So do you make New Year’s resolutions? I have. I don’t always, but this year I think I am going to. With birthday number 48 just passing, it has me remembering that next comes 49 and after that birthday number 50. That 5-0 birthday scares me a little…just like birthday 30 scared me. 40 didn’t faze me at all. The big 5-0 makes me think I should have taken better care of myself but then I realized that I should quit thinking about 50 and start living a little better at 48 so 50 can be a little more pleasant. That sounds like a much better plan. The activities and choices we make today have a significant impact on the way we age in the future. So what am I doing to be living a little better at 48 that will help me grow old a little more gracefully? 
Here’s me, the dogs, and their glow-in-the-dark leashes. Here are my resolutions:
#1 I am going to move more. I didn’t say run marathons….just move more. In the past year or so I have gotten lax in walking. I’ll be honest. I am not good at walking myself but I am really good at walking a dog. Why is that? I think I know. I am a caregiver type. I care for other things but caring for myself…not so much. I’ll walk the dog because it needs to be walked but I’ll give you every excuse I can not to walk just me. So…I plan to keep fostering dogs. They need to be walked so I’ll walk them. That’s my plan for moving more.
#2 I am going to keep taking my medications and keep going to the doctor when I should.
#3 I am going to drink more water…I try for the recommended eight glass… don’t make it and quit altogether. So it’s time for a new goal. 4 glasses of water each and every day…no pop substitutes. I bought myself a bag of lemons so I can have lemon water. That might help. I know four is WAY under the recommendation but if I have a smaller goal of four and always make it, working my way up to five won’t be so hard.
#4 Keep quilting… it just plain makes me happy!! #5 Keep my attitude or gratitude.
So those are my resolutions…with a New Year right around the corner, you’ve probably started thinking about your resolutions – but have you taken into consideration how the activities you chose to participate in now will help you Get Old? Making lofty New Year’s resolutions always make me sad-they typically include deprivation and I can never stick to them. I hope you make some goals-attainable goals-for the New Year. I’d love to have you grow old along with me. What are you doing to Get Old well? Tell us at GetOld.com and join the conversation on Twitter.com/GetOld and Facebook.com/GetOld. I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Pfizer and Get Old. I received compensation for this post. All opinions stated are my own.
Good goals! Strange thing but I found drinking water out of a water bottle or with a straw makes it disappear faster than water in an open glass. I don’t understand that one but it has helped me drink more water. I too am a care giver by nature and find it hard to care for me. But then I think if I want to be around to see grandkids someday I better get moving!
In order to drink more water, I fill bottles and put them in the fridge. It’s easy to grab a bottle, and it makes it easy to see if I am drinking enough water each day.
Unrelated to the subject. I just received the Charm book and squares that I won from you. They are great thank you very much.
I too fill bottles to help keep track of how many I drink. But, I also add the little sugar free Kool-Aid or wylers flavor packs. lemonade, cherry limeaid, etc. and have been able to do away with soda’s.
About a year ago my husband got me a Fitbit for my birthday (he had one and I had dropped unsubtle hints about wanting one!). Since I got it I have really increased the walking I do. There are other pedometers on the market. You can set a goal and try and aim for it. Mine “talks” to my iPhone. It also connects to the computer. It tracks the total steps and distance (I just got my 2000 miles) and sends you a message to encourage you.
If you have a smart phone there are some apps you can use, one I like is RunKeeper. I use it when I go for my walk in the morning. I enjoy seeing how some days I walk faster than others – but if you are walking with dogs walking faster might not be possible!
I love the Keep Quilting goal. I love quilting and particularly with friends. Sometimes I make excuses not to drag my machine out, but I will try harder to do that.
There is no real evidence that drinking 8 glasses of water is good for you. Look it up on Snopes and see what they say. I do drink a lot of water, but that’s because my father only ever allowed us “Lion’s Lemonade” except for special occasions.
Good luck with your goals.
But, drinking soda is definitely not going to help us reach our goals. (It is a bad habit for me, too)
Try dandelion tea-it is good for your liver and if you sweeten with truvia no cal. Exercise is definitely the best thing to do!
i agree with the drinking water in bottles as being much easier to keep track of (and much easier to take with you too!) I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a flat (24 bottles) of water on our counter in the kitchen. that way it’s always within easy reach, and also serves as a constant visual reminder to choose the water over something else.
Also a big YES to the walking to keep fit. I heartily recommend getting a pedometer and setting walking goals for the week as a challenge to yourself. Wear the pedometer all the time, and you’d be surprized how all those steps inside the house or around the outside that you don’t think about add up into miles.
One more easy thing to do is to add fresh fruit to your daily food intake in the Winter to help keep you healthy. Eating fresh fruit for a snack is much better (and more filling) for all of us than gobbling down the soda and chips. Fruit offers more crunch for the bite, longer chewing time, and a fuller stomach.
I applaud your goal to move more. Looking back from age 61, it’s one of the things I wish I’d started doing when I was your age.
I’m definitely with you on the quilting more!
I have always said that prevention is key. I just turned 50. It isn’t that bad. I do wish that I had taken better care of myself when I was younger. Lots of sunscreen and eating healthier. In my twenties I was extremely overweight. It’s a struggle, now. I have to watch everything I eat and exercise. I can’t do one without the other. That being said, I, too, need to move more. Our family just bought a treadmill, so that will help during this already cold, snowy winter.
I wish you well in achieving your goals.
I love that you included more quilting. I want that, too!
Another great way to ale sure you are drinking enough water is the Camelback soft top or Brita flip flip top filter bottles. The camel back is marked for 600 ml, and the Brita is marked more frequently, so you can track how much you are drinking. Wide mouth openings mean you can add ice, which is a must for me. I have also seen people mark off increments on the outside of the bottle, and label them by the time of day. (Breaks up the amount per day into manageable segments and easy to remember too!) good luck !
Great goals. I need to do the same. I do have another suggestion for the water. Add cucumber – I know it sounds a little odd. It is very refreshing. I just slice the cucumber into the pitcher of water I keep in the fridge. Sometimes, I add lemon as well. Give it a try
I’m turning 49 myself in the next few months and told my family that I want to walk or do a 5k for my 50th. Several years ago I walked 6 miles a day. I remember that feeling & the energy I had. I want to start my 50’s with that feeling of being in control of me. My youngest of 6 turns 16 this week..now I finally feel like its MY turn. =)
The recommended amount of water keeps changing- just drink when you can. I’m putting an orange slice in it and it helps a lot. My dog loves to be walked and that is a great motivation, Jo.