Stay Connected

At some point in your life, you have heard or will hear of someone dying because of a broken heart?
This usually happens when either a spouse or partner of a long time passes away, they have no one left and get lonely. Loneliness is not healthy period.
Seniors who are lonely have a higher risk of getting dementia or depression and they have a more difficult time doing daily tasks, according to WebMD,
This doesn’t necessarily have to be with family, it could be volunteering in the community, finding a hobby, and joining a club (any club be it knitting, fencing, working out or walking, cooking, etc.), just doing anything that can keep you connected to others. And for those who can’t get out of the house, it can be a phone task or video chatting.

They Work Out Their Brains

Not only should we keep our bodies healthy, but we also need to work on the mind as well. Keeping the mind active can help prevent cognitive decline and issues with memory (which is something that we always generalize with older people).
Working the brain isn’t like running 5 miles every day, it can be as simple as doing crossword puzzles or games, learning a new task (take up crocheting or cooking), basically doing things differently (change the hand you brush your teeth with, chose a different route on your next walk, etc.), anything to keep the brain active and working.
Do you know that doing the same thing day in and day out, the brain tends to lose its muscle, the brain is a muscle as well? In order to prevent the decline, keep the brain going every day with little tasks (you can even do this and connect with others at the same time by taking up classes to learn new skills).

Not only should we keep our bodies healthy, but we also need to work on the mind as well. Keeping the mind active can help prevent cognitive decline and issues with memory (which is something that we always generalize with older people).
Working the brain isn’t like running 5 miles every day, it can be as simple as doing crossword puzzles or games, learning a new task (take up crocheting or cooking), basically doing things differently (change the hand you brush your teeth with, chose a different route on your next walk, etc.), anything to keep the brain active and working.
Do you know that doing the same thing day in and day out, the brain tends to lose its muscle, the brain is a muscle as well? In order to prevent the decline, keep the brain going every day with little tasks (you can even do this and connecting with others at the same time by taking up classes to learn new skills).

Keep Moving

I’ve talked about working on your mind to keep your brain muscle active, however, you still must keep the body active as well. No need to spend hours in the gym, just a simple 20 min walk a day will do!
First, before you start doing anything make sure you discuss with your doctor if you have any restrictions due to age or medical condition, and find something you like to do.
Staying active can also help prevent memory loss, dementia, and keeps you strong. You can do this with family/friends/neighbors, go walking after dinner or in the morning, go to the local pool and swimming (which is a great low impact workout), take the dog for a longer walk (if you don’t have a dog, and can afford it, get one)
The more you move, the healthier weight you can maintain the better can feel. Being more self-sufficient (and working out can significantly help that) can keep you going in the long run. When we see a senior walking around, carrying their own groceries etc., we associate them with having good health.

Eat Well

Eating huge amounts of junk food is not ideal for your body, neither is it good for your mental health either. Eating well is something that doesn’t have to be overly difficult, no need to cut out every “bad” thing from your diet, but you should be consuming less processed food and eating more whole food with a clean diet.
A clean diet can help to keep you feeling more energetic and (if you are watching what you eat) can keep your weight at a healthy level. Our metabolisms slow as we age, meaning we need less to eat, but instead of eating less food, we can incorporate healthier more filling foods.

Live in the Moment

Sounds corny but we hear the statement they are just stuck in their ways often when it comes to the older population.
If we are stuck in our own ways it can lead to increased stressed, reduced focus, poor emotional reactions, etc.
Being mindful and able to live in the moment and accept and go with change can help to keep all that in check. Higher stress can lead to increased illnesses and when you get older it gets harder to recuperate.
A big part of reducing stress lies in how able we are to handle change.
Acknowledge your feelings (this isn’t how it used to be done, I’m angry) and move on.
Focus on what makes you happy, look for the good that is indeed there, and move forward.
If you don’t it will definitely pull you down. Don’t ignore the issue of your feelings, accept them, process them, and then find a new plan. Focus on happiness and the meaning of doing what you do, be excited and learn how to live with and accept new challenges. Doing this will help you age slower.
A young mind can make all the difference when it comes to aging.

Bonus–Take Care of your Skin (this starts young)

Wear sunscreen! ” In the song “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen.?” produced by Baz Luhrmann in 1999 He draws parallels to wearing sunscreen and being young! I suggest you listen to it (I mean REALLY listen). What I am saying is that taking care of your skin is essential. We tend to associate older genes with wrinkly, crepe, dry, terrible skin.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, genetics plays a role, but starting young can help to prevent so much of the damage that happens.

Wear sunscreen when you go out, avoid harsh and abrasive chemicals on the skin, and wash your face nightly, use creamer.

Keeping your skin healthy (and having a healthy diet and drinking copious amounts of water helps too) is the epitome of aging well. Looking at old people with beautiful skin tells you that these people take care of themselves both inside and out.

Sources

Baz Luhrmann. Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen. https://youtu.be/pVQeP5vRP5E
Aging Well. Staying Healthy as you Age. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/staying-healthy-as-you-age.htm
WebMD. 9 Scientific Secrets to Healthy Aging. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/healthy-aging-secret#1