After turning 50, even though I sleep well at night, when I wake up in the morning, my neck, shoulders, back... well, my whole body aches.

It's not like I've done anything extraordinary, but after over 20 years in an office job, now my neck, shoulders, and back all hurt separately, haha.

They say as you age, muscle mass decreases and recovery slows down, and that really seems to be true.

In the past, I could work all night and eat instant noodles and still be fine, but now, if I eat something a bit heavy like pork kimchi stew for lunch, I get indigestion and stomach aches, and in the afternoon, I even start dozing off.

At this point, I can't help but think, "Should I just die?"

But the funny thing is, I don't even have time to die. Every morning, I have to go to work to earn money, prepare meeting materials, and after work, I have to take care of the kids and help my wife with household chores.

Moreover, I can't ignore the issue of male hormones that supposedly becomes serious in your 50s. With testosterone not being produced as much as before, I feel weak, my pride is diminished, and my body hurts, making it a total mess.

But I can't give up, so I need to find solutions.

The simplest thing is stretching.

If you sit in a chair for a long time, your body stiffens, but just turning your neck, bending and straightening your back, and stretching your legs can significantly relieve fatigue. And you must walk for at least 20 minutes a day.

In fact, it's not really exercise, just a walk around the neighborhood, but it helps with blood circulation and revitalizes the muscles.

Drinking water is also important. I drink three or four cups of coffee a day but hardly drink water, and that's the problem.

Lack of hydration can worsen muscle pain, so I need to consciously drink water.

Checking for mineral imbalances is also necessary. A lack of magnesium and potassium can cause muscle stiffness and pain. You can supplement with foods like bananas, spinach, and nuts, or take supplements if needed.

It's also good to reduce caffeine. While caffeine can give a quick boost, it ultimately leads to dehydration and hinders muscle recovery.

Ultimately, the most important thing is consistent exercise. You can start with just walking and stretching, and as you get used to it, adding light strength training would be beneficial.

This way, you can slow down the rate of muscle loss and alleviate pain.

Of course, if these lifestyle changes don't help and the pain persists for more than a week, it's best to see a doctor.

It's necessary to identify the exact cause through blood tests or consultations. After all, being 50 is an ambiguous age—not young, but not completely old either—but that doesn't mean I can just let it slide.

So today, while making self-deprecating jokes, I drink a glass of water and force myself to take a walk around the neighborhood.

Even while joking, "Do I have to die when I get old?" this is probably the trick to surviving half a century.

To my fellow comrades born in 1975 in the U.S., hang in there!