Statistics Canada, close to half of Canadians plan to retire before 65. There is a trend towards early retirement. Between 1987 and 1990, only 29 percent of Canadians retired before age 60. From 1997 to 2000, 43 percent retired before 60. It is more important than ever to have a plan before retiring. Especially since life expectancy continues to increase. There’s much time to fill and finance, so money and lifestyle must be considered.

It is not essential that you retire at all. The main reason people retire in the first place is probably that they are tired of doing what they’re doing, or they have no choice. There could be other reasons depending on their circumstances, such as wanting to become a full-time caregiver to their spouse or whatever. But it’s not always because they need the money. The December 8, 2017, issue of Telegraph-Journal contained an article on retirement that included survey results on why many retirees continue to work part-time. 82% expressed a desire to remain mentally active, 65% cited the need for social interaction, and only 32% reported financial necessity. But regardless, when people retire, they should retire to something – other than a rocking chair, that is.

If you have your own business or are working in a profession or job that you really love, you may choose to continue to work if you are physically and mentally able to do so. But usually, there are other things you want to make time for as well, which may necessitate downsizing your role in the business. That’s the situation I find myself in now – still in my own little business but limiting my involvement almost entirely to the parts of it that I enjoy the most – writing and speaking.

I jokingly say that I will slow down when I am dead; but truthfully, I spend much of my time on things other than work – including leisure, volunteering, travel, family and friends, and trying new things.

The author of Age Wave tells a story about Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world. When he was asked how he felt about the fact that Rose

Blumkin, the chairperson of one of his companies, Furniture Mart, had just turned 94. Buffett replied, “She is clearly gathering speed and may well reach her full potential in another five or ten years. Therefore, I’ve persuaded the board to scrap our mandatory retirement-at-100 policy. (Rose Blumkin passed away at 104)

There is no such thing as a gene responsible for aging. Genes, in total, do play some role. If your parents lived to be 100, you have a better chance of living to a ripe old age. But your genes only influence longevity by about 30%. The remaining 70% is predominantly determined by lifestyle choices and attitude.

Your chronological age is not important; it is your biological age. Your biological age depends on many factors – the most important being your health, lifestyle, attitude, and outlook – all of which are partially, and sometimes entirely, within your control.

In this book I include some of my own experiences to date. But what works or doesn’t work for me are not necessarily things that will work for you. I hope that some of the recommendations from me or others or the research findings I pass along will help you live a long, happy, and purposeful life throughout your senior years. According to an article in the January 2018 issue of Prevention Guide, published by Rodale Inc., nearly 80% of us want to reach 100, at least according to Stanford University researchers. If you or I happen to be one of those people, I’m sure we would prefer to be in good physical and mental shape – at least with enough wind in our sails to blow out all those candles.

One thing that I want to avoid is dementia. Like many people, I don’t want to outlive my mind. Perhaps this fear is exacerbated by the fact that one of my older brothers died from Alzheimer’s at a much younger age than I am right now. Because of this, in the first chapter, I briefly discuss ways to avoid dementia or at least lessen its impact on your life. Some medications will slow its progression and make life more enjoyable, but I won’t discuss these. In the following chapters, I will highlight natural ways to maintain a healthy brain, strengthen your cognitive skills, and increase the odds of avoiding dementia altogether.

What’s good for your brain is also good for your body, and some of these strategies are continued in more detail as the book progresses. You may be surprised by the benefits of simple things that we take for granted, such as nature, relationships, and a good night’s sleep.

Growing older is inevitable, but growing old is optional.

The book s available to download in PDF format for only $4.99 at taylorintime.com.