By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD 

The only constant in life is change, including shifts in your mindset about health. Every decade brings aging and changing circumstances that influence priorities and desires. This is why young adults often have entirely different health goals than older adults. 

If you feel like your goals may be shifting as you entire a new phase of your life, this article is for you. Read on to learn tips for rethinking what you want out of healthy eating and exercise and how to get there. 

1 – Think about your overall goals.  

Before narrowing down the specifics of your health goals, think about what you want overall in the current phase of your life. If you’re in your 20s and 30s and do not have any health conditions, your focus may be more on staying in good shape for general health. On the other hand, adults in their 40s and 50s may have different priorities related to preventing chronic diseases down the road. If you’re in your 60s or 70s, your focus may be shifting to managing conditions, getting off medications, and staying strong and mobile enough to be a present grandparent. 

2 – Consider the specifics. 

Once you acknowledge the overall goal you want to achieve, think about how you will get there. If you’re a young adult seeking to get in shape and stay healthy, perhaps your specific goals include a number of pounds to lose, days to exercise each week, or efforts to stick to a weight loss meal plan.  

For those of you managing conditions like heart disease and diabetes later in life, maybe you may want to reduce or get off medications like insulin or statins. In these instances, your health goals may include working with a dietitian or trainer to create blood sugar-friendly or heart-healthy meals and exercise plans. If having more energy to play with your grandkids, take the stairs without getting winded, or sit on the floor is a priority, your exercise plan will likely shift to be aimed at improving strength and flexibility. 

3 – Assess your current ability. 

As your goals change in different phases of life, so may your abilities, preferences, and needs related to exercise and nutrition. For example, the intense studio workout classes of your youth may no longer be the safest or most appropriate option for you in your later years. And that’s OK! There are plenty of ways to achieve the results you want in age-appropriate ways. At the same time, your tastes and nutrition needs may also change. Managing certain health conditions or just general effects of aging require changes to what’s on your plate, including reducing calories or increasing protein as energy needs decline but protein requirements increase. As you implement health goals for each phase of life, consider how things have changed over the years and how you can best serve yourself in your current state. 

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