Even though every person is different, no matter their age, some things are more typical of a certain group, hence, what we consider to be “old person things”. But while waking up at the break of dawn with no alarm or spending hours knitting are often linked to an elderly age, usually the link between the things people do and their age is more of a belief rather than a rule.
This is clear by looking at this list, where young netizens reveal that they, too, already have an inner alarm clock waking them up at sunrise or back problems that are often related to aging.
The things people consider to be “old person things” might be difficult to determine, as individuals don’t seem to see eye to eye regarding what “old” means exactly. According to Pew Research Center’s survey, the majority of people—nearly four-in-five of them—consider someone old when they reach their 85th birthday; others think a person is old when they can no longer live independently or drive a car.
Based on the survey, other markers include turning 75, frequently forgetting familiar names, having health-related problems or finding it difficult to walk up the stairs, and having bladder control problems, respectively.
Pew Research Center also found that there are quite significant differences between the way young and middle-aged adults view life as an elderly person and the way it actually is.
For example, certain negative benchmarks often linked with aging, such as illness, memory loss, and the inability to drive, just to name a few, are experienced by older people at lower levels than the young adults are expecting to encounter at an elderly age.
Another interesting thing Pew Research Center’s survey uncovered was the fact that the older a person is, the younger they feel. Data found that roughly half of surveyed 50-year-olds said they feel at least 10 years younger than they actually are, while those between 65 and 74 years of age say they feel 10-19 years younger, which, again, shows that age can be just a number.
While in some netizens’ minds, taking naps is a rather “old person thing” to do, in reality elderly people seem to prefer doing things that are way more active. Research suggests that the top three activities people of age seem to favor the most are walking or jogging, outdoor maintenance (such as gardening or yardwork) and playing sports respectively. The top three is followed by reading, which seems to be the most favored sedentary activity for older people.
Unsurprisingly, having hobbies—active or sedentary—can have a positive effect on a person, and elderly people are in no way an exception. A research on hobby engagement and mental well-being among people aged 65 years and older in 16 different countries found that engaging in a favored activity was linked to fewer depressive symptoms, more happiness, better self-reported health, and higher life satisfaction.
While a person of any age can take part in whatever activity or hobby they find interesting, some do tend to be more popular among older adults. In the UK, for instance, solving puzzles, gardening, and reading newspapers seem to be noticeably more favored by those 65 and older than their younger counterparts, Statista reports.
The things that seem to be the least like their cup of tea, compared to other age groups, are playing a musical instrument or engaging in all things astronomy.
As a fellow jigsaw puzzle lover myself, who doesn’t fall within the 65+ age category, I can only repeat myself saying that when it comes to activities, a person’s actual age is just a number. If you don’t want to take my word for it, look again at this list of young people doing “old person things”.