The 'Best' Ages for Life's Major Milestones
A survey asked people around the world when they'd like to get married, have kids, and retire
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness. I’m your host and publication editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several actionable stories by Wise & Well’s team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First this week, something light amid the chaos of our political nonsense…
At what age do you think people should get married, have kids, own a home and then retire?
With your answers in mind, here’s what people in 18 mostly middle-income countries* said, in a recent Pew Research Center survey:
To some of you, this might all sound good. Others of you might see lots of pipe dreams here, or maybe your ideals are totally different. I found it merely interesting.
*The countries surveyed: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey.
Americans pegged the ideal milestones at similar ages, with some slight differences:
Getting married: 26.5 years old
Having a child: 27.3
Buying a house: 28.8
Retiring: 61.8
Side note: US adults under age 30 figure it’s best to get married later and retire earlier, compared to the average ages noted above. I wish them lots of luck on that latter one.
—Robert Roy Britt
OK, let’s move on to this week’s Wise & Well feature stories, where our writers get serious and offer some really helpful advice:
My Quest for Radical Acceptance
We humans worry about appearances and acceptance so, so much. Whatever makes us “different” tends to make us anxious, especially if the difference involves some sort of physical or mental condition that we think society might dismiss or, worse, frown upon. If that sounds familiar, then let this writer tell you how he’s coming to grips with being in a wheelchair, and the freedom that comes with personal acceptance. By Randall H. Duckett
Popular Scented Products Create Toxic Indoor Air
We tend to think of air pollution as an outdoor problem. But unless your home is hermetically sealed (and if you ever open a door or a window, then it is not) pollution creeps in. Then we do stuff that can make indoor air even worse. Some common products, like popular “wax melts,” are particularly toxic, new research finds. Here’s what to know and what to do. By Annie Foley
Does The Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Barrier Save Lives?
When you hear someone jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps you think such suicides could be easily prevented by making the jumps impossible via barriers. The theory has now been tested, and what we can say for sure is that the new bridge barrier does offer a bridge to greater understanding that suicide is waaaaay more complex than most of us might imagine. By John Kruse MD, PhD
Sleepmaxxing: Serious Science or Simply Stupid?
Sounds great, this viral term does. But a close look at the sleep suggestions flung from non-experts (read: influencers) under this rubric reveals them to range from poorly presented to silly and even dangerous. There are proven strategies for improving sleep, so I compare these strange and unhelpful social-media claims to what science has shown actually works. By Robert Roy Britt
Cod Liver Oil is NOT a Remedy for Measles, Despite the Claims
When a deadly disease spreads, you don’t have to look far for crackpot cures. With measles, look no further than the new head of US Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose whacky and unsupported health claims get parroted by others trying to sell “cures” that don’t work. This is dangerous stuff, folks, but our doctor sets the record straight on this one. By Dr. Julian Barkan
How I Navigate the Giant Challenges of Sobriety
Plenty of stories explain how (and why) to quit alcohol. There’s less advice on how to stay sober which, as this writer explains, is really, really hard. The hurdles go well beyond any physical cravings. One must also deal with relationships and activities that were based on alcohol, wholly or in part. That means making new friends, finding new joys. OK, people. You can do this. She can help. By Gillian May
Negative Hype about Federal Healthcare Research is Misguided
Have you ever submitted a grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health? Yeah, me neither. But if you listen to critics, the NIH is throwing money around willy nilly to fund all sorts of stupid projects. This writer has submitted an NIH grant proposal, and she explains the arduous process, the thorough review, and why her proposal didn’t get funded — for good reason. By Gail Post, Ph.D.
Science Funding Cuts Will Shorten American Lives
If you or anyone you know has or develops cancer, you’ve just been deprioritized by the Trump administration. Scientific work that drives medical breakthroughs is now in jeopardy as his team slashes basic funding to several agencies, including the NIH, which is the world’s largest funder of cancer research. Hundreds of active research projects are being put on hold or terminated. By Deborah Fuller and Patrick Mitchell
2 Days of Weekly Exercise Can be as Effective as 7
Any amount of physical activity, from long walks at your normal pace to short “microdosing” bursts of vigorous effort, or even simply moving about doing regular household chores, improves physical and mental health and extends lives, a strong body of evidence now indicates. New research finds weekend warriors gain similar protection as regular exercisers against cancer, heart disease and overall mortality. By Robert Roy Britt
I hope we’ve helped make your tomorrow a little better than today.
Cheers,
Rob