Most of my blog posts are about staying in good physical condition as we age. I believe the way we treat our bodies now determines what we’ll still be able to do in our 70s, 80s, and even our 90s.
I’ve always thought of aging like swimming against the tide. You can eat well, stay active, and fight it—but the tide never stops. It’s working 24/7. Eventually, it catches all of us.
But here’s the good news—there’s another way to “fight the tide” that has nothing to do with the gym.
It’s pretty obvious that we need to take care of our bodies. However, I want to talk about something else that I believe really helps keep us feeling young. This is something that I learned from my 88 year old mother. Always have something planned that you are looking forward to.
Now that can mean vastly different things to different people. It could be a nice dinner at your favorite Mexican place, a round of golf on Saturday, or a trip to Europe next summer. It doesn’t matter how big the adventure is. It just matters that you have something that you are looking forward to.
Why anticipation feels so good (even before anything happens)
When I was a kid, I would get to go to Six Flags each summer. Man, the night before was the best feeling ever. I’d lay in bed and think about riding all of the rides, eating Funnel Cakes, getting splashed by the Log Ride. I couldn’t get to sleep the night before our trip.
Truth be told, I’m still the same way today about vacations. We get an emotional high before events and that high can last for days. The best part? We get to enjoy it twice.
Dopamine is released before the reward, not just during it
Dopamine, the feel-good chemical, spikes when we are anticipating something positive. This is great because just the simple act of looking forward to that trip or to playing golf triggers a dopamine hit before the event actually happens. So, we don’t have to wait on the experience itself. We can start feeling better just thinking about and anticipating the experience.
A real-life, kind of goofy example from me. When I am on my way to play golf, I roll the windows down, crank my FishGolf playlist and cruise to the course like I’m a 17 year old kid with nothing better to do
How having something to look forward to lowers stress
Research in positive psychology shows that people often get as much—or even more—happiness from anticipating an experience as they do from the experience itself. Another golf example… BushWood has a Scramble every Thursday night during the Spring and Summer. If you aren’t a golfer, don’t worry about what a Scramble is. It’s just a fun game with a large group of people.
Anyway, I hate to admit it, but I look forward to Thursday nights pretty much all week. When work gets stressful, or things go wrong, especially on a Thursday, I just do a mental countdown to 5:30 when the golfing/beer/bourbons begins.
Why this actually gives your week structure
When we look forward to things, particularly small weekly things, it gives us a certain rhythm to our week. If you know that Friday night you will be chowing down on chips and queso, it can make the Wednesday night Tuna Salad go down just a little easier. Particularly if you have something recurring regularly, it gives your life a sense of momentum.
I think of my indulgences, whether food, beer, bourbon, or golf, as a reward for all of the stress and frustration I deal with throughout the week
Experiences (and anticipating them) matter more than “stuff”
Here’s a little financial nugget that we all know, but many of us have a hard time putting into practice. Experiences create more lasting happiness than material purchases. The reason is simple, we revisit experiences mentally, before and after. A new iPhone or a new car don’t provide the same emotional buildup.
You don’t need more motivation.
You need something on your calendar.
This week, pick three things:
- “One big thing you’re excited about”
- “One small thing coming up soon”
- “One simple thing you can repeat every week”
Put them on your calendar. Start thinking about them.
That’s where the benefit begins.
Because having something to look forward to isn’t a luxury—it’s one of the simplest ways to feel better right now.
