You have always been active. You have worked for forty years. You are about to retire. Everyone asks you: “But what will you do with all your time?” Be assured, this will not be a problem. Here are tips on how to stay active, healthy and contribute to society in your older years.
Keeping mentally active will help one to age gracefully. Mental activities take longer as we grow older, but just like a muscle, the brain can be kept fit with activity. Some popular pastimes which encourage mental activity are suduko and crossword puzzles. Doing a puzzle a day can keep brain fog away.
If your health is good, be sure to preserve it. If it is not so good, do what you can to improve it. Your body is your life vessel and should be cared for as if your life depends on it, because it does. Get the help that you need to improve any health issues that you may have.
There is no sense in worrying about your age or other numbers that seem to define you. Let your doctor worry about numbers. Dwelling on age, weight and looks can make you miss out on important events and opportunities.
One of the best ways to look younger is to refrain from smoking. Another advantage of not smoking is that you will live longer than if you smoke. With that said, it is very important to avoid both primary and secondary smoking because it has very harsh effects to your body.
To help your mindset while aging, toss out any numbers that aren’t really important, specifically your weight, your height and most importantly your age. These numbers may be important for your doctor (and they should be), but for daily living they are just barriers to the many, many things that are possible for you to do.
Spend time with people from many different generations. This can be with your family, your friend’s families or even at a school assembly. There are many different kinds of events that will allow you to interact with these many generations that you can learn many new and exciting things from.
Eat more nuts throughout the day. Nuts are a great food to help prevent aging. They have many healthy vitamins, minerals and fats, which will help balance your daily nutrition. Plus, they are an excellent way to stop your processed food cravings between meals, leading you to a much healthier lifestyle!
Oral health is essential to a long life. Even if you do not have teeth anymore, it is still important to go and have regular exams at the dentist so he can check your gums. You can still develop gum disease, oral cancer and other things that can lead to other health problems.
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.
A key to aging well is to maintain a good relationship with your physician. By getting yearly preventative checkups as well as any checkups that are necessary in between, you are taking a proactive approach to aging. There are many diseases that when caught early are highly treatable. Early disease treatment will definitely slow down your aging process.
It is important to have fun! Now more than ever, you can follow your heart and make positive change in the world. Fill your days with the people and things you love.
Drink plenty of water. Especially as you get older, you need to guard against dehydration by getting eight or more glasses of fresh water daily.
Try to eat a healthy diet. By eating a well-balanced diet made up of lots fruits, vegetables, fiber and whole grain and low in trans-fat, cholesterol and saturated fat, you will be providing your body with all the essential nutrients it needs to maintain optimum health and fight off infections and disease.
As a body ages bone loss is a great risk. It is a greater risk for women going through menopause. Eat lots of dark leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, molasses and tofu. Adding seaweed to your diet is great, as seaweeds contain a lot of calcium and magnesium.
Identify something you have always wanted to learn and take lessons or read about it. Whether it is playing a musical instrument or just learning more about a particular subject, continuing your education either formally or informally is a great way to keep your mind and body active and engaged.
As the day wears on, you will notice that your skin may become more dry and irritated. Therefore, it is important to keep your skin moisturized at all times. Moisturizing your skin can give you a smooth feel and can reduce the dry skin cells on your face which will help you look more vivacious.
Getting the right amount of exercise is more important as you age. Keeping a good regiment of walking in your daily routine will increase your heart conditioning from the increased heart rate. Follow your physician’s advice on how much is the right amount for you individually as your specific needs may vary.
Save up money in order to retire at the right time. Also save money in case of emergency health issues. You do not want to have your fun spoiled by an unplanned health problem you do not have the reserves to pay for.
Consider getting a pet to keep you company in your golden years. There are many pets in shelters that need loving homes. After you retire, you have more time at home, and you can provide much needed attention to a pet that needs it. You will have fun with the pet and the pet will have someone to love.
Now you have heard tips on what to do in your later years. Look for what truly suits you. You worked for other people all your life. Now you have a new range of choices. Whether it is as a volunteer helping others or launching a new career, your life experiences qualify you to forge ahead and meet new challenges.
