Super-agers: We Are Trying
Current status: 26 May 2026
Maybe it all started by accident. The Kanji character for 10,000 looks like a walking man. It was used for the Tokyo Olympics, and people thought it was a health instruction: that 10,000 steps were good for you.
However, there is no clear evidence to support 10,000 as a magic number. Over the years, many studies have been carried out and, to date, the best results seem to be achieved with around 8,000 to 8,500 steps, which appear to be very beneficial.
Newbies need to start gently.
1. Cognitive functions
We enjoy Scrabble, Mahjong, U3A Current Affairs, U3A Classical Music, concerts, ballet and musicals. We also enjoy trying to achieve the best allotment results, exploring new ideas and thinking about futurology.
All the time, we are thinking hard and concentrating.
At the 4Sight Tech Day, I learned about updated Meta glasses, which mean I can read labels and instructions by listening; Ally navigation software; and beta testing for “Narvis / Ferrin”.
2. Physical work
This includes gardening, probably two hours each day, even in winter, plus walking for around one hour a day, together with some exercises.
3. Diet
Fresh vegetables and fruit from our allotment are important, plus limited protein other than fish, eggs, chicken and turkey.
We also include kefir, Greek yoghurt, dried fruit, nuts, herbs and spices. We rarely have wine.
4. Dietary supplements
These include lutein, B12, Omega 3 and Vitamin D, plus prescriptions such as blood and calcium tablets, and glucosamine.
5. Social activity
This includes time with the next generation and family, as well as our U3A members, sight-support groups, Sussex Sailability and, of course, our friends at the allotment.
In particular, I enjoy helping people if and when I can.
6. Health
My gut biome is still recovering from antibiotics winning against sepsis, and then there is the fact that our bodies are wearing out.
My hearing started going in 1982. My sight largely went twenty years ago. So now, it’s just the rest!
7. Exercises
These include knee stands, squats, tiptoes, shoulder movements, weights for arms, finger stretching, plus the work on our allotment.
Well, some of them, some of the time!
8. Joy — a quiet joy
There is joy in grandchildren’s paintings.
There is joy from February onwards, checking the growth of my seeds on the windowsill.
There is joy in the flowers I have planted in our garden.
There is joy in using my computer and all its associated electronics, and in using Gemini to find new information and gain new insights.
There is joy in the art around my house, the pictures in my photo albums shown on my TV, my friends and family, beautiful flowers and vistas, my music collection, my DVD collection — and keeping them all alive and up to date.
9. Light and sunshine
Both my room and our lounge face south, so we get all the natural light we can. We supplement this in the evening, and on bad light days, with LED lighting.
Last note: my Google Fitbit Air bracelet is due to be delivered today.
