The Beginning of a Sincere Heart

Why Do I Keep Waking Up at Night After 60? Calming a Busy Mind for Better Sleep Does this sound familiar? You fall asleep at 11 p.m., and then at 2 or 3 in the morning, your eyes snap open. You close them and try to fall back asleep, but that is when your mind gets busy — worries about your children, your health, tomorrow's errands. Before you know it, the sun is coming up. I know this well. After I turned 60, my sleep was never the same. But through my years of studying the mind, I learned something important: the biggest thief of our nighttime rest is not the body. It is the mind. Why Do We Wake Up So Often After 60? First, deep sleep decreases with age. When we were young, we fell into deep sleep easily. As we grow older, light sleep takes up more of the night, so even small sounds can wake us. This is a natural change in the body. Second, our daytime habits affect the night. A cup of coffee in the late afternoon or a long afternoon nap can quietly steal our nighttime sleep. Thi...

  How to Make New Friends After 60: Getting to Know Each Other and Building Comfortable Connections Old friends share years of memories. Sometimes they understand each other without needing many words. With someone new, however, we have to learn about each other’s personality and way of life from the beginning. That can make starting a friendship later in life feel a little uncertain. Yet our years of experience can also help us form new connections. We may be better able to understand another person’s circumstances and appreciate a small act of kindness. The key is to give each other time instead of trying to become close too quickly. 1. Take an Interest in the Other Person A new friendship does not begin by expecting someone to think and act exactly as we do. Notice what they enjoy talking about, whether they like spending time alone, and how often they feel comfortable keeping in touch. Rather than deciding what someone is like after one meeting, get to know them gradually in di...

How to Rediscover Motivation After Retirement: Six Questions to Ask Yourself When we were younger, responsibilities often filled our days. After retirement, life may become quieter. We may have more time but feel unsure what we want to do with it. When that happens, I think it helps to ask ourselves a few questions before setting a big new goal. 1. What do I enjoy now? Think about what catches your interest, even if it seems small. It might be writing, cooking, music, or walking. Try expressing that interest through words, photos, or an activity. You do not have to be good at it. Starting is enough. 2. Am I making time to talk with others? A conversation can help us understand feelings that seemed unclear when we were alone. Meet a friend, call a family member, or talk with a neighbor. Ask how they are doing and share what has been on your mind. Their stories may also lead you toward a new interest. 3. What did I enjoy in the past? Think of something you once loved but set aside becaus...

Why Do I Feel Cold All the Time After 60? How Exercise Can Help Restore Warmth and Energy As we get older, many of us begin to feel colder than we did when we were younger. In the past, a little movement may have warmed the body quickly. After 60, however, our hands and feet may feel cold more often, and even a comfortable room may sometimes feel chilly. This change should not be blamed on age alone. As we grow older, we may exercise less, spend more time sitting, and gradually lose muscle mass. Changes in metabolism, the heart, blood vessels, and the body’s temperature-regulation system may also affect how warm we feel. Regular physical activity cannot solve every cause of cold sensitivity. However, it can help us maintain strength, mobility, cardiovascular fitness, and the ability to generate body heat. 1. What Happens When We Become Less Active? After retirement, many people spend less time walking, commuting, shopping, and performing physically demanding work. As daily movement dec...