HOW TO AGE GRACEFULLY

1. START TODAY

 Wear sunscreen. All the time. You've heard it so many times that it seems clichéd, but it's true: protecting your skin from the sun is absolutely essential to looking and feeling good as you get older. Studies have shown that roughly 90% of skin problems associated with aging (wrinkles, blotchiness, dryness, sagging) are cause by sun damage. Apply sunscreen every single day, even when it's overcast and cloudy

 Develop a skin-care regimen. Maintaining healthy skin well into old age requires more than just staying out of the sun. Moisturize your skin daily. Wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser (soap can be harsh and dry out your skin)

Stop smoking. Smoking actually speeds up the aging process by depriving your skin of oxygen and essential vitamins which leads to premature wrinkles. It also damages collagen and elastin, causing your skin to sag.
Smoking is linked to serious health problems that can shorten and impair your life, like heart disease, lung disease, and cancer.

 

plan for life after retirement. It is easy to let your work define you, but what happens when you finally retire? To prevent withdrawing and becoming depressed, inactive, and disconnected from others, think about meaningful ways to fill your golden years. You can focus on whatever passions and interests took a back-seat to your job.
Consider traveling, spending time with family, developing your spiritual life, and discovering new interests that will keep you engaged and challenged.
 

2. CULTIVATE THE ATTITUDE

Embrace your age. Aging gracefully is not about trying to recapture your 20's or look like a teenager. People who age gracefully accept that the aging process is natural and normal. They take pride in the fact that they're survivors. They don't apologize for their age: they own it.

 

Stop stressing. Stress can make you look ten years older. Stress can impair your immune system and lead to depression, anxiety, weight gain, heart disease, digestive problems, and more. Stress is also unavoidable.

 

Be optimistic. Having a positive attitude is linked to longevity and better physical and mental health. Those who age with optimism (not getting angry or obsessing about the process, but accepting it as natural and fine) are less likely to need assisted living and can stay independent longer

 

3. MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BODY 

Exercise moderately and consistently. Exercise is one of the most important factors in staying healthy as you age--both for your body and your mind. You don't have to run marathons or climb mountains--simply walking for 20-30 minutes a day can benefit your heart, help you lose weight, strengthen your bones, keep your mind sharp, prevent constipation, increase blood flow, and much more.

 Eat a healthy diet that supports your goals and lifestyle. Look for diets that are low in sugar and rich in vitamins. As we age, our bodies can have trouble creating essential vitamins or we may begin needing more vitamins to maintain our health.

 

Turn off the TV. Studies have found that watching excessive amounts of TV can be just as harmful to your health as smoking or lack of exercise and can actually shave years off your life.

 

Take care of your teeth. Neglecting your teeth and gums can have dire consequences. A receding gum line or dry mouth can increase chances of decay and infection, which can spread if untreated. Cavities and gum disease can even cause your teeth to fall out. Keep up with dentist appointments, and continue to floss and brush.

 

4. MAINTAINING A HEALTHY MIND

Stay social. Not only will it help prevent isolation and depression, remaining social and engaging with others can actually keep your mind nimble. Keeping up with a conversation and formulating responses makes your brain work and keeps neural connections from weakening.

Challenge your mind with novel experiences. The more you test and push the limits of your brain, the better it performs. A new experience in particular causes your brain to create new neural pathways and strengthen old connections. Without use, those pathways degenerate and connections are lost. 

Get a good night's sleep. As people age, they can have more difficulty falling or staying asleep. Lack of or poor sleep can lead to depression and, difficulty making and recalling memories, and impair judgment.

 

5. LOOKING YOUR BEST

Wear minimal make up. Though you may be feeling the pressure to hide your wrinkles under powder and foundation, these products will actually make lines more obvious. The idea isn't to disguise your age with tons of makeup and product, but rather to enhance your best features and minimize the less flattering. You should accept your wrinkles, but you don't have to highlight them.

Stay fabulous. Do you love your long hair? Keep it long. Do you think your gray hair looks amazing? Don't dye it. Prefer to be blonde? Then dye it! Stay true to who you are and the things that make you feel your best. Remember that getting older doesn't mean you can no longer be fashionable, have interests, be sexual, or experience new adventures. It doesn't mean you have to trade in your heels for fuzzy slippers--unless you want to! 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE:www.wikihow.com