‘Forget sports, the secret to aging healthily lies in your mind‘
We all get older, that's something that's certain. What you may not be so sure about is how you age. Do you stay fit for a long time or do you collapse at 60? And if you reach 100, how do you feel then? Fortunately, a lot of research is being done on how to age as healthily as possible, and I would love to share all the secrets for a mentally and physically healthy old age with you.
According to experts, healthy aging starts with your physical health. Habits that you can easily measure to stay in control of your physical health include: regular exercise, standing more, eating nutritious and varied foods, getting enough sleep, and waking up at the same time every day. It's also important not to smoke and to drink alcohol in moderation.
However, your mental well-being also has a significant impact on how you age healthily, according to new research. Maintaining your mental health is said to enhance quality of life and improve the long-term health of seniors. This mainly revolves around the following five things:
Maintaining social contacts
It is very important to prevent feeling socially isolated. Loneliness among the elderly is linked to higher risks of heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, building multiple social networks can increase physical activity, which is good for physical health.
Learning new things
A study in which participants aged 60 and older learned new activities such as quilting and digital photography for three months clearly showed evidence that consistently engaging in challenging and new activities improved participants' memory function, meaning that involving your mind in educational activities is a significant boost for your brain. Learning new things can therefore be the key to maintaining a healthy cognitive function as you age.
Managing stress
Everyone experiences stress at some point; you can't avoid it. What you do have control over is how you deal with this stress. Unhealthy ways of managing stress can include: using alcohol or drugs, gambling, overeating, not eating enough, shopping too much (let's pretend I didn't read that), and smoking. Of course, that doesn't make you healthier. Instead of letting stress build up and trying to control it with these negative habits, you can better adopt habits to prevent stress. Think of meditating, dancing, listening to music, or writing in a journal to process your feelings.
Fighting symptoms of depression
Many older adults show symptoms of depression. This can manifest as a feeling of emptiness and flatness, having little appetite, or lacking enough sleep. This can be due to the loss of family members or changes in the body simply due to aging. Experts indicate that this is not a normal consequence of aging and that it is important to combat these symptoms to safeguard your health. This can, in addition to receiving therapy, be achieved by seeking meaning in life, finding meaningful volunteer work, or expanding hobbies and interests. It is also important to continue expressing yourself to your surroundings. Are you struggling with something? Don't bottle it up.
Having fun
The older you get, the more time you have for fun in your life and all the activities you didn't have time for during your working life. Researchers indicate that picking up enjoyable hobbies promotes your overall well-being. Especially creative activities have a positive impact on your health. They have been linked to improved memory and greater resilience in older adults and even help seniors with dementia. I don't know about you, but aging suddenly doesn't sound so bad.
Source: Verywell Mind
