Noticing the passage of time can be a gradual process. Still, eventually, it offers a thorough look at your age and how it’s becoming noticeable in various aspects of your life. To show you what we mean, here are 17 signs that you’re officially getting old.
Poor Hearing
Figures from the AAA show that “30–35 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from hearing loss, and 40–50 percent of adults 75 and older suffer from hearing loss.” Loss of hearing normally runs in the family. If you’re beginning to lose your hearing, it’s a sign that you’re getting old.
Struggling to Keep Up
Our modern society is always changing. What is popular today might be old news by next week. Ways of doing things are always evolving. Are you struggling to keep up with all of the changes? Then this might be a sign that you’re getting old.
Dwindling Memory
As we get older, it becomes harder for us to remember things. Information such as people’s names, what someone said in conversation, or even what you were meant to buy at the supermarket can quickly become distant memories that you struggle to bring back to mind.
Near Vision
The Mayo Clinic says that “presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. It’s a natural, often annoying part of aging. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in your early to mid-40s and continues to worsen until around age 65.” Deterioration of near vision is a sign of aging.
Low Energy
As we get older, we don’t have as much energy as we used to when we were in our teens and twenties. As a result, everything feels like hard work. If you feel your energy levels are depleting, this may be a sign that you’re officially getting old.
Expensive Travel Insurance
Travel insurance gets really expensive when we get older. The final cost of insuring your trip might make the cheap off-peak getaway you found suddenly seem expensive. If you’re struggling to find a good travel insurance deal for your upcoming vacation, it might be because you’re getting older.
Planning Your Retirement
Being old enough to retire is another sign that you’re officially getting on in years. It’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, you should be proud of your hard work. However, if you’re thinking about retirement or have already retired, you’re definitely getting old.
Discounted Public Transportation
Public transportation is very expensive, but if you’re getting to an age when you can start to apply for a free bus pass or discounted travel on the subway, it means you’re getting old. These travel discounts might limit the times of the day you can travel, but they’re worth taking advantage of.
Constant Check-Ups
When we get older, we’ll need to have more medical exams and checkups. Having routine check-ups is essential, as health problems increase with age and there’s no stopping them. As we get older, we’re more likely to suffer from more than one serious health problem at a time.
Changing Relationships
Are the relationships in your family changing? Where you may once have been able to rely on your parents for everything, they’re now having to rely on you. They may eventually need round-the-clock care. Changing relationships is a sign that you’re getting older and that your family is, too.
Weaker Bones
As we get older, our bones become more brittle. Because of this, we’re more likely to break a bone if we trip and fall. When we do break a bone in our old age, it takes much longer to heal and may never set again like it would when we were young.
Senior Discounts
Reaching the age where you’re able to sign up for senior discounts is definitely a sign that you’re getting older. Some leisure centers, golf clubs, and national parks give discounted entry to seniors. You should ask about these promotions so you can start saving money.
Priority Seats
Priority seats are found on public transportation. They allow people, such as the elderly, to be able to sit at a place that’s most convenient for them to get on and off. Have you ever been offered a priority seat by someone younger than you? Then this could be a sign that you’re getting old.
Gray Hair
Finding your first gray hair is a difficult moment for many. “Most people start noticing their first gray hairs in their 30s—although some may find them in their late 20s,” says Scientific American. If you have begun to notice gray hairs, then this is a sign that you’re getting older.
Your Wardrobe Is Changing
Most of the clothing in clothing shops is advertised for those in their teens, twenties, and early thirties. After that, it becomes more difficult to find clothing that is stylish but age-appropriate.
Slower Pace
We live in a fast-paced world where people seem to do pretty much everything in a rush. In the past, you used to run around all day at work and then rush from work to the supermarket, then rush home and put dinner on. But you can’t keep that pace anymore.
Wrinkles
It’s normal for some people to start getting wrinkles after age 25. But by their mid-40s and 50s, many people begin to look for treatment to reverse the appearance of wrinkles. If you’re starting to notice a lot of wrinkles on your face, this could be a sign of aging.