SURVEY SAYS: What Is Your Mental Age?

Last week, I asked NEWSDash readers, “If age is only a state of mind, in what range is your mental age right now?” I also asked if this has changed from a year ago.

Nearly half (45.4%) of responding readers work in a plan sponsor role, 18.2% are recordkeepers/TPAs/investment consultants and 36.4% are advisers/consultants.

No responding readers said they feel like teenagers. More than one-quarter each selected the 30 to 39 and 60 to 69 age ranges. The ranges of 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 were each chosen by 17.6% of responding readers. And fewer selected 20 to 29 (8.8%) and 70 to 79 (2.9%).

Most respondents (58.8%) indicated that their mental age range has not changed since last year at this time, while 41.2% said it has.

Explanations for why they feel the age they do and tips for feeling younger were among the responses of the readers who left comments. Some lament the physical ability that matches their “mental age.” I appreciate the amusing comments such as “My wife tells me I’m stuck at 13, so I appreciate this opportunity to say otherwise.” Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who feels as I do: “I think I have mentally aged more in the last 3-4 months than I have in decades.”

A big thank you to all who participated in our survey.

Verbatim

One could say that, but can you please tell my body that!

I think I have mentally aged more in the last 3-4 months than I have in decades.

Working from home is rejuvenating. It’s help me feel more control of my time.

One size fits all, a concept we often use to try to explain things which cannot be done

TIRED!!!

My wife tells me I’m stuck at 13, so I appreciate this opportunity to say otherwise.

There are a couple of things I still have to come to terms with: my actual age and the betrayal of the physical body. I should have invested in wrinkle cream!

At 75 I’m happy to have a state of mind!

A positive outlook and a growth mindset is what drives the state of mind

It seems that everyone except me is getting older.

I’m in a new romantic relationship that has me feeling younger, with more energy. Pretty good in the middle of a pandemic!

Feel retired due to all my responsibilities kind of falling by the wayside since I am unable to do anything and have been building and saving my nest egg…since again, can’t do anything! 🙂

This was tough to answer. I feel younger than I am, but I am so looking forward to retirement that maybe I should be responding that my state of mind is older than I really am.

The insight of getting older but not necessarily feeling older, I never could have understood that in my 20’s. “I may be getting older but I refuse to grow up” 🙂

I am 59 and can taste those sweet retirement benefits on the horizon, so my mental age is older than I actually am, b/c I am looking forward to retiring! Can’t come soon enough for me!

My actual age is about 10 more years compared to my mental age. As I get closer to retirement, I think my mental age has advanced more quickly as I contemplate such a large life change.

Don’t look in the mirror – it will tell you something different 🙂

My chrono age is 45 but I believe that mental age is crucial to a long life. I try to exercise, learn new things all the time and keep up with current cultural happenings. I approach life with vigor and excitement of someone 10-20 years younger than myself, while keeping the levelheadedness and responsibility of someone my age. Life is to be lived and savored until the day you die—I regret nothing (not even dancing on tables!)