THIS IS 50
Meet Your New Favorite Band
Our musical tastes may lock in during adolescence. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find new music to love. Veteran music critics told us these millennial or Gen Z artists echo the spirit of the music Gen Xers grew up with.
IF YOU LOVE:
Blondie, Berlin, Siouxsie & the Banshees and the Primitives
CHECK OUT:
Wet Leg, the Big Moon and Nation of Language
IF YOU LOVE:
Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless and the Judds
CHECK OUT:
Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson and Ashley Monroe
IF YOU LOVE:
Earth, Wind & Fire, En Vogue and Destiny’s Child
CHECK OUT:
The Amours, the Shindellas and Muni Long
IF YOU LOVE:
Ludacris, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill
CHECK OUT:
Samara Cyn, Hanumankind and Doechii
IF YOU LOVE:
Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band and Phish
CHECK OUT:
Goose, Eggy and Billy Strings
Visit aarp.org/newbands for lots more new bands that feel like old friends—plus insight and quotes from the critics we consulted.
Artificial intelligence is already changing daily life for many: Forty percent of Gen Xers use AI to automate and speed up routine tasks, according to new research by NielsenIQ and World Data Lab.
START A WORKOUT PLAN THAT’LL STICK
IF YOUR FITNESS level has slipped while you’ve been juggling work, parents, kids and everything else, take a number. Gym memberships fall off when people hit their 50s. But regular workouts can give you energy.
We asked three coaches—Meredith Root of Tactic Functional Fitness, Kerry Ann Madden of KAM Fitness & Nutrition, and Ren Jones of Fitness Jones Training—to share strategies for fitting exercise into a busy life.
Adopt a “March mindset”
People start the new year with lofty fitness outcomes in mind, which sets the stage for disappointment because results take time to appear, Root says. “Set a buy-in period of 90 days—until March 31—to give yourself a runway to get where you want to go,” she advises.
Choose the path of least resistance
Madden suggests taking a couple of days to track your energy level throughout the day and scope out your surroundings for workout facilities. Then, choose a gym you tend to be near at the time when you have the most energy. Fewer hurdles lead to more consistency.
Think 401(k), not lottery
“Fitness is an interest-bearing account,” says Jones. “Every deposit grows—except zero. If all you’ve got today is 10 minutes, take it.” Momentum beats perfection. Even the U.S. physical activity guidelines agree: Every micro bout of exercise counts.
Use perks
Many insurers and membership programs offer discounts on multi-gym networks and online classes that make it easier to work out regularly. (AARP members can get discounts at gyms and fitness classes near them. Explore aarp.org/fitnessoffers for savings near you.) —Selene Yeager