5 Habits for Healthy Ageing

Ageing is one of those things we are all doing, but no one wants to talk about. Of course ageing is better than the alternative, so how can we find a healthier, happier way to grow older? There are some proven habits you can adopt to encourage health, mobility and vigor deep into your older years. 

1. Stay Active

Research shows that staying active can help us stay healthier as we age. Keeping our body moving is important for our muscles and joints, but also for our minds. Studies have shown that regular physical exercise cuts your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50 percent. And while keeping our mind sharp, it also helps us fight weight gain and keeps our muscles and joints moving and lubricated. It can be as simple as going for a daily walk, but cardio exercise is key in keeping our bodies young. Stretching exercises like yoga are also helpful in keeping the body flexible. If you make physical activity part of your daily routine, you will keep that momentum going as you move into older age. 

Avocado Toast

2. Eat Healthy

It’s no big surprise that eating healthy is another key in ageing healthy. It makes sense that the more nutrients we feed our body, the easier it is to stay at our optimal health. Many of the nutrients found in green leafy vegetables, nuts and fruits are necessary for body functions that help us age healthy, like our immune system and our eyesight. A diet of whole foods helps us fight off disease and decreases our chances of long-term conditions like chronic inflammation. Skipping processed foods is important because eating less junk means we consume less harmful chemicals. Many additives used in processed foods (even sugar!) erode our health over time. 

3. Protect Your Skin

Unfortunately, as we age, our skin gets thinner and looses elasticity and smoothness. Wounds tend to heal slower, and dark spots can start to form. That’s why it’s important to protect our skin from any additional damage. Harmful UV rays from prolonged sun exposure is a major factor in skin ageing. Making sunscreen and moisturizer part of your daily routine is a great way to protect yourself from unnecessary skin damage due to sun exposure. Smoking cigarettes also exposes you to harmful chemicals that can make your skin look older than it is. Quitting smoking can be a great step towards protecting your skin in the long term. 

2 Minute Ritual

4. Stay Social

Getting engaged in your community and staying social are also great ways to help you age healthier. Whether visiting with friends at the coffee house, or taking the grand kids to the park, staying social is a vital part of keeping the brain active and sharp. Starting new hobbies or taking some new classes can be a great way to meet new people and learning new skills. Volunteering is also a great way to get involved in your community and earn some good karma while you’re at it. The more you get out of the house, the easier it is to stay current with trends and styles as well. Updating your style is always a great way to look and feel younger!

Woman Sleeping

5. Get Enough Rest

Getting enough sleep is another important way to age healthy. Stress and lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your system over the long term, and can really speed up the physical signs of ageing. Building a  relaxation routine into a busy life can make a big difference in combating stress. Establishing a good sleep routine without the distraction of electronics can also help calm the mind and find rest. As we age, our bodies generally need less sleep, but maintaining a good sleep schedule of 7-9 hours a night is still key in healthy ageing. Our bodies need this time to regenerate and recuperate from our busy lives. Without this critical down-time, your body quickly starts to show increased signs of ageing.

20 Replies to “5 Habits for Healthy Ageing”

  1. You are dead right. I do just that and I am alive and top healthy at the age of 71. I do sew, read about interesting stories, expand my knowledge about speaking Italian, knit a little , phone 5 people via a voice message once a week read jokes that is not under the belt, walk for one hour each morning accept on Sunday.See the positive side of any situation and work in the garden. Listen to music and thank God for His blessings and favour on your life. Love to worship God by dancing and singing. Do not allow negative news to control my life.

  2. Way to go, Sophia! I love to worship the Lord with dancing & singing, too. Feasting on His Love and Presence and blessings and joy and His Word instead of the media!

  3. This is all so true! I am 74 and have perment brain damage from
    numerous accidents. At one point I just gave up…my memory was mostly gone and I just couldn’t cope. Then one day I realized
    someone higher than me could give me the courage to go on!
    So after many attempts with neurologists and others telling me
    I would die soon…I got angry and said to myself u are better than
    that and into my life came a special doctor who me hope and
    medicine to help with memory! I have good days and bad days
    but I strive to be cheerful and loving to others and I have great
    support from my husband and grown kids…SO my motto is NEVER GIVE UP!!! Fight it to the end with a little help from the Lord above!

  4. I am a brain aneurysm survivor! I was told in 1998 I would live 5 more years. I got mad and decided I was not going to die!

  5. Amen, Katja, am SO SO glad you are doing well. Thank God/The Lord for the doctor. You are Fearfully and Wonderfully made. 😊 (I’ve had my share of head injuries.) Blessings.

  6. I’m 74 and in better health than I was 10 and even 29 years ago, I’ve lost weight, eat right and try to avoid stress, I read, play games and this year got active in state politics, which I have never done before!

  7. I am 90 years old and very healthy. I am not exercising now like I should but will get back to it. I,feel very lucky.
    Peggy

  8. Wonderful key essential points to note!
    💯 percent agree this is the way plus mindful positivity in all areas of life…our thoughts make us so 😊.Quiet time,singing and dancing helps oxytocin to rise 😍.
    Love this blog!
    Thank you so much!

  9. I am eighty and still active in my church and prison ministry. I am a member of a swim class at my local health club. I try to eat healthy – no sugar, dairy, or white flour. I have written three novels in the historical fiction genre. I have been a Realtor for 45 years and even though I have cut back I am still an active agent. God has blessed me.

  10. I loved reading your blog. I am doing more than ever. I’m healthier than I was a year ago. Everyone keep up the great work!

  11. I am 70 years old and exercincing every morning possible and I would like to socialized more often. I am very grateful to God for my life!

  12. I aspire to be so active as you at your age! I am 43 and suffer from hashimotos, but I have started turning my health around before and my goal is to do it for good in 2021. I was just blessed with a beautiful grand child and hope to be able to help with, love and enjoy my GREAT GRAND CHILDREN some day too. I recently quit Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and started learning new skills and reading more in order to help me have more to share with my husband, kids and grandkids as we get older. May God continue to bless those of you who’ve managed to be such an example to the rest of us! Happy New Year!!

  13. At age 91 I have found good health is an investment that pays off. Starting each day with stretches and exercises as I get out of bed has been routine for 50 years. A daily walk of at least a mile or maybe 45 minutes is also regular. Gym time has been eliminated by COVID but I do a period of exercise for about 40 minutes three days a week at home. Met my long-term weight goal about two years ago and have managed to for 20 pounds further down since then. Oh, Intermittent fasting has helped that a lot.

  14. Good tips for aging well. I would like to add one more – hydrate. As we age our signals for keeping hydrated lessen. Very important for all our systems to be sufficiently hydrated, preferably with water..

    Thanks for sharing this.

  15. I am 75 and do all these too. People say I look 10 years younger than I am.
    The biggest challenge I face is knowing exactly what healthy eating is. There are soooo many different theories out there.

  16. How inspirational! I just happened upon this blog by accident . It peaked my interest because my mother always told me to take care of my skin and teeth. At 71, I still have my own teeth and am often complimented on my lack of wrinkles! Thanks. Mom!
    And thank you, to those of you who have written in to inspire and encourage all of us that life is what you make it! Age is just a number, after all.

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