How old do you feel? At what age is a person considered old? The Angus Reid Institute asked these and other questions in an online survey in 2024. The findings may surprise you.
Overall, the survey revealed Canadians are more likely to say they feel mentally and physically older than their age than in the previous survey conducted in 2015. The last decade has been tough on many fronts, so that’s not surprising. It seems the pandemic, and the ongoing social and political strife, have taken their toll on many of us.
What’s really interesting are the differences between age groups. When asked, “How old do you feel?” younger people were more likely to report feeling older than their age. On the other hand, half of respondents age 65 or older reported feeling physically younger than their age. And close to two-thirds of the 65 or older group said they feel mentally younger than their age.
How old is old?
One of the most revealing questions in the survey is, “At what age would you say a person is old?” In the 18 to 34 age group, the mean age reported as old was 59.4 years. I have two daughters in that age group and that response is consistent with their views.
On the other hand, the 55 and older group indicated a person is not old until age 77.2. That’s more like it! For the record, I would have answered 80 to that question.
How old do I feel?
Like many people my age, I often ask myself questions like “How is it possible that I’m in my 60s?” and “Where did the years go?”
But if you ask me if I feel older or younger than my age, I’m not sure how I’d answer. It’s a difficult question because I don’t know what this age is supposed to feel like.
My body knows it’s not 30 any more
Sadly, ageist stereotypes persist and our world judges older adults based on appearance. Younger people—and even some people my own age—might look at me and see an old lady.
I have never been one to obsess over physical appearance, but losing my hair during chemotherapy 15 years ago gave me a whole new perspective on how little it matters in the grand scheme of things. When my hair grew back, I decided to embrace the grey and I’ve never looked back.
I know I could look a few years younger if I dyed my grey hair, but who would I be fooling? Anti-aging may be big business, but health, energy and vitality matter much more than how we look.
Physical appearance aside, my body knows it’s not 30 any more. Arthritis is starting to catch up with me and some days I feel like a creaking gate. But I continue to work out and get out for a walk most days, because it makes me feel good and gives me energy to keep up with the pace of life.
Mentally, I feel younger than my years
While my body might feel close to its actual age, mentally I still feel like that 18-year-old who graduated from high school all those years ago. The song 18 ‘Til I Die by Bryan Adams comes to mind.
“It’s not how ya look. It’s what ya feel inside.”
Bryan Adams and R.J. Lange, 18 ‘Til I Die
A former boss once told me I was a millennial trapped in a boomer’s body. He was referring to the fact that I was defying the stereotype of people my age by embracing technology and seeking out learning opportunities.
Henry Ford famously said “Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” I truly believe that our mindset—not our age—determines what we can or can’t do. It’s why I’m so passionate about lifelong learning. With so many things still to learn, and new things to experience, I can’t imagine a time when I’ll ever stop learning.
Although I’m no longer working full time, I have no intention of sitting on the couch watching Netflix for however many years I have ahead of me. I’m excited to be what my friend Mike Drak calls a “Retirement Rebel” in his book Victory Lap Retirement.
The bottom line—How old do I feel?
So if you force me off the fence, I’d say I feel physically younger than my age…but not by much. On the other hand, when it comes to my mental age I feel much younger. I like to say I’m 18 with the wisdom of a lifetime of experience. That’s the beauty of this stage of life.
Ultimately, age really is just a number that people use to define how people should look, feel and behave. Instead of letting other people decide for us what 60, 70, or 80 “should” look like, let’s chart our own course. Visit this post for tips on shifting your mindset from anti-aging to aging well.
After experiencing serious health issues, I am happy to be alive and determined to make the most of this stage of life. And when I need inspiration, I don’t need to look too far. My mum will be 93 next week and she’s active and sharp as a tack. So I have a terrific role model…and maybe the benefit of good genes.
The rest is up to me.
Are you looking ahead to your next chapter? Contact me to find out how I can help you create a plan to make the most of your best years.
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