Getting older is, of course, better than the alternative, which is to die. However, just because it’s better than the other option, that doesn’t mean that it’s all that great. When we’re young, it seems like life is full of adventure, and we have the energy to tackle anything that comes our way. When we’re older, that begins to change — we’re no longer able to do all the things we wanted to do, responsibilities pile up, our bodies betray us, and so on. But does time always get to have its own way? We think not. Below, we take a look at some useful tips that’ll have you living your best life for longer.
Running Shoes
It’s tempting to sit back and have a comfortable life, but it’s worth keeping in mind that comfort isn’t always what’s best for you — in fact, comfort should be stamped with the “it’s overrated” label. If we want our body to be on our side in our later years, then we need to make sure it’s not forgetting how it’s supposed to function. Twenty minutes of exercise a day really will make a difference, and it won’t take up much time. The people in the “Blue Zones” — the places where people live the longest — commit to doing physical activity every day; and they don’t just live the longest, they’re often some of the happiest people around.
Eating Well
What you put into your body really does affect your health. If you’re only putting in sugary, fatty foods, then you can imagine the effect that it’s going to have on your body. On the other hand, if you take the time to prepare healthy meals using fresh ingredients, then you’ll begin to feel better. The improvement might just be small at first, but spread over enough years, the difference between someone who ate well and someone who didn’t can be profound. The good news is that it’s so easy to do — there are plenty of delicious and healthy meals that can be made in twenty minutes. It’s much easier to do all that you enjoy when you’re not carrying plenty of excess weight around!
Calming The Mind
You can’t enjoy life if you’re constantly stressing about details that ultimately don’t really matter. It’s well worth cultivating the presence of mind to let go of the small details. In many people’s cases, it’s not their bodies that make them feel old; it’s the sheer weight of living. So why not make your life a little lighter? Doing this in remarkably simple — you just need to meditate. Scientists are pretty certain on the benefits of practicing daily meditation, and it only takes fifteen minutes. Make it part of your daily schedule, and don’t overthink it. It doesn’t have to become your whole life, just a small, beneficial aspect of it.
Getting Flexible
Exercise and eating well are good starts, when it comes to your body. But to have the biggest impact, look at yoga. There are countless sports stars who swear by the activity when it comes to prolonging their career. In a period when we’re typically spending more time than ever before sitting down, it’s normal that our muscles tighten up somewhat. Yoga loosens them up again. It’s hard to fully sell someone on the idea of yoga — we’ll just recommend that you go to one class, and make a note of how you feel afterward. If it feels like you’re walking on air, then you’ll know that it’s worthwhile making it a regular habit.
Bad Habits
There are some things in life that are presented as normal, encouraged even, yet which have a negative impact on our life. Drinking alcohol is one such thing. Scientists recently figured out that the best option for your health is to have no alcoholic drinks at all, but it’s about more than just the effect it has on your number of years — it’s about the quality of your later years. Alcohol will make you feel lethargic and depressed; give it up, and you’ll notice an upturn in energy and possibility. Not that you need to give up alcohol for good, but it might be worth reducing your intake to just a few drinks a week.
Handling Injuries
Sometimes, everything can seem to be going right — you feel good, you have plans for the future, age is just a number, and so on. But then, something happens that causes a serious injury, and your life goes on hold. Often, a seemingly benign injury can have long-term effects, and can make you feel much older than you really are. As such, it’s important that you treat any injury seriously, even if it only seems minor. A physical injury that keeps you in bed for long periods may cause depression, and also negatively affect your financial situation. If the accident wasn’t your fault, it’s important that you get in touch with personal injury lawyers, and fight for financial compensation — it’ll help with the medical bills, and in any case, it’s easier to move on from an injury if you know justice has been served. Don’t take any chances with an injury — it really can age you overnight if you’re not careful.
Busting Out of Ruts
One of the reasons we feel older than we should is simply because we get too stuck in our ways. When we’re young, we’re continually doing new things. Everything is an adventure! But over time, we begin to think that we’ve experienced all we’d like to experience, and fall back on those things that we know we like to do again and again. But of course, most of us have tried virtually nothing when we look at the range of activities that are available. As such, one of the best ways to stay feeling young is to simply try new activities. Anything that breaks you out of your routine will be valuable.
Meeting New People
And as well as new activities, what about meeting new people? There’s value in having the same friends since you were in school, but they shouldn’t be the only people you interact with — who knows what kind of characters you might meet if you just break out of the routine and meet new people? The person who might change your life might be waiting around the corner. From time to time we meet those people who instill in us a renewed sense of adventure and life, which can make us feel young again.
Current Trends
If you found yourself constantly saying “music was better twenty years ago,” then it’s time to update your senses. Music wasn’t better twenty years ago — it’s just you were younger then, and that music was the soundtrack to your youth. It’s worthwhile getting over your prejudices about music, and get involved with new scenes — not just in music, but also film and fashion. Good stuff is coming out all the time — and you’ll never be considered “past it” if you’re aware of what that good stuff is.
Into Nature
Cities will make you feel young when you first arrive, and then slowly chip away at your youthfulness. There’s only so much stressful city life you can handle before you become cynical! There is a place, however, that can give you back from of that lost youthfulness: nature. Spend some time in the great outdoors, and you’ll return to the city full of vigor and enthusiasm. There’ll be scenic spots within easy driving distance regardless of where you live. Make a habit of taking a trip every couple of weeks or so — it really will make a difference. There’s nothing to make you feel young like breathing in fresh mountain air!
Rest Well
What is the problem with aging? The biggest issue, probably, is that we just don’t have as much energy as we used to. We want to go on adventures, but we just can’t muster up the energy to go! It’s possible, however, that you can greatly increase your energy levels just by learning how to rest properly. It sounds like a simple thing to say, but most people don’t know how to do it. If you’re not getting enough sleep, or filling your days with mentally engaging – but ultimately useless – activities such as scrolling through your phone, then you’re going to be more tired than necessary. Learn the art of relaxation — it could transform your life.
An Open Mind
You can think yourself younger — really! Age is just a number, though of course there are physical components at play too. If you have an open mind and a positive attitude, you’ll be able to overcome the more mental problems of growing older. Most of the issues stem from “I’m too old to do [cool activity] now,” but this is rarely the case. You’re never too old to change your life or try new activities. Make sure you’re the one in control of your life, not society’s interpretation of what it means to be your age. You’re the one who decides!
