Embracing Healthy Aging: Tips for a Vibrant Life at Any Age

Embracing Healthy Aging: Tips for a Vibrant Life at Any Age

No matter how old we are, we’d all love to get a little older. And the only way to ensure that is to embrace healthy living, which becomes progressively more important the older we get. So we’ve put together some suggestions on how to age more healthfully that we hope will help you get as old as you want. Here they are:

Physical Health

When we think about health, we tend to think about physical health since that seems to be the aspect that challenges us the most on a daily basis as we age. Fortunately, there are some things we can do to make sure our physical health is as good as can be, even as we face the inevitability of aging.

• Get Regular Exercise: Staying active may be more difficult as you get older, but it’s just as important. And while the types and intensity of exercise you try may be different, the regularity should stay the same. Most guides suggest you get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week, even as you get older. That can include activities like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling. And because maintaining muscle mass gets more critical as we age, working in some strength training a couple of times a week is also a good idea.
• Eat A Balanced Diet: A nutrient-rich diet is important when it comes to maintaining your energy, bone health, and overall well-being. A Mediterranean diet, which is rich in healthy fats and antioxidants, is great for supporting heart health and reducing inflammation, which is important if you hope to stay active. The DASH diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and other low-sodium foods, is designed to keep your blood pressure low, which is key to heart health, overall wellness, and longevity.
• Get Routine Medical Checkups: Emphasize the importance of regular screenings and preventive care. (Essential screenings for those 40+ include mammograms or prostate exams, colonoscopies, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, and blood glucose tests. These are vital for detecting issues early and maintaining overall health.)

Mental Health

Physical health gets most of the attention when we talk about aging, but mental health is just as important – and for some people, even more so. Remaining mentally sharp and engaged and caring for your mental health are absolutely key to long-term health and happiness. Here are some ways to do that:

• Stay Sharp: Anything you can do to keep your mind sharp is a plus for your mental health. For some people that’s reading, for others is games or puzzles. Some like to challenge themselves by learning new skills. Whatever interests you and engages you cognitively is a good thing, so try new things and find out what interests and engages you.
• Manage Stress: The demands and limitations of aging can be stressful, and stress is a detriment to both our physical and mental health. That’s why it’s important to find ways to limit or reduce our stressors. Some people find that relaxation in nature or hobbies. Others enjoy mindfulness or meditation. If there’s an activity that helps you relax, make sure it’s a regular part of your life.
• Get Support: No matter how strong we might feel, there are times when we could all use a little help. And while it may be difficult to know when that is, you can never go wrong by reaching out to a mental health professional and getting their insight. Whether it’s individual counseling or a support group, getting another perspective and talking through challenges can make a big difference.

Social Health

We don’t hear a lot about social health, but it’s definitely something to be mindful of as we get older and our circles grow smaller. Here are some simple suggestions:

• Stay Connected: Maintaining strong social ties with family and friends is as beneficial to our physical health as it is our mental health. It encourages us to get out, engage our minds and bodies, and enjoy the people who are important to us. And there’s nothing healthier or more fun than that.
• Volunteer and Mentor: There’s nothing more powerful and uplifting than giving back. Whether that’s through volunteering, teaching, or mentoring, you’ll not only enjoy the social engagement but also be using your knowledge and experience to benefit the community.
• Combat Loneliness: Life gets a lot less “hustley” and “bustley” as we age. That’s a good thing in a lot of ways. But it can also lead to loneliness, which can be a real mental health challenge for some. You can combat loneliness by finding new ways to engage, whether that’s with family and friends or people and activities in your community. There are so many opportunities to explore through civic and community organizations, libraries, schools, theaters, and non-profit groups that you could keep yourself busy almost every day if you like.

Healthy Habits for Longevity

Activity isn’t the only way to stay healthy as we age. Some of it just comes down to good habits. And some of those habits are the same ones that have helped you reach this age in the first place:

• Get Plenty Of Sleep: The role quality sleep plays in our overall health is well documented, and the need for adequate sleep hasn’t changed. So make sure you continue to get plenty of rest each night. And make sure you talk to your primary care provider if you’re struggling with sleep or your sleep habits change.
• Hydrate: Our body is mostly water, so keeping ourselves hydrated is one of the best ways to keep it healthy and happy. Your water intake may vary as you age, but if you keep a bottle nearby at all times and make drinking all day a habit, you’re more likely to keep your organs and systems in healthier shape.
• Avoid Harmful Habits: There are good health habits, like eating healthy, exercising regularly, and drinking lots of water, and bad ones, like smoking, consuming alcohol in excess, and using recreational drugs. If you focus on the good and avoid the bad, you’re much more likely to age healthfully.

If you want to keep getting older, you’ll need to keeping taking proactive steps toward healthy aging. The suggestions in this post are a good start. If you need more or are looking for specific advice as it pertains to your unique health, be sure to see your primary care provider regularly and get their take, too. Together you can craft a plan to keep you rocking well into old age, too.

To learn more about recommended health screenings, visit: https://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/your-health-every-age.