One of my favourite things to do as publisher at the end of the year is to trawl through all the articles published on the YourLifeChoices website to see which were the most read by older Australians.
It’s been a whirlwind year. So much has gone on. We’re moving through our third year of a pandemic, we’re living in times of war, ongoing challenges facing pensioners and older Aussies, the rising cost of living, inflation, soaring interest rates, assassinations, floods, fires, famine, dodgy financial institutions, petty politicians, security breaches, nuclear threats – the list goes on. And on. And on …
No surprises then that the trend I uncovered during my analysis. Money, health – particularly COVID-related – and how-tos were the most popular articles for 2022.
The interest in travel hasn’t returned full swing. Even though you told us in our Older Australians Insights Survey 2022 that this is the topic that most interests you not one travel story cracked the top 50. The closest was about the worst food you can eat while flying, which fell in at number 52 on the list.
That said, the top 50 is packed with strong starters. In 2022, we covered COVID safety tips and updates; health hints to stave off dementia, diabetes, cancer and other major conditions; diet tips to help you shed kilos; cleaning tricks and savings tips; Age Pension, government entitlements and retirement income resources, and some interesting pieces such as the one that uncovered a ‘potting mix conspiracy’, how to beat mosquitoes without using icky insect repellent, things you should never put in your microwave (no, a Mogwai was not one of them) and how to turn potatoes into a health food.
Fun fact: These stats are taken from our enews activity. The most read article on our website in 2022 – by far – didn’t even make the top 100 enews stories. That honour belongs to Vet shares his list of the worst dog breeds to own with more than 330,000 pageviews.
In case you missed them, here are our top 50 most read articles in 2022.
- Are you eligible for the carer’s supplement?
- Signs you may have COVID and not know
- Could bananas help women with high blood pressure
- Size of September Age Pension increase revealed
- Pfizer boss warns vaccines not effective against Omicron
- Big Age Pension rate increase tipped
- Work Bonus increase extended until end of 2023
- Major chain shuts down online store
- Date set for cost-of-living payment
- Thousands to get double cost-of-living payment
- Controversial new rules for Centrelink payment take effect
- Should you be getting a special Centrelink payment?
- Heart attack warning signs that could save your life
- Daily aspirin intake may increase your risk of a fall
- Wealthy qualify for Age Pension under new rules
- RAT test warning over extreme temperatures
- Just three super funds turn a profit last financial year
- Centrelink changes to mutual obligations causing fear
- How minimum wage rise will affect Age Pension and aged care
- Big Age Pension and welfare boost in budget planning
- Can your sleep age predict how long you’ll live?
- WhatsApp messaging scam is draining bank accounts
- What happens when you stop having sex?
- Sugary diet linked to fatty liver disease in non-drinkers
- Age Pension payment rates and supplement rates
- Green tea helps serious gut health syndrome
- Diphtheria is back in Australia
- Could this drink cure walking pain?
- Beware of RSV – another virus sweeping Australia
- Omicron survives longer on plastic and skin
- Older Aussies urged to screen for heart condition
- Best and worst performing super funds revealed
- Obesity related cancer rates quadruple since the 1980s
- Senate push to increase inadequate pension payment
- Four strain flu vaccine available for over-60s
- New MyGov app a quantum leap for government services
- Efficacy of COVID antiviral drug questioned in study
- Heart attack risk jumps if blood pressure rises
- How to lower cholesterol without changing your diet
- Some painkillers do more harm than good
- What sitting for too long does to your body
- Nine things never to put in the microwave
- Snack could lower blood pressure and weight
- Egg shortage hits supermarkets
- Stars align for real increase to the Age Pension
- Podcast: Noel Whittaker on the economic downturn
- How to turn potatoes into a health food
- Gardeners warned after Legionnaires Disease
- Nuts that help you lower bad cholesterol
- How to beat mozzies without getting sticky
Whilst we’re very proud of these numbers, they aren’t possible without you. So, we’d like to thank you all for your continued patronage. We hope we help you live your best life and it’s with your input and by tracking these trends that we continue to bring you valuable content, information, and essential resources free to your inbox daily. Why not tell your friends about us, too?
Which were your favourite articles in 2022? What would you like to see us write more about? Why not share your suggestions in the comments section below?