Perhaps it is easier for young people to have fun. When you are young anything involving noise, live concerts, bonfires, physical activity, or even just staying up late comes under the category of fun.
At what point did fun start revolving around less active pursuits? Ruth Schiffmann ( Boston Globe (August 8, 2010) writes about how the fun of youth soon fades, and before you know it afternoons reading, writing, or having lunch with a friend becomes more alluring than doing something physical. The trouble with quiet serenity is that it can breed inertia, and before you know it you can hardly remember what having fun was all about.
Hopefully relaxing and watching television hasn’t become your lone source of fun things to do. The Targeted News Service (Washington, D.C. June 29, 2010) featured an article on the amount of time that older adults spend watching television. At what point did watching reality shows on television became more “fun” than active pursuits like dancing, singing, canoeing, or going for a hike with your best friend?
We worried when our children would too much time in front of the television. Now your children may be worrying about you. Are your children fussing at you because you watch Wheel of Fortune and head for bed before 8 o’clock in the evening? Studies show older adults spend 25% of their time watching television. Studies also show that sedentary activities, such as television watching can have a negative effect on your health. Amount of television time has been linked with the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and a withdrawal from social and physical interaction. Talk about a downward spiral. Perhaps it is time for older folks to get off the couch, and I don’t mean heading to bed while it is still daylight outside.
Television is fine if you like to unwind in the evening with a few favorite shows, but if you find yourself delaying your walk or turning down a social invitation because your favorite show is on, it may be time to take a serious look on what an inactive lifestyle is doing to you. At the very least, how about moving your treadmill or bike into the living room and combining your favorite soap with a exercising. You could also do leg lifts, crunches or even oxycise during commercials. It may take a little effort but perhaps it is time to put a little more physical effort into joyful pursuits.
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