Aging is inevitable, that’s just how the human body works. Even the world’s wealthiest and most influential individuals will eventually show signs of aging—grey hair, fine lines, and dry skin.
And while you can never prevent your body from aging, you can combat the signs of aging by making simple lifestyle changes. Incorporate the tips listed below into your daily routine, so you can age gracefully and have everyone guessing how old you really are!
- Socialise More
Getting old doesn’t mean that you should coop up inside your home and spend most of your days sitting on the couch or lying in bed. A sedentary lifestyle can take a toll on your mental and physical health, and double your risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and high blood pressure.
One of the easiest ways to stay young is to socialise more. If you live independently, invite your friends and family over and host dinners. If you’re living under aged care services, introduce yourself to new people and strive to build healthy friendships.
Having meaningful relationships as you age can improve your mental and physical well-being. It can lower your stress levels, improve your mood, and keep loneliness at bay.
- Take Care Of Your Skin
Aside from affecting your appearance, the skin is the body’s largest organ. The skin acts as a barrier that protects your internal organs from any toxins, bacteria, and germs you get exposed to daily. Your skin also regulates your body temperature and shields you from radiation by producing melanin.
Your skin plays a vital role in your health as you age, so make sure you’re properly taking care of it. Taking care of it helps prevent skin conditions that can make you look older.
Here are some simple hacks to reduce premature skin aging:
- Protect your skin from the sun: Even if you spend most of your days at home, it’s still best to wear sunscreen every day. Ideally, you should wear a water-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 30. When going out, wear sun-protective clothing, such as sunglasses with UV protection, a long-sleeved shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Cleanse your skin gently: Scrubbing your skin might feel satisfying, but this can only do more harm than good. Excessive scrubbing can strip away the natural oils in your skin and make your skin look dryer and feel rougher. If you want to take care of your skin, cleanse gently using a non-abrasive cleanser that doesn’t have any alcohol content.
- Pay attention to your skincare products: Regardless of how cheap or well-advertised a skincare product is, if your skin burns or stings whenever you’re using it, dispose of the product immediately. People’s skins react differently to various products, and using one that creates discomfort will only irritate or burn your skin.
- Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is important because it provides countless health benefits. When exercise becomes part of your daily routine, you can lower your risk of diseases, namely cancer and heart diseases. Exercising may also help retain your mobility and improve sleep quality.
Ideally, you should have at least three hours of moderate-intensity exercise every week, at least one and a half-hour of vigorous-intensity exercise every week, or a combination of the two.
Some aerobic exercises that you can easily add to your daily routine include walking, cycling, dancing, and swimming. You can also perform some bone- and muscle-strengthening exercises using resistance bands or weights.
- Stick To A Healthy Diet
The foods that you regularly eat can significantly affect your wellness as you age. So even if you exercise every day, if your diet contains excessive junk and processed food, you may find it hard to combat aging or stay healthy as you age.
Eating healthy foods is the best way to go if you want to age gracefully. A healthy diet supplies your body with essential vitamins and minerals, allowing you to live longer, have stronger bones, and keep your eyes, skin, and teeth healthy.
A healthy diet for aging adults may look like this:
- Consume more fruits and vegetables, which can be frozen, canned, or fresh.
- Add more protein to your diet by eating more peas, beans, and fish.
- Eat at least three ounces of bread, rice, crackers, whole-grain cereals, or pasta daily. If possible, choose whole grains as they are packed with protein, antioxidants, and fibre.
- Have two to three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy fortified with vitamin D to keep your bones, muscles, and teeth healthy.
- Sleep Well
Sleep allows your mind and body to recharge, giving you the energy to be productive on the next day. In addition, having a healthy sleeping schedule may help manage your weight, improve your concentration, and stave off mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
If you want to combat aging, prioritize getting enough sleep every day. You can start by setting a consistent sleep schedule and refraining from drinking caffeine afternoon. Removing any devices from your bedroom can also help you sleep faster.
It’s Easy When You Know How
Contrary to popular belief, looking young doesn’t have to be expensive or tedious. By making the right lifestyle changes today, you can still look and feel like you’re 30 or 40 years old even when you’re actually approaching your golden years!
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