If you live long enough you’re gonna to get old. There’s nothing you can do about it. Time marches on and eventually catches up with all of us. That may sound slightly depressing but the good news is you can do something about how you feel. With a decent diet, positive mindset, exercise, and a healthy social outlet you can defy the effects of aging and live a happier, more fulfilling lifestyle.
What you eat largely impacts your health and how you feel. High fat, high sodium, high sugar, high cholesterol foods can wreak havoc on your body. Not only can a poor diet lead to obesity it can lead to all sorts of health and psychological conditions. Eat bad enough and you might not even make it to old age. As we age our dietary needs change. Good nutrition can slow and improve the aging process.
Exercise can do the same thing. Lifting weights, aerobics, and cardiovascular exercise can make you look and feel younger. Working out is good for the body and the brain. As we age it becomes increasingly difficult to remain physically active but where there’s a will there’s a way. If one type of exercise becomes too difficult or causes too much pain switch to another. There is always some type of activity you can do on a regular basis. Try yoga. Go for a walk or a swim. There is always something new you can do to keep exercise part of your life.
The older we get the smaller our social network becomes. The demands placed on us by our jobs and families can take up most of our free time. Maintaining an active social life can become just as or even more difficult as staying physically active. Interest change over time making it difficult to connect with people you may have had a lot in common with. In order to stay socially active, find clubs or groups of people that share similar interests. The internet is perfect for this. A simple search can result in virtually endless possibilities. Join a gym, go to church, do volunteer work. Get online or out of the house and just talk to people.
Above all, strive for balance. A balanced life is a happier life. If we don’t take care of ourselves we break down quicker and feel worse. The choices we make can create a snowball effect that leads to preventable disease and even despair. If you’re feeling old do something about it. Figure out how to live a more balanced and healthy life.
