Health Self Determination: Old-fluencers Lead the Way

There are countless prescriptive methods and practices on how to be healthy. With many influencers of all ages and perspectives, as well as doctors, who engage on social media about the right ways to pursue a healthy life. In my research interviewing people on their healthy aging protocols, I have found that outside influence from thought leaders and experts in the health world does not play a primary key role in health-related lifestyle decisions.

Instead, what I found from my interactions with others on this topic is that while they may like the outcome and benefits of a healthy life and a healthy body, they much prefer living life on their own terms - and that includes health-related practices.

In essence, what they are doing is practicing their own health self-determination. Ultimately, it was a life well lived on their terms that mattered far more. This is the common denominator of agency in the pursuit of health regardless of the health-related lifestyle practices one has. And thanks to social media we can see the many ways that this can unfold in beautiful and diverse ways.

Oldfluencers Role Model a New Way To Age

With the rise of “oldfluencers” in their 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and (up until her passing this year) Iris Apel was a centenarian oldfluencer. Our opinions, values, preferences, tastes and joys are diverse and that is naturally reflected in how we practice our self-determination in all aspects of our life (including health). Here are some examples of oldfluencer diversity in living their best life and fully embracing their individuality and agency:

·?????? Iris Apfel: Fashion icon extraordinaire known for her maximalist style captured by her famous life mantra “More is more, and less is a bore”.? At the ripe age of 101 she published an amazing book detailing her life’s travels, interests and above all, love for color. She did not have any particular exercise routine, nor did she engage in cold plunging, or any of the popular longevity practices today. She credited her long life to living authentically herself, her personality, values and believes. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t long for that. It wasn’t until her 90s that many of her public profile collaborations with other brands such as Dr. Scholl’s shoes and Ruggable happened. As the Frank Sinatra song goes "The best is yet to come".

·?????? Joan McDonald: Joan was an average woman in her late 60s who was experiencing the average biological aging of her body. Being a professional body builder, her daughter was concerned about her mother’s trajectory and asked her to join her in Mexico where she would put her mom on a training regimen. Her mother Joan said yes and at the ripe age of 70 she started working out every day and became a fitness influencer encouraging women of all ages to get to the gym and work their muscles. Joan’s posts on Instagram are filled with words of a woman who knows that every day is not a given and has fully leaned into designing and living her life truest to what fills her. Filled with pictures of her giving it her all at the gym, embracing her daughter and happily twirling on the beach are all a testament to her pursuing her own health and life self-determination.

·?????? Diane Von Furstenberg: Also known as DVF is 77 and her Instagram account is full of joyful encounters with family and friends around the world. She famously made fashion history when she invented the wrap dress in the 70s and was a leading role model of a woman starting their own business and being successful. At the time this was a rare occurrence. While there is much more to say about her relevance and accomplishments, in the context of this article I want to spotlight her as a role model in demonstrating the value of meaningful human connection and the preciousness of the small moments. Her Instagram account is a testament to this where she shares pictures of food, unguarded laughter, tender hugs, and captures nature’s beautiful sunsets.

These are only three examples to keep the article short, however I could write an entire book about the rise of oldfluencers and how social media is helping society see a new image of what life after sixty could look like.

These stories are a reminder to everyone of all ages (particularly those younger than 60) that we shouldn’t wait to exercise agency in our life and our health self-determination. Our best life is out there, we just need to summon it into existence.

One decision at a time

One routine at a time

One habit at a time

One thought at a time……

?? Update: I have joined the Fall 2024 Techscaler Startup First Steps cohort and I am furthering my healthy aging protocol work. The problem I am focusing on is the challenge of organizing and cataloging information relating to self-care routines such as exercise videos, meditations, recipes, favorite self-care products etc. To this end I am working on developing an app that serves as the self-curated command and control of one’s self-care practices and routines. If you’d like to participate in the pilot of the MVP sign up for the Project Nof1 mailing list here www.projectnof1.com

The Project Nof1 Interview Series will resume this fall with more healthy aging protocol interviews. You can follow it by signing up on the website here www.projectnof1.com and subscribing to the YouTube channel here.