Aging is not just about living longer, but living healthily and happy for a long time. Feeling your best and staying positive is essential. That’s why, the key to staying healthy includes eating well, exercising, going on regular doctor visits, and the list goes on. Getting older means experiencing major life changes including the loss of loved ones, children leaving home, physical and health challenges. If you balance your sense of loss with positive thinking, you’ll be able to stay healthy and continue to reinvent yourself as you go through the ages of 60, 70, and beyond.
Learning to adapt to change and finding new things to enjoy are just a few essentials on your way to happy aging. So read on below and explore a few of the ways you can keep your body and mind happy.
See a doctor regularly
Regular visits to the doctor are essential in keeping you healthy. Keep in mind that you should start doing this while you’re still young. Seeing a doctor regularly will help them find problems with your health early on or even before they start. Depending on your age, existing conditions, lifestyle, and family history you’ll determine how often you need to pay a visit to your doctor.
Go in for regular checkups and make sure you take your vitamins and medication as prescribed. The problem is people often avoid going to the doctor because of expensive prescribed medication. Bear in mind that you can actually avail of drugs coupons to some pricy medications, which you can use even if you’re uninsured or underinsured. This makes the whole process of healthy aging much easier for many people.
Eat healthily
Commencing a healthy diet doesn’t just apply when you start to get older. Keeping a healthy lifestyle from a young age is very important. Make sure you avoid eating too much fast food, drinking sugary drinks, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking. A balanced diet is crucial for good health, preventing illnesses, and having the energy to take on daily tasks.
An ideal diet consists of lots of fruits and veggies, oily fish, low-fat dairy, lean meat, and whole grains. Investing on organic food would also be wise. Try out some indoor mushroom growing kits that are convenient and easy to tend to. Top that with drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Drinking alcohol moderately is fine if you keep at least two days per week alcohol-free to give your liver time to recover from the toxic effects of booze. Keep in mind that small changes in your diet can lower the risk of many diseases associated with aging.
Exercise
While keeping a healthy diet, you must also think about your physical health. Daily exercise helps you stay healthy and strong. It can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Not only that but it can boost your self-esteem, giving you more energy and improving your sleep. Whether it’s simply taking a 30 minute to an hour walk, or doing aerobics, yoga, or similar exercises at least twice a week.
Remember to start small and as you get stronger, you’ll be able to work harder. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults do 2-5 hours per week of moderate exercise, 1-2.5 hours of vigorous aerobic exercise per week, or a combination of them. It also suggests they do muscle-strengthening activities. For example, you can do swimming, cycling, dancing, or simply walking.
Explore new hobbies and practice mindfulness
If you want to enjoy life more, keep your stress down, explore new hobbies, and practice mindfulness. Pay attention to your mental health and try to spend more time with family and friends, doing things you love. Being socially active can improve your health and longevity. Find new and meaningful hobbies to help you maintain a sense of purpose and keep you busy.
The National Institute of Aging suggests that people who engage in leisure, social activities, and hobbies are happier and experience less depression, thus living longer. Remember, mindfulness is about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest. Many proven health benefits of practicing mindfulness include lowered stress, better memory, improved emotional reaction, and many more.
Final thoughts
Aging gracefully is all about being happy and healthy rather than focusing on keeping wrinkles at bay. Surround yourself with people you enjoy spending time with, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and do things you love. Get enough sleep and find yourself a new hobby to keep you busy and joyful. Enjoying and appreciating life is one of the most important perspectives of healthy living and aging.
