As you age, it can be challenging to prioritize your health. Busy schedules and obligations often leave little time for going to the gym or even working out at home. Fortunately, there are ways to take control of your health later in life even if you have an active lifestyle. Here are some tips you may find helpful.
Drink More Water
One of the simplest things you can do to take control of your health as you age is staying hydrated. Water improves the function of your internal organs and promotes healthy digestion. Drinking more water throughout the day can also help you control your weight. Often, when you feel hungry, your body is thirsty. Drinking water at the first sign of hunger can satisfy your thirst and keep you from overeating.
Walk More
The more you move, the easier it will be to stay active. If you struggle with pain in your joints, this will likely get worse with age. Walking is a low-impact exercise that will keep your joints moving and your heart healthy. Walking also helps you manage your weight; if you walk about 10,000 a day, you’ll burn about 500 calories. You can purchase a pedometer to help you keep track of your steps.
Improve Your Flexibility
Stretch every day for at least 10 minutes to improve your movement. Stretching also helps to prevent and eliminate pain as you get older. You can take a yoga class, try yoga at home, or create a stretching routine for yourself each morning to improve your circulation before you start your day.
Eat to Boost Your Immune System
As we age, our bodies are exposed to impurities in the environment and toxins from stress. When you fill your diet with fruits and vegetables, you’re supplying the body with antioxidants to fight toxins and free radicals. It’s best to eat vegetables and fruits in a variety of colors to ensure you’re getting a wide range of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. These foods also boost your immune system so you can fight off disease and maintain your health.
Manage Your Stress Levels
Stress is unavoidable in life and can affect all of the body’s processes, such as your career, relationship(s) and overall health. Meditation is an effective practice when it comes to stress management. It’s also important to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night and avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks after 4 pm so your body will be prepared for sleep.
Consider Hormone Therapy
Our hormones change drastically as we age. Women lose estrogen as they get older and are no longer able to get pregnant or have menstrual cycles. A loss of estrogen can also lead to extreme changes in body temperature, mood swings, weight gain and changes in sleep patterns. When men lose testosterone, they can also experience weight gain along with balding and symptoms of depression and anxiety. These changes can also cause stress and anxiety in men and women. Some health professionals offer testosterone therapy or estrogen therapy to promote hormone balance in the body. Regular hormone therapy can regulate your weight and stabilize your mood, which contributes to your overall health and well-being.
Include Resistance Training In Your Workout
Resistance training is using opposing force to strengthen your muscles. You can use resistance bands, dumbbells or your body weight to complete a resistance training workout. It’s important to keep your muscles strong as you age to protect against injury and improve your range of motion.
Go Swimming
If you’ve sustained injuries from years ago or want to improve the function of your joints, you can make swimming a part of your workout routine. Swimming is a pain-free way to work out since the workout doesn’t impact your joints. Water provides gentle resistance against the body and helps you maintain heart and muscle strength.
Maintain Your Social Life
Your body is going to change with age. While this is inevitable, you don’t have to make major changes to your social life. Make sure you stay connected with good friends and make new friends by joining a community club, church or exercise class. You can even make new social connections by getting a dog and walking your pet at the local park. When you’re around friends who make you feel joyful and at ease, your overall mood will improve. Engaging in social events also sharpens your brain, especially when you engage in though-provoking or interesting conversation.
These tips can benefit your physical and mental health to keep you feeling your best as you age. It’s important to make your well-being a priority as you get older so you can improve your quality of life and avoid many of the health issues that often come with age.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
