Everyone Ages. Learn How to Do It Gracefully!
Every stage of life comes with some difficulty. However, none is quite so progressive and irreversible as the process of aging. Degenerative diseases affect the function of every part of the body. Living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding stress and avoiding negative environmental factors may slow this complicated process but their is no cure for aging.
Keep your mind active to ward off memory loss as you age. By doing challenging puzzles, reading, learning a new skill or taking new routes when driving, you force your brain to actively engage to find solutions to problems, which stimulates your brain and keeps your mind sharp. Add a crossword puzzle to your daily routine for an easy, relaxing mental workout.
When your body ages, the need for down time increases, which means you must get adequate sleep. Try to have a set time for going to bed, which allows you to get comfortable and fall asleep at a reasonable time. Read a book or magazine to help induce sleepiness, however, the TV should be avoided because of the stimulation it can cause.
Increasing your social activities can improve your lifestyle as you get older. Being part of a group can help you to keep learning and experiencing new things. Join a seniors group, a craft class, or a cooking class. Keeping busy will give you no time to feel older!
Be sure to protect your skin from the sun. Getting a bit of sun each day can be very beneficial but be sure to wear sunscreen while you do it. Overexposure can lead to wrinkles and even skin cancer. Taking care of your skin is vital to living a long and healthy youthful life.
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.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important health tips at any age but as you get older, you are going to hear it more and more from doctors and friends. Smoking does not only lead to cancer, but it will also accelerate the aging process of your face. You will develop more lines around the eyes and mouth.
Stop destructive behaviors. If you are still smoking and drinking heavily, now is the time to stop. Getting older means that a lot of body functions begin to slow down, including those things that protect you from the harmful things you do to your body. You’ll feel much better if you stick to those activities that enhance your health instead of take it away.
Throughout life, the body replaces and repairs itself. As we age, the body’s ability to heal itself slows. Many people begin to feel the effects of aging as early as 40 but the generally accepted age when individuals become ‘aged’ is the age of retirement, 65. Despite this, many elderly individuals remain independent and free of serious disease.