5 ways not to act your age!

Once upon a time, life was pretty straight forward – or so it seems from reading Jane Austen and watching Disney. You went to school, you fell in love, you got married, had a few children and then settled into domestic bliss. Even hobbies seemed to be largely determined by age and social class. But now, the lines are blurred, as so are the things that each generation is allowed to do. Here's our list of the top five activities that it's now acceptable for any age group to enjoy. 

1. COLOURING
If you've been to any newsagent, supermarket or airport in the last year, you will have had to try very hard to dodge colouring books, pencils and felt tips. No longer is this a hobby to keep children quiet. It was four years ago that the industry first noticed an increase in sales, but it's during the last 12 months that the trend has gone global – even sparking an international pencil shortage. Fancy combining the new trend with your quiet time? Now you can! Our favourites are The Heavens and the Earth by Stu McLellan (Hodder) and Patterns in the Psalms by James Newman Gray (SPCK).

2. SPORT
So there have always been some die-hard fitness fanatics pounding the pavements into their 80s, but data from healthcare provider Nuffield Health from their 77 gyms across the UK reveals that the average age of their most frequent gym user is 67. Members in this age group were shown to visit the gym an average of eight times a month, whereas those aged 27 visited an average of five times a month in comparison. Baby boomers are beating millennials, which is having huge benefits on their overall wellbeing. Research shows exercise can increase life expectancy by 10 years and even keep the mind healthy – with sport increasing the size of the brain. 

3. BAKING
Thanks to the Great British Bake Off and young stars like Martha Collinson, who we featured in idea magazine last year, baking is cool. No longer the preserve of nanas, bread, cakes and biscuits are back in vogue. Guaranteed likes on Instagram and popularity in the office, feel free to feel very smug next time you're knocking up a Victoria sponge, safe in the knowledge that you're bang on trend. 

4. THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Its popularity across ages is now nothing new, but it may still surprise you that it's boom time for the WI. Jerusalem, jam and knitting have taken a back seat, with many meetings now taking place in the pub and focus on campaigning on issues concerning women and offering community to many who can't find it anywhere else. There are more than 215,000 members in roughly 6,300 WIs across Britain. The first WI in London was opened in 2003 in Fulham and there are now 50 in the capital. Many existing branches have long waiting lists, including the East Dulwich WI. Ladies, it's time we joined the club. 

5. BEARDS
Humans have a long and complicated history with facial hair. The Marmite of grooming, beards have enjoyed both popularity with some and hatred from others across the ages. Now however, it's never been cooler to have a little stubble and 52 per cent of men are apparently sporting it. Along with the increase, beard oil, which claims to moisturise the skin and make the hair soft and shiny, has become big business.