“How old are you” is a question we get asked our whole life. Yet what exactly is your age? The question typically refers to your chronological age – the number of years you’ve been alive. But that’s not the only way to define how old you are.
Chronological Age: The Most Obvious Measure
Chronological age what we’re most familiar with, it’s the number we celebrate on our birthdays, and how society categorizes different life stages. It’s a straightforward measure, you’ve been alive 10 years, you’re ten, 100 years, you’re 100.
As we get older, we might reflect on the passing of time and the milestones we’ve reached. We may feel a sense of accomplishment or, perhaps, a sense of urgency to achieve certain goals before we reach a certain age. However, chronological age doesn’t account for the vast differences in individuals’ body’s age.
Biological Age: How Well Is Your Body Aging?
Biological age is your body’s age on the cellular level. Two people can have the same chronological age, but their biological ages can vary significantly. Genetics plays a small factor, but the biggest factor is lifestyle choices.
Someone who exercises regularly, eats healthy, works on their mind, and spirit (hint: BtT) may have a biological age younger than their chronological age. While someone who smokes, has poor nutrition, and lives a sedentary lifestyle may have a biological age older than their chronological age. This discrepancy between chronological and biological age highlights the importance of taking care of yourself to ensure we age well.
Subjective Age: How You Feel Matters
Subjective age is the most personal measure of age, it’s how old we feel. Some people may feel younger than their chronological age, while others may feel older, and it’s influenced by our physical health, mental well-being, and life experiences.
Having a positive outlook on life, a sense of purpose, and strong social connections, can contribute to feeling younger than one’s chronological age. Conversely, chronic stress, health issues, and negative life events can make a person feel older than they actually are. And the younger you feel the better off you might be with fewer chronic conditions, medications, and doctor visits. Subjective age has a profound impact on our overall well-being and quality of life.
The Complex Interplay of Chronological, Biological, and Subjective Age
So, how old are you really? The answer isn’t quite simple as your chronological age. It’s an interplay of chronological, biological, and subjective age. Chronological age is fixed, biological age can be influenced by lifestyle, and subjective age is a reflection of your perception.
So your age is a matter of perspective, a combination of the years you’ve lived, the way your body has aged, and how you feel inside. Embracing your age, whatever it may be, and taking steps (Body, Mind, & Spirit) to improve your biological age and subjective age can lead to a more fulfilling and vibrant life. Age is just a number, but how you experience it is up to you.