Getting older is almost inevitable but getting older does not mean you have to get worse or less capable. Here are five ways of getting better or staying fit and able as you age.
It was my mother who first told me that ‘you could get killed crossing the road tomorrow’. I dare say we have heard similar sayings. While we cannot avoid ageing and, finally, death, it does not mean we cannot stay as fit and capable as we can while we age.
The question remains, though, how can we better equip ourselves for old age? Here are five ways;
1. Change our diet.
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Growing evidence suggests that changing our diet can help us live longer and keep us more able as you age. This could include changing to a Mediterranean style of diet or a diet common among people living in so-called blue zones (areas of the world with the oldest inhabitants). The change in diet might also include eating less and even fasting; weight loss and eating less have also been linked with longevity.
further reading
What Science-Backed Foods Are at the Forefront of Better Health and Increased Longevity?
Want to Live Longer? A New Study Shows These Diet Changes Could Improve Your Lifespan
2. Exercise.
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Traditionally, we may have viewed older people as sitting back and doing less. Yet evidence shows us that exercising regularly helps as we age. This exercise does not need to be strenuous, even walking has great benefits. The purpose of the exercise is not to get us fitter but to keep us flexible and alive. Even 5 minutes of exercise each day, is likely to have benefits and a simple morning exercise routine would be an easy way to incorporate exercise into our life.
further reading
Just 10 Minutes a Day of Physical Activity Could Help Those Over 40 Live Longer, Study Says
Is walking better for you than running?
The 5 Best Exercises To Prevent Bone Loss After 60
3. Have a pet
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Get yourself a pet, that’s if you do not already have one. Having a pet provides you with companionship, a focus for your attention and also, in the case of certain pets, an opportunity for daily exercise. They also help bring about positive well-being. This is especially true for those of us who may live alone. The need to look after a pet may also help us maintain a purpose for life as we age.
further reading
Having a pet keeps you smarter longer in old age, research suggests
4. Learn a language.
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Even though we may never need to use it in real life, learning a new language is a great way to keep our minds active. Some of us may find learning languages easier than the rest of us but it is not the difficulty of learning nor the amount of success you have in learning, which is important. What is important is that we continue to use our minds for learning. Think about it, when was the first time you had to learn a language? For most of us, we have not had to learn a language since we were a child. Learning a language when older, is almost like using your mind as a child once more.
further reading
Education, language skills may reverse cognitive decline
5. Experience discomfort
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This is an idea we may not like but it appears that experiencing some sort of discomfort helps us live longer. This phenomenon is called ‘Hormesis’. The discomfort, though, does not have to be severe, like losing a limb; it can be mild, such as experiencing cold temperatures. Of course, we are not considering long-term exposure to pain or discomfort; we possibly experience enough of that as we age. We are just considering the benefits of limited and safe experiences that, in our youth, might be termed ‘character building’.
further reading
Embracing a Phenomenon Called “Hormesis” Could Add Years to Your Life
6. A Bonus… Be positive.
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It has been shown that having a positive outlook can help in old age. Although we may all know someone elderly who is also ‘grumpy’, it does appear that optimistic people live longer. After all, wouldn’t we all want to live longer while thinking positively rather than living longer thinking pessimistically?
Reasons to be cheerful: optimists live longer
Conclusions
I am not a doctor, nor am I medically qualified but I am getting older as these points are all ones I have found on the web which appear to address the issue of ageing well. Each one is simple, though I accept that it is not always easy to change one’s habits or life experiences. Being simple, they may be easy to implement, maybe not all at the same time but gradually. In any case, I see little reason for not giving each a try.
