People who refuse to slow down in life

Urmstongran

I wonder sometimes if, when people are worried about their health, they push themselves to prove they can ‘still do it’. Also being ultra busy can be a displacement technique, as in “I’m too busy to sit and think about what’s troubling me”. Until of course they lie awake in the wee small hours and have to do so.
Life can be very hard for some. We ought not to judge.

Exactly! 😘

It is a displacement technique, if I thought about things, I would be in a sorry state!

No two people are the same.
What does "slowing down" actually mean anyway? Isn't it more about enjoying what you have at whatever speed you operate? There are those who rush around being seen to be busy whose anxiety levels are sky highland whose contentment with life is low. There are those who settle into older age and a closed mindset because they don't know what else to do.
Inactivity is a very real predictor of premature death.

Juliet27

I just wish I could speed up!!

Oh, me too.
The mind is willing .....

Calipso

No two people are the same.
What does "slowing down" actually mean anyway? Isn't it more about enjoying what you have at whatever speed you operate? There are those who rush around being seen to be busy whose anxiety levels are sky highland whose contentment with life is low. There are those who settle into older age and a closed mindset because they don't know what else to do.
Inactivity is a very real predictor of premature death.

That should read "high and" not "highland"

Darned autocorrect!

I was 4 hours at a ceilidh on Saturday night and danced nearly all the dances. At one stage I sat down to drink some water and that's when I noticed how my body felt! I had to force myself to my feet . The young ones were congratulating me on my stamina cheeky monkeys
I'm 75.

I have slowed down but try to keep my routines of sleeping and eating.

I am much more cautious when out walking and happily use poles. I broke my wrist years ago and don't want a repeat.

BlueBelle

Oh don’t try …surely it’s best to die running than sitting drooping in a corner

Yes, this! 👏👏👏

I'd rather go out with a bang, glass of wine in hand, than sit in a care home for years, becoming incontinent and uncomprehending.

paddyann54

I think if you "slow down" just because you believe you're too old to do the things you've always done,THATs the slippery slope.I have no intention of giving up the things I do everyday .Last year I cut all the branches off around 30 ,15 foot tall leylanndi ,carried the stuff to our van and loaded it while my OH cut down the trunks.Helped him to build a new 8foot fence in its place ..and yes I carrried the fence straps from the front to the back of the house and then did hard landscaping once it was done.We did the whole job in under 2 weeks .Our young neighbours got some men in to do almost the same job ,it took a month.
Why should I stop when I'm a pefectly capable woman who will be 70 this month ?

I bet you were glad to get rid of the leylandi.. they are a blight and suck the light..

I think the age of this friend is relevant.

Some of you are saying you refuse to slow down even though you're nearly 70!
That's young 😃

Perhaps, if she's over 80 and not well, she's trying to pack in as much as possible.

I do find I have far more energy if I have an interesting project. Boredom saps energy

Even if it affects their health?
I don't understand how it can do that fancythat - we all have our own natural pace, surely.

I dont want to say too much.
She has high BP.
Has already had one major health event because of it.
Has been warned she is in imminent danger of a second. If it hasnt happened already. They are doing ongoing tests.

Well, I was going to spend the day doing some washing, a bit of cleaning, sorting ....

But I just had a phone call from a friend who is older than me and who never slows down and I'm gadding off out. 😁

I just think it depends on an individual's state of health, I know my father went from active to non active when in later life he had a whole gamut of health conditions that precluded him from following previous routines, it's what life deals you as to health and fitness. I wish I had more stamina, I think that's something I realised quire a few years ago, goes somewhat hand in hand with an under active thyroid and it's amazing how different I feel on some days as to energy levels without any noticeable related triggers that come to mind. I have to push myself a bit in that respect on sluggish days. I'm sure the old adage of "if you don't use it you'll lose it" is very true. I have to give it to my husband, golf does pay off in later years, it's certainly kept him very fit and he frets when he's not getting enough because of adverse weather, of what, for him, and many others is an enjoyable form of exercise.

Hope you a your friend have a good time Callistemon21, the sun is out!

Thanks, the sun is just peeping out. Must go and make myself look halfway decent 😁

fancythat I'm sorry your friend has high blood pressure - have her medics actually told her to "slow down" or not to do something she's doing?
What is she/he doing that is so damaging?

Obviously don't say if it's too revealing. I think being active is generally thought to be good for us.

If she is doing stressful things I get it but not just being busy surely?

Maybe I just don't know enough about high BP...

I think she may choose to go all the way with it. is also a bit cryptic.

Exactly NotSpaghetti, it is all a bit cryptic. What is she doing that is so potentially damaging to her health OP? Training for a marathon….looking after grandkids 24/7?

A bit of context would help.

Well, as my Mum used to say, ‘You’re a long time dead’. Go for it! Live life like there is no tomorrow.

Well a surgeon recently threatened me with another 40 years on this planet- I think he was trying to be nice!! What a thought but it did make me think that I might be very bored and needed a project!

My mother said

“Better to wear out than rust out”

She lived to 101.

I can't imagine slowing down. Well, in my head anyway. For some reason I wake up bursting with ideas for a project - today I've been pouffe-wrangling as it needed restuffing and I now have a bath full of polystyrene beads. Due to crutches I can't do mega walks, though that will change later in the year, then I'll be back on the coast path, but I'll never give up pushing myself in some way, even if pouffe-wrangling isn't much of an aerobic exercise. 😄

I think it's nice that we're all different types of people. I think it's nice too that you care about your friend fancythat, but I don't think you will change her. If her high blood pressure is being treated, that's the important thing. Slowing down might make no difference at all.
I was diagnosed as hypertensive during my first pregnancy and have been on medication for over 40 years. Always being told not to take on too much or to slow down, but I'm not made like that. I'm too impatient and nosey, I don't want to be left out of anything and rush about to achieve the maximum. Even moving abroad for a break and a peaceful life in the sun found me diving into new projects.
So, I think it is hard to judge someone. Live and let live.

I get fed up with DH. He feels compelled to do any tasks/jobs at full speed preferably early in the morning and then is left bored for the rest of the day. I'm always trying to get him to adjust his pace and slow down.

Do what you feel is right for you. Not my business what others do each to their own

you don't have to understand it....its their choice.