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 dying, it does not mean we cannot stay fit and capable while we age.
‘Age’ is quite relative. When I was young, being 30 seemed old. When I was in my thirties, reaching 40 or 50 or, heaven forbid, 60, seemed daunting. Each milestone seemed to show a loss of being youthful and getting closer to dying. Such a pessimistic outlook is unhelpful and unnecessary. While we cannot avoid it, we should make ourselves fit and able while we age.
But How? Here are five ways;
- Change your diet.
Growing evidence suggests that changing your diet can help you live longer and keep you 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 your diet could also include eating less and even fasting.
What Science-Backed Foods Are at the Forefront of Better Health and Increased Longevity?
- Exercise.
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.
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, Trainer Says — Eat This Not That
- Have a pet
Get yourself a pet, if you do not already have one. Having a pet provides you with companionship, a focus for your attention and also, with 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.
Having a pet keeps you smarter longer in old age, research suggests
- Learn a language.
Even though you may never need to use it in real life, learning a new language is a great way to keep your mind active.
Dementia: Education, language skills may reverse cognitive decline
- Experience discomfort
This idea, you may not like but it appears that experiencing somediscomfort helps us live longer. This phenomenon is called ‘Hormesis’. Such discomfort, though, does not have to be severe, like losing a limb; it can be mild, such as experiencing cold temperatures.
Embracing a Phenomenon Called “Hormesis” Could Add Years to Your Life
A Bonus… Be positive.
It has been shown that having a positive outlook can help in old age. Although we may all know someone who is also ‘grumpy’, it appears that optimistic people live longer. After all, wouldn’t we all want to live longer while thinking positively rather than living longer thinking pessimistically?
