The key to healthy ageing is about staying aware of the challenges and changes that you may face as you grow older. Changes can be hard for people at any age, but what can be daunting is how many changes may start happening in quick succession when you reach certain milestones. Healthy ageing has as much to do with garnering healthy habits as it does with being willing to reinvent yourself as you face down your fiftieth, sixtieth, seventieth birthday and beyond.
To stay healthy and happy, focus on these 5 tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle:
Learn to cope with change
As we mentioned, ageing is about accepting change. These changes aren’t only with your health and your body, but also with your life. Children may be moving away, parents may be passing on, and your career might be shifting. To cope with both these periods of joy and stress, learn to focus on the things you’re grateful for and find things to look forward to. Be willing to acknowledge and express your feelings – good or bad – and find a trusted person to talk to. Whether that’s your spouse, a friend, or a therapist, being able to talk openly about concerns you may have will help you better cope.
Keep up-to-date with health checks
As you age, annual check-ups are no longer optional. Based on your genetic and personal history, your doctor may have suggestions for specific check-ups and monitoring you may need to do. However, even without this, things like eyes, heart health, joint health, teeth health, and hearing health are all things you should regularly monitor. If you notice that you’re struggling to see when you drive at night, or that conversations are hard to follow in busy restaurants, bring it up with a specialist. Technological advances have changed many medical gadgets for the better, including hearing aids that are comfortable yet powerful.
Stay connected
Loneliness is a serious concern for the elderly. Retiring, friends moving away or passing on, and children moving away from home are all things that contribute to isolation. Avoid this by making a point to stay connected and make new connections. Be willing to learn how to use new technologies that will help you stay in touch with far-flung children and friends and take up new hobbies that will allow you to meet new people.
Get active
Don’t think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! You’re never too old to start exercising and getting active. Growing old does not mean your knees will give you and you’ll start packing on the pounds, those are just side effects of not being active enough. Take up walking or join a gym. If you don’t feel motivated or are intimidated, look into the services of a personal trainer or join a walking group.
Learn new things
Treat your brain like a muscle and make it work every day. Learn new things and challenge your mind with things like puzzles and games. Continuous learning can help prevent cognitive decline and prevent memory loss that many people believe is an inevitable part of ageing.
