Healthy Lifestyle Choices to Prevent Aging
There are numerous reasons that you should be more mindful of your health as you age. Your body’s needs are different from what they were when you were younger.
You’re done growing and developing, and you’re no longer as resilient as you once were. Rather than leaving the aging process up to chance and fate, get ahead of it.
People are living longer than ever before. Many of them remain active and vital well into their senior years. This isn’t due to happenstance. It’s because they took excellent care of themselves, and they continue to make mindful choices.
The sooner you start making mindful choices, the better off you’ll be.
Can Aging Be Prevented?
Aging can’t be prevented in the logical sense. You’re going to age every single day, no matter what you do.
It’s natural for your body and appearance to change with the passage of time, and as much as you’d like to, you can’t fully prevent the effects from becoming noticeable.
That having been said, there are plenty of things you can do to minimize how noticeable or limiting the effects of aging can be.
Proper nutrition, a great self-care routine, limiting your vices, and keeping your mind sharp will work together to reduce the impact aging has on the way you look and feel.
Get Enough Sleep
When you’re young, you never want to sleep. You feel like you’ll miss out on exciting experiences, and you tap into a seemingly unlimited well of energy to power through all-nighters.
When you’re older, all you want is more sleep. You likely find yourself cursing your responsibilities for the way they interfere with your desire to nap.
When you aren’t sleeping enough, your cells can age quicker.
Your body needs the break it gets from sleep to recharge and repair. If you aren’t letting your body do what it needs to do to keep you healthy and vital, you’ll experience the consequences.
You should listen to your body.
Set a bedtime, and make sure you’re getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Even if you have a lot of important things to do, they aren’t as important as your health and wellbeing.
Make yourself a to-do list for the following day, and hop into bed at a reasonable time. Let yourself hit snooze once in a while and get an extra hour in on the weekend if you feel like you need it.
Make Mindful Nutritional Choices
Many people reminisce about the metabolisms of their youth. You probably think back fondly of an era in your life where it seemed like you could eat anything you wanted and your body stayed the same.
As you age, your metabolism slows. Your muscle mass may decline, and your body stops producing large amounts of many key hormones. As a result, your nutritional needs change.
You need to eat the right amount of the right foods to maintain healthy body weight and meet your targets for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
See a nutritionist and talk to your doctor.
Deficiencies and imbalances in your diet can be addressed and corrected with a sustainable healthy eating plan. If you need supplements, your doctor will be able to tell you what to take and how much of it you should be taking.
This tailored approach to your body’s needs will allow you to experience the benefits of proper nutrition in the form of a healthier body that can easily sustain itself.
Take Care of Your Skin
It’s not wrong to have a few vanity concerns related to aging. Everyone likes to look good just as much as they like to feel good.
If you’re worried about a few new lines that have popped up or a bit of laxity in your skin, don’t run to a plastic surgeon. Now’s the time to start taking better care of your face.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It needs nutrients just like every other part of your body. If you’re looking to age gracefully, effective skincare is your most valuable option.
Using natural skin care products with clinically proven ingredients can improve the appearance and health of your skin without the need for any invasive or drastic measures.
Be Wise With Lifestyle Habits
Alcohol and tobacco damage your body from the inside out. If you’re going to drink, be choosy with how often you drink and the amount you drink. You need to kick your weekend beer and cigarette habit if you’re still indulging in it.
If you don’t want to swear off your vices forever, turn them into a seasonal scotch and Cuban cigar night with your favorite people. It isn’t as perfect as giving up both vices altogether, but it significantly limits your exposure and gives them a special purpose.
Keep Your Brain Happy
Stress is a major contributor to premature aging. If you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, you need to remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
Take an inventory of the things you’re unhappy about or the things that make you feel stressed out. Split that list into two columns - the things you can change, and the things you can’t.
There’s also the option of seeing a mental health professional if you have serious concerns about the way you’re feeling.
If you’ve been feeling “not quite yourself” for a while and you’re not sure what to do, you should never be afraid to talk to a trained professional who understands how to help you feel the way you deserve to feel.
Younger Skin, Healthier You
Until we finally discover the long-fabled fountain of youth, some parts of aging will be inevitable. There’s nothing to be afraid or ashamed of. It happens to everyone. The only difference is that some people weather their seasons better than others.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help you slow down the clock - at least in terms of the way you look and feel.
At Caldera + Lab, we’re all about doing things the natural way.
Our cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainably sourced skincare products are made of plants clinically proven to improve the health and appearance of your skin.
Sources:
How sleep deprivation ages you quicker | American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Premature Aging: The Four Biggest Culprits to Watch For | University of Michigan Health