It’s inevitable and it happens to everyone: getting old. Despite how natural the process is, 87% of Americans are afraid of aging. While there isn’t anything you can do to prevent it, there are ways to make it easier.
It’s important to remember that growing old is a privilege and it doesn’t mean that your quality of life has to decline. Use any worries you have about aging and channel them to motivate you into taking care of your body and mind. This guide offers tips for aging adults on how to do that.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
1. Nutrition Goes a Long Way
You’ve heard it once and you’ll hear it plenty more, it is crucial that you eat a balanced diet if you want good health, plenty of energy, and illness prevention. The ideal diet has plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, sustainably sourced oily fish, and limited quantities of low-fat dairy and red meat.
You’ll also want to be drinking as much water as you can throughout the day to help avoid dehydration which can leave you feeling confused and tired. Avoid soda or other sugary fizzy drinks but feel free to enjoy tea and coffee.
Limit the amount of alcohol you consume, your body won’t be able to handle booze like it used to so make sure to give it a break. There’s no problem with indulging every once in a while but be sure to give your body the nutrients it needs.
2. Stay Active
Here comes another tip that you’ve heard your entire life, you’ll need to do some form of daily exercise. This is a great way of staying healthy and strong. You’ll also be lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and cancer. Exercise will give you a confidence boost, you’ll sleep better and your energy will be through the roof.
Older adults should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity weekly. Be sure to incorporate strength training exercises at least twice a week. Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never been too active, you can start small and work your way up.
3. Look After Your Teeth
You might worry that getting older means having to get a set of dentures but the reality is that if you are properly looking after your teeth, you’ll have little to worry about as you age. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to prevent gum disease.
If plaque and pieces of food form between your teeth and continue to build up, you’ll be risking gum disease which can be linked to strokes, diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Have regular check-ups and follow standard dental hygiene and you’ll have a strong set of teeth for years to come.
4. Get Better Sleep
Remember the time when everyone was young and had the opportunity to nap constantly? Those days become a memory as you get older and it can be tricky to get or stay asleep as we age. Lack of sleep can have you feeling grumpy or tired and ruin your overall mood.
You can avoid insomnia by reducing the number of daytime naps you take, setting a bedtime, and going to bed at the same time each night. Feel free to make a warm sleepytime tea before bed or find a natural over-the-counter sleep aid.
The good news is that once you start thinking about a senior living community to move to, you can look at all the amenities and make sure that it provides the right opportunity for a high-quality life. It’ll be a lot easier to get good sleep if your days are full of rest, relaxation, and peace.
5. Take Care of Your Feet
If you haven’t paid attention to your feet before, now is the time to start. You can look after them by applying rich moisturizer. This will help prevent dry skin.
Be sure to cut your toenails straight across and find comfortable footwear that supports your feet, both for daily use and for exercising.
Dealing with sore feet already? Don’t stay in your slippers, find a good pair of supportive sneakers.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if anything feels weird when it comes to your feet. You don’t want to wait until things get worse before looking for help.
6. Get Tested
As we get older, our eyesight and hearing can get worse. It’s not a guarantee but you’ll want to get them checked regularly. Hearing loss is common in older adults so if you are noticing that you need the TV louder or that conversations are harder to hear then you might need a hearing aid.
You’ll also want to get your eyes checked every year once you hit 70. It can be every two years if you’re under 70. That way you can check how your vision is and any issues can be corrected.
Tips for Aging Adults
Your life isn’t over just because you’re getting older. There are so many ways to age gracefully and live a healthy, productive life. Some of these tips you already know and should be implemented in your day-to-day but others are more specific for certain ailments you might face as you get older.
Regardless, don’t be afraid of the years passing by. Many elderly people will be the first to tell you that they still feel young. The important thing is that you surround yourself with loved ones and live a healthy lifestyle.
Looking for more articles like this? Be sure to check out the health and fitness section of our blog!