To Keep Doing What You Truly Enjoy, You’ll Need To Make Some Changes.

I’m seventy, and I still do the things I enjoy. As strange as it sounds, one of my happy places is listening to my favorite tunes while working in the yard: trimming, mowing the grass, clipping hedges, and, something I recently started doing, tending to my flower garden.

“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer. (Author of True Believer)

However, to reach my happy place, in this season of life, I've had to learn to do things differently. Instead of listening to the Byrds sing “To Everything There Is A Season“ on my Walkman, I now listen to them through my hearing aids. Instead of caring for two acres, I’ve downsized to 0.33 acres (including house). Instead of a 42” John Deere gas-powered riding mower, I now use a 21’ self-propelled battery-powered mower. In fact, I replaced all of my gas-powered yard tools with lightweight, battery-powered ones.

As we age, learning new technology is no longer an option; it’s a necessity if we want to live an independent and fulfilling life.

I have found the key to living, not just existing, in this world is to be constantly learning something new. Even the Bible talks about learning to use the things of this world for our benefit.

When I hear the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” I realize I am talking to someone who doesn’t know dogs or people. Research shows that older brains may be better equipped to meet certain challenges than younger ones. 

As we get older, technology can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

Generally speaking, especially as we age, we tend not to accept change well, or think we can’t learn a new way. Remember when you said you’d never wear a seatbelt? How’s that working out for you?

Here are some things I’ve learned that save me time, energy, and money, helping me do what I enjoy. They might help you do the same.

• Using Portals: I hate waiting on the phone to speak to someone at my doctor’s office. I now log into my portals, schedule appointments, and send messages to all my doctors with my questions. I’ve saved many trips to the doctor by messaging with my questions.

• Online Banking: I haven’t stood in a teller line at a brick-and-mortar bank in four years. A few weeks ago, I had to write a check, but I couldn’t find the checkbook. Paying online saves a lot of money on stamps. I earn more interest by not scheduling payments until the due date. It’s easier to find and move my money to where they are paying the best interest rates.

• Order Food Online: Using fast food apps means no lines and up to 40% savings. They offer exclusive online specials. Whether I dine there or not, I order through their app. Online, Jean and I can both eat for $10, or order at the counter, where it costs $15.

• Scan and Go: Many stores offer a scan-and-pay option. Jean and I save money shopping at Sam’s every few weeks. I scan as we put the item cart in. No more waiting to get out the door, they now have a walk-through for all their scan-and-go customers.

• Let Them Deliver It: I hate going to Walmart! In fact, I dislike it so much that I am willing to pay $49 a year (Special rates if you go online) to have them deliver it. With online shopping, I find better deals and don’t have to stand in line.

• Find It without Asking: No more running aisle to aisle in looking for the prune juice in Kroger’s, or asking a person at Home Depot where the fungicide is. Simply connect to the store’s Wi-Fi, find their app, and type in what you’re looking for. It shows the aisle and location.

• Shop Their Apps: By getting quotes through their apps, I save hundreds of dollars a year by securing better prices for my car, homeowners insurance, and natural gas.

What’s truly remarkable, according to research, is that learning to do these things reduces the risk of developing dementia.