Aging is inevitable. Everyone gets old, and that’s the normal cycle of life. But how you age is another thing. There’s what you call aging gracefully.
Being able to age gracefully isn’t about looking young—it’s about living life to its fullest and being physically and mentally healthy to do so. Care for yourself as you would care for fine wine, and you will get better with age.
How do you do that? This article will give you some wellness tips on aging happily and healthily.
- Be Active
Being active daily is a significant contributor to staying healthy and strong. Doing exercises like simple walking, jogging, or even dancing can help lower the risks of illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and even obesity.
Moreover, staying active even in old age can help boost your energy and self-esteem and improve your sleep. A recent study even ties exercise to a longer lifespan stating that more activity equals slower aging. The more exercise you do, the more you age gracefully.
- Surround Yourself With Good People
Being surrounded by good people who make you happy and decrease stress can help with aging gracefully. Being with like-minded people can help immensely, especially with your mental health.
People of retirement age prefer to be in a retirement home or community, like Southern Cross Care, where they can be with people like them—retired and with a lot of time to spare.
Retirement homes nowadays create programs and activities for their residents to keep them engaged, active, and happy.
- Maintain A Healthy Diet
As they say, let your food be your medicine. Maintaining a healthy diet is another factor in aging gracefully. Making wise eating choices can help you avoid some health issues as you get older and may even aid with improving brain function.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that adults should regularly eat fruits and vegetables (fresh, canned, or frozen) with protein like beans and fish.
It’s also recommended to have at least three ounces of whole grains like rice, bread, cereals, and pasta daily with three servings of dairy (low-fat or fat-free) like cheese, milk, or yogurt. And, of course, remember to add healthy fats that you can find in avocado, salmon, tuna, and nuts.
- Stop Drinking Alcohol And Smoking
This is no secret: Drinking and smoking are not good for your health. These vices have been shown to increase the risk of diseases and cause premature aging.
If you’re smoking and drinking for a long while, it may be hard to stop them abruptly, but it indeed is doable. If you’re having a hard time, some resources can help you quit. You can even consult your doctor about it.
The idea is to eliminate it gradually until your body doesn’t look for it anymore. The progress may be slow, but good thing comes to those who wait, as the saying goes.
- Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is vital for your holistic health. The quality and quantity of sleep you get throughout your life plays a vital role in your health and well-being.
During sleep, you experience various emotions that influence your awake state. Sleep is essential for maintaining your physical health and supporting healthy brain function.
Getting enough sleep has been proven to help lower the risk of stroke, obesity, and heart disease. It also helps reduce depression and stress.
Better sleep means better focus and concentration, which can also help keep your brain active. Simply put, getting enough sleep is good for your mental, emotional, and overall physical health.
- Be Positive
Having a positive perspective in life as a whole can make a big difference when you age. Focusing on the positive things in life is a key component of healthy aging. Over time, your life will change, and you will gradually lose the things that once occupied your time and gave your life meaning.
Being positive does not mean ignoring life’s less pleasant circumstances. By thinking positively, you approach unpleasantness more constructively and positively. You always choose to look at the good rather than dwell on the bad ones.
Having a positive outlook makes it easier for you to handle stressful situations, lessening stress’s negative consequences on your body’s health.
Takeaway
Maintaining physical, mental, and cognitive health is the key to healthy and happy aging. Changing even a few things in your daily routine can help you live longer and healthier.
Being active, maintaining a healthy diet, quitting smoking and drinking, getting enough sleep, and being positive can help you maintain good physical health and age gracefully.
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