Written By Alan Good
It’s 2026 and this may be the year you become one of us—a senior! Welcome to the dark forgetful side. Perhaps you believe you have already crossed that line because you forget things.
Have you driven somewhere and once at your destination can’t remember how you got there? Have you read something only to realize you don’t recall what you read and need to re-read a page or two? The same might be applied as you watch a video or listen to someone speak. Have you missed some of this article already?
We sleep through our daily lives. We pass through the day’s events in a mindless manner. Before we know it, we have reached the end of the day and wonder how we got here. Some of us stumble along, literally tripping over things, as we hastily move from one task to the next.
Some experts say we miss 47% of our day—of our life!
Exercise and diet will put you in better form. Adequate sleep will help with attention through our day.
Meditation is a method used by many—and this writer—as a way of lowering stress and gaining a handle on memory. Mindfulness, or being present in daily activities, will improve your mood, body and brain power.
Spending time “intentionally” breathing will reduce stress, help you sleep better, and even reduce pain. You can start with this simple exercise. Sit comfortably and breathe. Start either at your head or feet. Feel each part of your body relax as you command them, gently, to do so. Work your way up, or down, until you cover your entire body.
Feel your feet against the floor, your legs resting on the chair, your back against the backrest. During this, notice your breath going out and then into your lungs. Notice your chest moving, or your diaphragm, as you take air in and then release it.
This is something you can do throughout the day, while waiting in traffic, at an appointment, or when you find yourself in a stressful situation. By focusing on your breathing, you take your mind off your stressful thoughts. Bonus tip: take a deep breath, hold, then let it out very slowly. Doing so several times will lower your heart rate.
As you move to a task, pay attention to what you are doing and allow your senses to bring you into awareness. Smell, touch, see, what your hands accomplish. Breathe as you go. And if you forget and find yourself moving fast and being less mindful, don’t berate yourself. It happens to all.
Stop a moment, feel your breath go in and out. Then resume your task. You will find it more rewarding. Practice mindfulness throughout the day and soon you will gain control of your thoughts. You’ll still be a senior, but one better quipped for life.
