Age is nothing but a number, and that’s really more than a positivity cliche. The fact is, your lifestyle choices can do plenty in helping you fend off the signs of aging, so you can look and feel younger than you are. Keeping you healthy both in mind and body is also undoubtedly a welcome bonus. Here are some foolproof measures you can take to achieve exactly that, to keep yourself from feeling older.
Get more sleep
The many benefits of sleep are quite widely known and acknowledged. But no doubt, among its most compelling virtues is how it contributes to your longevity. This is because the production of the human growth hormone (HGH) is at its peak during sound sleep, which keeps you looking younger. Not only that, but sound sleep can restore your skin and keep up that youthful countenance.
On the flip side, lack of sleep has been known to make people age more quickly as a consequence. Moreover, the structural changes related to aging occur so much faster for those who have insufficient sleep, which affects memory and other brain functions.
Get active
Another surefire and well-known way to fend off aging is exercise. This actually occurs in several ways, including slowing down aging on a cellular level. But of course, not all exercises are created equal in this regard. In particular, endurance and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) have been found to keep the heart rate elevated enough to keep cells younger for a longer period of time.
Yoga is also another great exercise to make you feel younger than you are, not just in body, but in mind as well. This is because along with the physical movement, the yogic mindset promotes youthfulness, encouraging you to let go of unhealthy ideas and connect with yourself on a deeper level.
Get more outdoor time
While still on the subject of movement, exercising outdoors has even more benefits than indoor exercise. Not only do you get the above-mentioned benefits of exercise, but you also reap the benefits of nature, too, such as much-needed boosts in immunity and endorphins (a.k.a. happy hormone) production.
One of the best ways to savor the great outdoors is to pick up an outdoor sport. There are traditional options, like golfing, swimming and biking, but you should think outside the box, too. Mountain biking, horse riding, volleyball, surfing — think of something that you’ll look forward to, and dig into it! Kickstart your new active hobby by taking a class, or even planning a getaway so you can immerse yourself. You can rent accommodations close to a golf course, the beach, hiking trails, the mountains, or wherever you want to go that will provide you with the opportunity to really indulge. Just don’t forget your sunscreen! Hours spent outside are a wonderful thing, but you still need to provide your skin with protection to keep looking and feeling your best.
Get the right nutrients
Finally, equally as important is making sure that you’re getting the right nutrients and observing a balanced diet. As a rule, stick to foods that are known to have well-aging* properties. Fundamentally, they should be rich in vitamins, fiber, protein, zinc, and calcium (to name just a few), as well as have anti-inflammatory properties.
Supplements are also a great addition to your well-aging arsenal. Essentially, these will fill in the gaps in your diet and get you the micronutrients that will not only make you feel and look younger and healthier, but also boost your immunity, digestion, and bone health. But of course, it’s wise to go for well-aging supplements that doctors trust, as well as make sure that you don’t go beyond the recommended daily allowance (RDA).
It’s well within your power to keep yourself from growing old. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and making healthful choices, you can keep yourself young and spry and at the prime of your life. The fountain of youth does exist, and it’s within you all along.
*Post-Script: Here at Skin Elegance, we’re taking a stand against the term ‘anti-aging’. We’re grateful to get the opportunity to age – we just think it would be better to do so in a health way so that we remain well as we gain in years. That’s why we prefer to use ‘well-aging’…
Author Bio
Emma Grace Brown lives her life by her rules; and it works! When she’s not snuggling puppies, Emma promotes female empowerment through her website. Her mission is to help those who live with self-doubt to realize they don’t have to mold themselves to conventionality.
Photo Credit: Pexels.com
