Humans are a lot like trees; we shed off parts of ourselves as we grow older. We lose what we once thought was deeply ingrained in us and acquire new habits and thinking patterns, befitting our new age and wisdom.
Each passing decade doesn’t just come with creaking joints and looking for the phone as we talk on it. The once jumpy, overexcited young person may become quiet and composed. Netizens (online forum users) shared the things they seem to like less and less as they grow older.
1. Pulling All-nighters
As youngsters, we’d have the time, energy, and interest to stay up all night watching movies, working, or even partying—but aging makes us less nocturnal. Our bodies typically lose their ability to tolerate sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns as we age. Falling asleep late at night and getting fewer hours of sleep can result in increased fatigue and recuperation time.
2. Excessive Noise
The volume dial keeps turning more to the left as we grow older. With age often comes a greater appreciation for peace, making loud and chaotic environments less appealing.
This can be for a variety of reasons. Some older adults who have been through their noisy phase with kids are ready for the quiet. While others may have trouble processing what’s happening around them as they age when there’s too much background noise.
3. Social Media
The more birthdays we have, the fewer social media apps we have on our phones. Social media apps are multiplying fast, and as people age, they may find it increasingly challenging to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of social media platforms. Staying constantly connected online becomes a daunting task for many. And that’s okay; real-life connections are where it’s at, anyways.
4. Relationship Drama
The best part about relationships with older people is that most want little or no drama. Older individuals value stability and harmony in their relationships, preferring to avoid unnecessary drama and conflict. This means they pick their friendships and who they spend their time with much more mindfully.
5. The Latest Fashion Trends
Youth is the time to keep up with every fashion trend, and old age is the time to wear comfortable sneakers, Velcro, and sweatpants. With maturity often comes a stronger sense of personal style, and individuals may feel less pressure to follow fleeting fashion trends constantly.
6. Unhealthy Eating Habits
Pizza and fries were once a go-to meal, but digestive issues and changed taste buds make that all change as we grow older. Growing older frequently results in a greater understanding of the value of diet and health. Many people choose healthier foods over processed and fast food, or their doctors force them to.
7. Tight Clothes
Clothing that is constricting or uncomfortable is less appealing to older people, who frequently choose comfort over fashion. The expiration date for tight T-shirts, skinny jeans, and bodycon dresses is somewhere before the 50th birthday [for most people, anyway].
8. Seeking Validation from Others
Growing older involves knowing and accepting that you don’t need people to validate you. Growing older increases one’s sense of self-assurance and confidence, lessening the need for continual validation or acceptance from others.
9. Risky Behaviors and Extreme Sports
The desire to jump out of planes and skateboard over skyscrapers wanes as we age- at least for most. Older people favor activities that prioritize their health and safety over exhilarating experiences. Besides, healing from broken bones would be harder and take longer.
10. Queueing
Standing in line is not a favorite activity for many people, and people seem to hate it more as they grow older. It may be because the knees can’t handle much standing or patience wears thin with age, but many people don’t fancy long queues and will quickly search for alternatives.
11. Alcohol
Alcohol may seem fun for the young, but some people develop a dislike for drinking as they grow older. The young may have a high alcohol tolerance and have a less punishing hangover, but the older folks no longer want to deal with the headaches in the aftermath. At some point, it’s just not worth it for many.
12. Heights
Most older folk’s background sound is, “Get off the edge!” Heights get higher and scarier as we age, possibly because we don’t think we’d survive a fall.
13. Rushing and “Busyness”
With age often comes a desire to slow down and enjoy life’s moments, making the constant rush and busyness of younger years less desirable. That’s why your grandma always wonders why you don’t vacation and visit.
14. Driving
Going for road trips and driving everywhere was once fun, but when age catches up, you’re more than happy to drive shotgun everywhere or not travel at all. Exploring can feel more relaxed and simpler when someone else is behind the steering wheel, and you just get to take in the views.
15. Spicy Foods
You used to love hot wings, but you now can’t down one without choking or getting an upset tummy. Sometimes, as people age, their sensitivity to specific foods increases, making extremely hot or highly processed foods unpleasant to eat or even uncomfortable.
16. Crowds
Being in a Woodstock festival kind of crowd may have been the ideal weekend in youth, but as we grow older, we tend to prefer calmer, more serene surroundings. Crowds in old age feels hectic and overwhelming.
17. People
Many internet users who are seniors admit their patience for people declines with every birthday. People can be annoying, and the older you get, the less you feel the need to put up with them.
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I’m a Language and Literary Studies (Honors) graduate with 11 years of experience in magazine and blog writing and content creation. I’m passionate about storytelling for change and believe in the power of words to make a difference. My writing is thought-provoking, accessible, and engaging, focusing on the Psychology of human behavior, complex social issues, personal experiences, and the latest trends. I’m a wife and a Mom of three.