Many people, especially women, have a tough time with aging. But there are a few simple ways that you can postpone the aging process and manage to look and feel young for many years to come. Below are a few tips that have been accumulated to give you an advantage over the aging process.
Aging can have many undesirable effects on the body. Nobody looks forward to the obvious signs of aging. To keep your appearance looking younger and more youthful, stay away from recreational drugs and alcohol. These substances can have a devastating effect on skin, hair and teeth, making a person look much older than their biological age. They can damage the internal organ systems as well, so hold on to your youth and steer clear!
Did you know that high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are risk factors for dementia? These risks become more severe due to smoking, lack of exercise and high cholesterol. As we age, it becomes increasingly important to control these disorders in order to maintain good mental health as aging progresses.
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.
Wonderful memories will be produced by getting out of the house and traveling. You may not have the budget or the health to go on long vacations but just getting out of the house and going to the mall, park or theater is going to make you feel like life is worth living.
As you get older, it’s more important than ever to surround yourself with people that make you happy, lift you up and do not bring you down. This can be accomplished by having a nice family dinner where everyone is involved or sharing good times and good memories with your favorite people.
Keep a close friend or minister on speed dial so you can talk to them about anything at anytime. If you are able to find at least one person that you can tell anything, you are sure to relieve the burdens that you may carry if you do not let those thoughts out.
Staying properly hydrated has never been more important to you than now! Aging is hard on the body and providing it with plenty of water will help flush toxins, bring nutrients to cells, hydrate skin and make it easier on every function of your body! Most experts recommend about eight glasses of water each day, so drink up for healthier aging!
Start making a will. Death is a topic people don’t like to talk about, but it is inevitable. When you feel ready, begin preparing your will and final papers so that your family knows how you would like things to be handled after you pass on. This will also make sure that there are not any family fights and disagreements later on.
If you are caring for an aged family member who has Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to educate yourself about the disease and treatment options since information and medications for this disease is always evolving. It can also be helpful to find a support group with which to share pertinent information. The Alzheimer’s Association has a website which contains information which can also be helpful.
A tip for staying young, even when your body is aging, is to keep learning. Learn more about playing bridge, how to use a computer, gardening, woodworking, or whatever you wanted to learn earlier in life but didn’t have the time to do. Since you are retired and your children are grown, you no longer have the excuse of not having the time to delve into these new adventures of learning. Never let your brain remain idle!
The key to enjoy aging is to accept it. Instead of focusing on creaky bones and reduced vision, give attention to the joy of growing more in love with your partner and playing with your grandchildren. Like everything else in life, learn to focus on the positives to enjoy life more.
Have regular eye exams. As you get older, you have to start paying special attention to the health of your eyes, which may be new for you if you have never worn glasses. Reduced eye function can decrease your independence and make it hard to do things you used to do, so have a doctor examine them regularly.
Have regular hearing screenings as you get older. Loss of hearing is something that happens gradually, so you may not even suspect that you have hearing loss until something drastic happens. Have hearing screenings done so that you know if your ears are still working well or you need to consider a hearing aid.
Take every measure to remove objects from your house that can cause a fall. Remove throw rugs that you can trip over, chairs that are wobbly, and so on. Falls are a huge cause of fractures, serious injuries, and sometimes death among the elderly. Walking three times a week, for only thirty minutes, is a great way to improve balance and maintain physical fitness. Increase the body’s bone density by taking a daily dose of Vitamin D and calcium, and doing some strength training. This can help reduce your risk of fractures.
A key tip to staying young and healthy is to eat nuts. Nuts are a great snack and a fantastic food to prevent the signs of aging. Nuts are loaded with anti-aging fats and are great sources of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Just be careful when eating nuts to eat them in moderation because they are high in calories.
Aging is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to look and feel horrible. These tips will give you a bit of an advantage to keep your body looking and feeling fit for many more years. Hopefully you’ve learned a few new tricks from this article. Good luck with your battle against time.
