Time marches forward and will never work in reverse for anyone. Like it or not, aging is a natural part of living and something that we all must get used to if we’re to be lucky enough to lead a full and long life. To better handle what comes with aging, here are some great tips you can use.
If you are worried about aging, stop focusing on the numbers in your life. Distracting yourself with the numbers, such as your age, height and weight, is easy to do. Don’t dwell on those numbers, and instead focus your time and energy to doing fun things that you really enjoy.
Your home is your refuge. Fill it with the things that you love. If you love to be around your family, fill it with them. If they cannot be around as often as you would like, fill it with the things that remind you of them. If animals make you happy, adopt a pet that you can love.
Try to quit smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke each day. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. However, it is never too late to stop smoking, and as soon as you quit, your risk of having a heart attack decreases. By quitting you could also save yourself a lot of money.
For healthy aging, don’t be afraid to be a bit of a nester. Find things that you absolutely love and put them all around you, whether it’s flowers, friends, family, music, movies or any of a multitude of hobbies. When it comes down to it, your home is your place of comfort. Make it your own. Make it a place where you love to be.
Living can be very hard work. Even if you do not have a job outside of the home, it is going to take it out of you some days. Take the time to rest now and then. You could do this every day if your schedule permits but if it does not, be sure to rest and relax at least a couple times a week.
When the years are beginning to creep up on you, look at them with joy and not sadness, and spread your wisdom to those around you. You will get a good sense of satisfaction knowing that you have spread this joy to others. It is a great gift, and one that does not have to cost a penny.
Learn how to live a full life while you can still get around and think about ways to live that same life once you are not so mobile. Very few people can get around when they get older the way that they did when they were young, but if you think about how you can make things happen while you are young enough to do them, you are sure to carry on once you cannot.
Take additional calcium supplements with your vitamins. Calcium gets more important to your body the older that you get. Most adults need about 1,200 mg of calcium each day. If you do not get the amount that your body needs, your bones are going to get brittle and weak.
The appearance of your skin is a key element to looking and feeling younger, so take care of your skin by using moisturizers. This will keep the skin hydrated and soft. Sometimes it will help to work with a professional dermatologist to determine the right type of lotion and moisturizer that is best for you.
Start to exercise with weights. As you age, you start to lose your muscle density, so you have to make the most out of the muscle you have left. Get into a routine of weight-lifting a few times a week so that you can stay strong even as you go into your later years.
In order to keep the signs of aging at bay, you need to avoid overeating and stuffing yourself until full. Do not starve yourself, but there is no better way to slow aging and extend life than cutting back on the calories. Just as a rule of thumb, avoid overeating in any situation.
Tell your doctor about the medications you take. Bring a list of all prescription and non-prescription drugs, supplements, herbs and vitamins including dosage. If it’s easier, bring the bottles. Your doctor should say if they are okay or have potentially bad interactions. As you age, you’ll have an increasing chance of having bad side effects from medications, including those that are non-prescription or over-the-counter.
Try to maximize the amount of sleep that you get at night. When you sleep, your body can recharge and restore the nutrients that you lost during the course of the day. In addition, you will feel more energized and can prevent stress by getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
Do not take any friendships for granted. Try to reconnect with old friends that you have lost touch with. As you get closer to retirement it is good to have friends and family to turn to in order to fill the time that your work was filling before. It will help keep you from feeling a bit lost once you retire.
Establish a schedule and visit your doctor regularly! If you want to age well, your doctor is the one person who can help you maintain the best health possible. He or she is also trained to identify problems that you may not notice; the sooner you catch them, the better chance you will have at overcoming them.
When you are getting older a good thing to do is to make sure you get enough exercise on a daily basis. You should consult with your family doctor before you do any exercise routine that you are unsure of. The doctor knows what your body can handle and what you should do.
No one really knows how to age. It’s something that we will learn as we go. However, using tips like the ones you’ve just read in the article above, you can make the aging process as simple as possible by knowing what to expect and how to handle problems as they arise.
