Ways to Look After Your Health and Well-Being as You Get Older – As we venture towards our senior years, our bodies and minds can start to slow down a little. Tasks that you used to be able to achieve with no thought or effort can become difficult, and you may even begin to rely on the help of others more than you once did.
Although you can’t stop the aging process, there are many things you can do to keep your mind and your body in good shape.
Here are 11 ways to look after your health and well-being as you get older.
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Take a nap
You may think this sounds counterintuitive, but research suggests that napping during the day can help to improve alertness and mood and reduce bouts of sleepiness. So, if you feel a little tired and need a quick energy boost, a short nap could do wonders.
Keep your brain active
When you are no longer working, you may find that you aren’t using your brain as much as you used to, so it’s important to keep it active. You will find loads of games and puzzles online geared towards stimulating various parts of your brain.
If you prefer something more traditional, why not buy some crossword or Wordsearch books to keep you occupied.
Take care of your hearing
As you get older, you may find that you aren’t hearing as well as you once were. Keeping noise exposure to a minimum and, if wearing headphones, reducing the volume to a lower level can help to reduce ear damage.
If you are already struggling to hear and feel you need some assistance, hearing aids can be a life-changer. Search online for the best hearing aids, and you should find something to suit your needs.
Increase the number of plants you eat
Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds contain an abundance of beneficial nutrients that will boost your immune system and help you fight infection. Given its anti-inflammatory properties, a whole food plant-based diet is known to prevent many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and many types of cancer.
So, eat less meat and dairy and more plants, and, in a matter of months, you may even start feeling like you are getting younger rather than older.
Daily walks
As well as being beneficial for your cardiovascular system, walking is also good for the mind. As little as 30 minutes a day can make all the difference to your mood and can help to keep your joints supple.
If you want to take it even further and challenge yourself a little, why not buy a step tracker watch? They each come with a variety of functions to choose from depending on how detailed you want to get and are a great way to monitor your activity and progress.
Don’t underestimate a good night’s sleep
Sleeping gives our bodies time to heal and recuperate from the rigors of the previous day. It’s recommended that the average adult get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, so if you aren’t currently achieving that, it’s time to make a few changes.
A warm bath can help, or why not read a book to help you drift off? Not only will a good night’s sleep make you feel a lot better when you wake, but you are far less likely to feel tired later in the day.
Avoid blue light
Blue light comes from technology such as mobile phones, tablets, LED televisions, etc. While it’s okay in moderation, too much can cause problems with vision and overstimulation of the brain. Too much blue light, particularly at night, can suppress melatonin production, which, in turn, can affect your sleep. It can also be potentially harmful to your eyes, so try and keep it to a minimum.
Find a hobby you love
Many people find that as they get older they get lonelier too, so it’s important to keep busy. If you don’t already have a hobby you enjoy, it’s worthwhile thinking about activities you might like to try.
From knitting to researching the local history of your hometown, there are loads of hobbies to choose from to suit all ages and interests. Not only is it a great way to pass the time, but it can help keep your brain stimulated too.
Spend time in nature
Air pollution is a huge problem these days and can be very detrimental to our health, so if you are out and about for a walk, try to spend as much time in nature as you can. Not only is the air a lot cleaner but being among nature is good for the mind and soul.
Taking off your socks and shoes and walking on grass is also supposed to be very good for your general health, so if you are feeling a little adventurous, you should give it a go.
Take supplements
Although a healthy diet should give you most of what you need as you age, it’s wise to supplement if necessary. Depending on where you live, you may be recommended to take a Vitamin D supplement each day – many of which include a K2 supplement that can aid bone health. Vitamin C is can help to increase white blood cell production, which will boost your immune system and help prevent infection and disease.
As with anything of this nature, it’s always wise to speak to a health professional before you start taking anything new.
Think positively
For many people, aging is hard to come to terms with, so you must try to think positively as much as possible. You may not be as young as you once were, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue living life to the fullest.
Focus on what you have achieved throughout your life and make a list of the things you still want to accomplish. You only get one life, so try and stay healthy and focused and live each day as if it were your last.
