Anyone else had to slow things down?

Same as you, Oriel. I used to do everything at top speed
until, one year, I had three falls within a few months of each other. One of them resulted in a very painful sprained wrist.
Then I had a second knee replacement, -that definitely made me slow down.

I am now 80, and have noticed lately that the time flies so quickly that the days are not long enough. I know it's because it takes much longer to do things, so I must have slowed down much more than I think I have. Either that or the clocks are running faster these days, lol

I was rushing to my neighbour's house a few months ago. I seemed to walk off our step into thin air. I went down like a ton of bricks and really hurt my knee and hand. A car was passing so I jumped up quickly as I didn't want anyone to stop and make a fuss. I then came indoors and cried for ages. How did it happen? I can't understand it. I also fell downstairs some years ago, but my slipper had come off and I was carrying a huge bag for the charity shop. I understand that fall.

Yes, I too am a naturally quick mover and I too have noticed that I have slowed down a bit in some respects and need to do so with regards to some other things.

I don't think our brains automatically slow us down to the speed our bodies would prefer. My 65 year old body has made it quite plain that I am no longer 20, but my mind is not really interested in processing this information!

Apparently I still want to believe I can mow three large lawns in a day, or walk a mile and a half carrying a backpack with between 12 and 15 kilos of shopping in it.

Thankfully my legs and back still agree with this optimistic outlook on life, but are insisting on being allowed to take part at a slightly slower pace.

And yes, I agree clothes pegs are not what they were: now-a-days they seem to be fiddly, slow things to use, which they never were when we were young. The times they are a .changing!

I've noticed DH and I complaining about all the things we thought so ridiculous when our parents and before them our grandparents went on about them.

I move fast and I've noticed if I lose my balance for any reason I find it harder to right myself.

My balance is bad so I have to be careful also I have Periferal Neuropathy which affects my feet & fingers. My fine Motor Skills are very poor & I fiddle with coins, my purse etc. I am only 62 & have been like this for about 15 years, at least people are a bit more tolerant now as I'm getting a little older. I used to dash around, work all day in the garden, walk briskly - sadly no more. My mind is however very active. I do however have the attitude of what I don't do today I can do tomorrow (or the next day)

I am a "speedy gonzalas" person, always have been, still am, although if I do some things at my usual pace when I am tired I get a bit clumsy, then I get annoyed with myself.

Oriel. Yes. Know the feeling. As a multi tasker I am finding my body won't keep up with my brain.
Very frustrating but we have to accept it. Be careful and if you find yourself stumbling it would be worth a visit to your GP .Gets some bloods taken and if all clear what's the hurry?

Anybody else noticed that, in addition to time speeding up, there are more ups than downs when one goes out walking?

My 65 year old body has made it quite plain that I am no longer 20, but my mind is not really interested in processing this information!

Yes!! That's it exactly.

One of my friends is always rushing and has had three falls in the past two years. I mentioned that she walked twice as fast as anyone else and she said that it was a habit from running her own business.
I'm worried she's going to hurt herself seriously if she dosn't slow down. Her husband gets cross with her rushing as well, even on a "leisurely walk" she's like Roadrunner.
One fall she sprained ankle badly and was on crutches and the last one she hurt her wrist and bruised her knees. She laughs it off but i can tell shes worried why it keeps happening. Some of you have mentioned that maybe the body is not keeping up with the mind. I prefer that explanation as I've been worried about some other things it could be.

I'm one of those who has always rushed at life full on. Now I'm seventy, I find I need to take things more steadily. I am trying to come to terms with the fact that things will just have to take a little longer nowadays. Unless of course I want to go base over apex all the time

I wonder if falls are also caused by wearing bifocal or varifocal glasses?
The nice thing about retirement is that we don’t have to tackle all the garden or house chores at any one time.
Too much of any one activity is bad for the lower back.

It's all to do with blood pressure as we age.

No, it's not just you Oriel. I was always the Duracell bunny in double quick time! Not anymore ... I've also noticed that when cooking I'm not as well organised as I used to be and have things dotted all over the work tops instead of my former methodical approach! Very annoying.

I have always been fast with everything until recently. I had quite a bad stroke 4 months ago and couldn't get out bed unaided for a few weeks. But with fantastic help from NHS, I am home again living alone doing things slowly, but coping. I have ridiculous hobbies, ie towing a large caravan round the country which I hope I will achieve by next Spring, even though I have lost all sensation down left side. I won't ever be fast again, but quite happy to get things done, be it very slowly now. Where there is a will there is a way. Thankfully my mind was not affected.

Bit stiffer than when I was younger although not too long ago fell flat on my face in the middle of a busy pedestrianised town centre, a lovely young
couple (teenagers) dashed over to help me up, nice thing about being older I wasn't at all embarressed, just said "Oh well drunk again" and thanked a slightly bemused couple for helping me up assuring them I was o.k and not really drunk.

I used to walk fast too but like you I had a couple of falls recently which really damaged my knees. I think mine were due to one weak ankle which I broke years ago; it gives way and the fast walking speed propels me forward. I now have to concentrate on walking more slowly and look down to make sure there are no trip hazards.

I think that it is better to do things slowly.I don't find it easy however it is more enjoyable and is like meditation.You will be more likely to fall if you rush about.The pavement is often dangerous.Why rush when all we do is rush towards death?Why not look round as we amble along?Why ignore all our narrow focus blocks out?
I don't think it's all about age.Hands lose muscle if we rarely use them and dishwashers are bad as having your hands move around in hot water is good for arthritis.Same with the rest of our bodies and minds.I have to use a stick and I can''t see well but while I am here I want to see the flowers and not just rush about.Of course, it may depend on your duties and tasks.My mother in law never dwelled on the perils of age like we all do now.She lived to be 104.

I also rush about. I still walk fast but have had some falls and am careful where I know the pavement is rough. My hands are very arthritic and simply won't do what I want such as finding change in my purse or sewing.

Think. Mo Farah, slow and steady wins the race. I know he is fast but he looks very slow.

Please never ignore the message your body is giving you if you take a sudden tumble. It could be a drop in blood pressure that is causing can you to suddenly fall.....indicating that something is going on in your body that is not quite right! Also studies have shown that seniors taking four or more different medications daily (either prescribed or over the counter) heightens the possibility of falling.

My DH has always dashed about. He had a hip replacement beg April which is only just getting better but he still walks as if slightly leaning forward and as if he's in a rush. He won't accept it and thinks we're all just being critical of him! I was always dashing everywhere and since Arthur (arthritis) turned up have to slow down
My big worry this year has been the number of dates/ages I've got wrong of folks' birthdays. . . . .

I do things very quickly and walk fast too. Tennis elbow slowed me down for a year and I cannot see to do fiddly things like sewing now. Being curtailed is immensely frustrating and I dread further incursions from time and old age.

Been slowing down steadily since Minibaggs was born in my mid-forties. I felt the difference bigly between then and when I had her sisters in my mid-twenties. Progressive arthritis since my late teens has assisted the slowing down process too. S'life, innit.