Ageing well now includes one unexpected skill

We often talk about ageing well in terms of health. Because of course without good health, it’s hard to enjoy anything at all. But increasingly, there’s another skill that, if mastered (or at least attempted), changes what’s possible…

We’ve been here before, just in different forms.

Think back to the first time you saw a fax machine in use, in the late 80s or early 90s. It felt almost magical. A message sent through the air, arriving minutes later - in your exact handwriting.

Around the same time, there were pagers that could reach you wherever you were. Answerphones that picked up messages while you were out.

Small changes that, at first, felt unfamiliar. Slightly unnecessary, even. But over time they became rather useful. We started to rely on them, because of what they made possible.

When technology feels like too much

Today, technology is moving faster and in more elaborate and magical ways than ever before. And for people who grew up with paper notebooks instead of iPads, it can feel totally overwhelming. Too many features, updates and apps. Too much change, too much new language, too many ways for it all to go wrong.

So it’s natural to step back from it. To continue living in an analogue world where photos are received in the post and doctors’ appointments are booked on the landline.

What becomes possible

But the fact is, embracing technology can have a significant impact on how we age. There are meaningful advances happening right here and now, and if you’re not in the tech loop, you might miss something life changing.

Take Meta’s smart glasses. For people living with vision loss, they can read text aloud, describe surroundings, and help with everyday tasks that would otherwise become impossible. Not in a futuristic, abstract way. In a practical, day-to-day sense. For someone in their 60s or 70s, it’s easy to see how this kind of technology would feel daunting. But when it’s embraced, even tentatively, it can be a genuine game changer.

And it’s not just vision. Another generation of technology is emerging around safety and independence. Smart watches and home sensors can detect falls, changes in movement, or unusual patterns in day-to-day life, helping people stay in their own homes for longer and with more confidence.

Health and wellbeing apps like the NHS app, medication reminders like Medisafe and step counters are simple to use and can keep you physically on track. Tools like Google Maps, Uber and Trainline support independence, making everyday journeys simpler and lost tickets a thing of the past. Communication tools like Whatsapp and Facebook help people stay connected to friends and family, and evidence shows that’s a key factor to living well longer.

Not all technology deserves your attention

But let’s be honest, there’s also a lot of bad tech out there. Where technology once made life simpler, sometimes now it makes things more complicated.

And this is where the real skill comes in - knowing what to listen to and what to shut down. It’s not about buying every new tech solution under the sun. It’s about choosing what you need, when you need it.

It means asking some simple questions: will this actually make my life easier? Is the technology designed with me in mind? Can I send it back if I don’t get on with it?

If the answers are yes, it’s worth staying open to.

If no, it’s something you can let pass by.

Start small. Stay open. Let the rest go

The starting point isn’t to learn everything. It’s simply to stay open to the things that might make life a little easier. Over time, that kind of selectiveness becomes its own form of confidence, and can really help improve quality of life as we age.

That might mean ignoring the constant stream of new apps and gizmos. Turning off notifications that interrupt more than they help. Returning things that make your life harder. Choosing a smaller number of tools that are well designed and reliable, and letting those do their job.

Because sometimes the right piece of technology doesn’t just make things easier, it changes what’s possible.