How do you plan for the future? Do you greet each birthday with a smile? Are you scared of becoming a senior citizen? Maybe you don’t even think about it. There is a long way to go before old age.
Smiling can keep you alive. It is never too late to start preparing for your future. We will review some simple ways to keep you healthy as you get older. You don’t need to be afraid of getting older. The best is yet to come.
A genuine smile can light up a room. Staying healthy in old age can be helped by it. We are going to start with an easy one.
The researchers went back to see how long the players lived. The men who had no smiles lived to be 72 years old. Half smilers made it to 75. The players with genuine smiles lived to be 80. The study where researchers reviewed old baseball cards was discussed in Better With Age. The players were divided into three categories.
How physical exercise strengthens your body and mind. It is not possible to cause a longer life by smiling, but it is possible to express happiness and have a positive attitude.
The hippocampus is a part of the brain that shrinks as you get older. The main job of the hippocampus is memory formation. Executive function and depression are related to a declining hippocampus. Physical exercise is one of the most important activities. It is possible to prevent a wide range of diseases by getting the blood flowing.
One group of elderly adults were assigned to walk 40 minutes a day. The Hippocampi grew 2% after one year. The control groups were assigned to stretching and non-activity. It is possible to prevent mental decline by walking just three times a day. Walk with someone else and get bonus points.
In The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge explains how physical exercise can help jumpstart the creation of new brain cells. The brain’s ability to adapt to new situations is linked with cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise can help stop or reverse mental decline.
Never stop learning if you want to stay sharp. You can get the benefits if you are not running marathons. A walk outside can make a big difference.
You can get lulled into a false sense of security if you are not careful. It is not good for your health to coast after you have settled into life. We face new situations all the time when we grow up. There are new things in school. Social structures are evolving. When we start our careers, we need to learn the ropes.
You can keep the brain sharp. Doidge explains in The Brain That Changes Itself that learning something new helps the brain last longer. Lower rates of dementia are associated with lifelong learning.
You can learn to play an instrument. Read about topics that are not familiar to you.
Write poems. You can learn a new language.
A dance class is a great place to learn and exercise. The combination! You can learn to dance.
Try to change up your habits. You should brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand. You can get bonus points by brushing your teeth on one leg. You will be training your body and mind at the same time. Become a student of life by mixing it up. Your brain is on its toes if you get outside your comfort zone.
Social relationships are important for healthy aging. Learning new things can expose you to other people, which is a great way to keep yourself healthy as you age.
Staying connected can help keep older adults happy. Social interaction can help prevent depression in older adults. Only face-to-face interactions worked. The effects of talking on the phone were small. Texts and emails were not helpful.
Communication with friends and family can work wonders. In Better With Age, Alan Castel explains that older adults with a social life tend to live longer than those who are more isolated. Staying social is associated with lower dementia rates.
The best activities combine social activity with physical activity to learn something new. An activity that checks all three boxes is a dance class. The maximum brain protection.
It’s important to stay social after retirement. Older adults need to get out and about. The human interaction is important.
Take a break. There is a lot to look forward to. Take a break. It is going to work out.
Wisdom comes with age. Older adults tend to be more effective at controlling their emotions, not jumping to conclusions and learning from their mistakes. There are many benefits to getting older. Older adults are happier than middle aged people. Younger adults tend to focus on negative information and material goals, while the elderly focus on positive information and social goals. It will get better.
According to Better With Age, having a negative outlook on aging is associated with higher rates of dementia and cardiovascular disease. Staying positive and feeling younger is associated with a healthier lifestyle as an older adult. Take a deep breath. You will be fine. It won’t make it any better if you worry about the future. As we age, acceptance of one’s circumstances is a reliable marker of life satisfaction.
Mark Twain said, “I am an old man, and I have known a lot of troubles, but most of them never happened.” Staying present in the moment is what we should be thankful for. We don’t need to be afraid of old age.
Accepting your circumstances while also preparing for the future may be the best course of action. You should get physical exercise, learn and strengthen your relationships. A wonderful journey is what life is all about. There is plenty of time left. The best thing to do is make it.
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