Is it safe to say that at this point most of us have realized the inevitability of the passing of time and what it does do to our bodies and our minds?
Many say they’d love to go back in time to their xx-year-old body, but take their present-day wisdom with them.
What if you could?!
Truly, taking great care of yourself is the fountain of youth. And it’s not just about the aesthetics! You really can feel younger in your body then you are right now.
Here are some tips from Healthline on “Aging Gracefully”:
1. Take good care of your skin – it’s the largest organ we have. Stay hydrated and use sunscreen!
2. Exercise – regular exercise significantly lowers risk of disease, such as heart disease and cancer, and helps you retain mobility longer. Not to mention lowering stress and improving sleep, bone health, and mood!
3. Mind your food – fruits, veggies, fish, beans, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds). And less processed foods!
4. Mind your mental health – spend time with loved ones, have a positive attitude about your age (I always celebrate that we made it another 365 days around the sun!), and do things that make you happy.
5. Stay physically active – walking, hiking, vacations! (Bonus points for nature time!)
6. Lower your stress – meditation, breathwork, yoga, exercise, get enough sleep, keep social/friend connections
7. Quit smoking and decrease alcohol consumption – more studies are coming out that are confirming that no amount of alcohol actually produces health benefits. Dry January, anyone? You may be pleasantly surprised at the benefits of cutting down or out the wine.
8. Get enough sleep – lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, reduce stress and depression, lower your risk of obesity, reduce inflammation in your body, and improve focus & concentration.
9. Find and try new hobbies – keeps you exploring and engaged with life! And, you never know when you discover something new that you really like! (My new one is pottery 🙂)
10. Practice mindfulness – acceptance and living in the moment by focusing on the present. How distracted are we by everything throughout the day? It’s certainly easy to be. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, or coloring .. or “moving meditation,” as I call it: exercise.
11. Drink plenty of water – helps keep you regular, improves your energy levels and brain function. Also been proven to keep your skin healthier and reduce signs of aging!
12. Take care of your mouth – sure the aesthetic is nice, but you also reduce your risk of gum disease, which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and bacterial pneumonia.
13. See a doctor regularly – get your annual physical in the least. The bloodwork is just about priceless to get an inside scoop on your health!
What’s one area you could work on today? Pick just one and work on improving. We’re always growing and expanding and improving, or .. not. Life is not stagnant and we get to opportunity to choose how we experience it with how we take care of ourselves!
What are your beliefs around “aging”? These will make the biggest impact on how you perceive it, think about it, and act about it.
The best part is, you get to choose!