Monday Musings: How To Increase Situational Awareness As You Age
Today’s musings are less all over the map than usual. It’s focused on the importance of situational awareness as you age because I had a wake-up call last week.
Many women who have to wear glasses have a wardrobe of styles to choose from. I hate wearing glasses, and I’m very particular about which shape I’ll wear, so I only have three pairs. A frameless pair I wear at home and two others that I alternate between. The frames are both pretty old, and I’ve been just updating the RX as needed.
I’m now in the market for new glasses because I wasn’t paying attention and these ones got stolen last week.
Situational Awareness
I like to think I’m situationally aware, but last week, I dropped the ball and left a favorite tote bag in the car.
My daughter and I went for a long walk on the beach last week on a particularly blustery day. I was carrying my convertible travel bag as a crossbody which held my credit cards, money, lipstick, hand sanitizer, mints, Tylenol, and phone. It holds a ton of stuff but not my eyeglass case, so I left my regular glasses back in the car, along with some sunscreen and sneakers. I doubt anyone would break into a locked car for RX glasses, but they will if they’re zipped into a tidy-looking tote bag with a scarf snazzily tied around the handle.
I know better than to do that. I could have hidden the bag in the back under something, but I left it on the floor of the front seat, and some creep helped himself to them. We were parked along the road, in a long line of parked cars, up against some woods. My safety antenna must have been down because it was the perfect opportunity for someone to break in without being seen.
I like to think I’m on top of my game when it comes to protecting myself. I’m situationally aware enough only to wear one earbud when walking outside. I always look through the peephole before answering the door. I’ll even use our ring system speaker to speak to someone if I don’t want to open the door. I’ve even begun to pull into the garage and close the overhead door before unlocking my car and going into the house. I carry a personal alarm on my keychain and a small can of mace when walking the trails near my house.
And yet…I was lulled by the gorgeous sunny day, the sounds of gulls overhead, and kids splashing in the ocean. The idyllic location distracted me from the need to be aware of my surroundings and cautious enough to hide my stuff. It’s that simple.
It turns out that older adults have lower situational awareness than younger and middle-aged adults. Stress, fatigue, distractions, and cognitive function all play a role, as well as simply paying attention.
Here are some ways to increase your situational awareness as you age:
- Be observant and pay attention to your surroundings
- Maintain a high level of observation
- Stay informed about current events
- Trust your instincts
- Plan ahead and anticipate risks
- Practice mindfulness
- Stay mentally and physically active
- Continuously assess and reassess
- Limit distractions
- Take self-defense classes
- Plan ahead
- Let friends and loved ones know where you’re going
What can you add to this list that we should all be doing to increase our situational awareness as we age? Please share your wisdom.
I am so sorry that you had this awful experience, but grateful that you are unharmed.
I will use someone of the readers’ great hints. Will add:
1. Learn the sign language signals for “Help Me.” The American Sign Language and International Sign Language symbols are different. First responders and some security guards are trained to recognize these symbols. Can be helpful in a situation where you cannot speak.
2. Have an alarm word to use on a call or text, which means “Help me.” My family has one that we’ve, thankfully, never had to use.
3. Find the emergency alert button on your phone so you know where it is if you need it.
4. Some recommend carrying car keys separately from house keys, and always carry house keys on your body. This is so if your car is stolen or carjacked, you can still get back to your house. I tried this, but I kept losing a set.
Those are great suggestions. Thanks for sharing them Susan. I’m afraid I’d loose my house keys too 🙂
So sorry your car was broken into. Thanks for the tips on awareness to our situations as we age. I usually put any bags/pkgs. in my trunk. I enjoy your posts with all the tips on what to wear and how to wear them. Hopefully this is a better week for you.
I’m sorry about your car break in – ‘assaults’ like these are so infuriating and such a pain to get resolved – broken window mess and repair, favortie tote, scarf and glasses lost. Grrrrr…
Situational awareness – when I worked, I had a habit of calling my son on the way home from work at the end of my week and eventually would need to pull over alongside the rural road leading to my home so as not to lose cell service. My son is a plumber in a local prison and is thankfully regularly trained and updated on situational awareness! One afternoon, while pulled over, another car driven by a young man pulled up behind me. I immediately told my son, “Hang on, I have to move. Someone just pulled up behind me.” His immediate reply was “Way to go Mom! Situational Awareness!” It was a term I’d never really thought of before and probably never thought to implement on a conscious level – this time it just struck me to move. Today there is so much more crime I feel as though I am far more aware of situations, who is around me and where I am. Thanks for the other tips!
How upsetting! But how smart you were to not leave your wallet in the car — it could have been far, far worse. So, I take this as a wake-up call from the universe (to all of us). I do have mixed feelings about your garage door suggestion, though — it’s easy enough for someone to roll under the door as it’s closing, and then you’re trapped in the garage with them. As far as bags and totes and luggage, the trunk is the best/only place to leave them if they have to stay in the car.
You’re right about the garage, Bette. Sheesh! Maybe I should park on the driveway.
Good advice Jennifer! Situational awareness is very important as we age. Another example is being careful where we step. We all become a bit less steady on our feet with age, so watching where and how we step can mean the difference between falling and staying upright.
Yes, Chris! You’re so right. I’m looking down more often as I navigate up and down curbs etc.
I’m so sorry this happened to you Jennifer! What a sad commentary on just living life on a pleasant day with your daughter. I too am glad that you were not hurt physically.
This is a true eye opener message!
I’d add trust your gut instinct. If something feels off trust that even when you don’t want to seem rude. I recommend Gavin de Becker’s book The Gift of Fear. He talks about learning how to trust our instincts to protect ourselves.
I have that book on order! Great recommendation Jen.
That book is so interesting and informative! So many things we don’t think of on a daily basis. I believe it’s a book that would be beneficial for everyone to read!
I’m so sorry this happened to you! Living in a resort area in SoCal I often hear or read about crimes against older Americans (that’s how we’re described nowadays!). We have been warned about being approached by a female admiring our bracelets. As she strikes up a conversation with you, holding your wrist, a male will come over to distract you. The female will quickly unhook your bracelet! People here also use their golf carts to go to the grocery store only to find them stolen while they shop. As a former New Yorker I was always aware of crimes in the city but, like you at the beach, we are lulled into thinking it’s different in certain environments. I always shop with a crossbody bag now to feel safer. While in Trader Joe’s a few months ago a TJ employee actually approached a shopper and warned her about leaving her purse in the seat of the shopping cart!
I prefer all my bags zip closed now and agree, crossbody bags feel safest.
Thank you so much for posting this! We all need to to be reminded!
I’m sorry that happened to you. I would add: don’t wait until you get to your destination before putting items in the trunk. I did this years ago before going on a hike. Someone observed me doing this and broke into the trunk while we were gone. Ever since that happened, I am careful to place all temptations out of eyesight before getting to my next destination.
Great point! Thank you.
I am so sorry to hear this! But thank you for sharing your lessons learned. I knew someone who also lost their purse + the contents from inside their car when parked, just a month ago. Only difference was, the car was unlocked, and the keys were inside the purse, so the car then had to be towed to the dealership to make a get a new key!!!!!
Wow! I have a friend who leaves the car unlocked so thieves can look around without damaging the car!
Walk with authority. Don’t walk with your head down. Don’t park in a lot next to someone sitting in their car. Look around before exiting your car after parking. Always lock your car door as soon as you get in it. When pumping gas, take keys out of the ignition and take with you to the pump.
Great ones Becky. I do those too.
Sorry this happened to you. But it is a wake up call to many of us. I have always told my girlsnow 40 and 3 not to drive their car if they feel upset, ill or just not 100% alert. Must take my own advice.But thanks for yours.susan
Oh, Jennifer. What a bummer! I’m so sorry this happened to you. Glad you had your actual purse with you, though!
It sinks that your car was broken into.
When I’m out walking I always wear a high-powered whistle on a lanyard around my neck. I once foiled 4 young men while in Spain from snatching my purse by blowing on that whistle. If I’m walking in a parking lot or down a hotel hall and I don’t want to spoil the look of my outfit I tuck the whistle into my pocket.
Very smart
Hiding not good enough. Thieves camp out in parking lots like at gyms, malls, etc. They look for women not carrying a purse or backpack as they exit a car. They know we must have wallet with license to drive etc. And they they break car window. Happened to good friend at gym in very safe area.
So put in trunk BEFORE you arrive at destination so spotters done see you.
Sorry that happened to you.
Great point. Sadly we are preyed on more than younger people.
I am so very sorry that this happened to you . It seems that in our society that honesty has taken the back seat to crime opportunities. You’re blaming yourself for someone else’s actions. It could have happened to anyone else at any age.
So true. My daughters BF’s car was recently broken into, he’s 35. It’s was in a housing area. They stole a phone charger and some coins.
Sorry your car was broken into. My rule is to never leave anything in plain sight in the car, and if I know I will be leaving the car with my purse in it, I put it in the trunk before I leave home. That way no one can watch where I put it.
This type of theft is common around our area lakes with walking and biking trails, an unfortunate fact of life here
That’s very smart, Deanne.
I suggest that you enable “Find my” if you have an iPhone, and set it up so that your spouse, a child, or a friend can locate you as long as you have your phone on you.
We do use that all the time. I have them in all my travel bags but I didn’t have it in my tote.
Very sorry to hear about your theft. Great points you make and something everyone (even my daughters) should practice.