Aging is Less Complicated Than it Seems
There are two types of messaging around aging. Well, maybe just one. The first: overcomplicated regimens, expensive products, relentless anti-aging hacks, inevitable declines in health and a long list of symptoms, and 17-step systems to hold on to your youth. The second is a lack of discussion. Out of sight, out of mind! If we don’t talk about it, it won’t happen.
It’s all telling you one thing–aging is scary, and doing something about it is hard (if not impossible)! We’re here to encourage you: healthy aging is possible, and much simpler than you think.
Here are the 5 simple truths that will keep you healthy, active, and aging well.
- Just keep moving
- Feed yourself well
- Spend time with people & things you love
- Train your brain
- Prioritize sleep
Just Keep Moving
It would take a few hands to count the fad workouts and changing advice over the years, promising to shave off weight or give magical results in 2 weeks. Think back to the vibrating belt, Jazzercise, BowFlex. Each will tell you that it’s the only way to be healthy, meet your goals, and feel good!
Good news–the key is simply to move. Move in whatever way you like, a little bit every day. Here are the key things for staying active and aging well: incorporating some strength exercises and weights, stretching each day to maintain your mobility, and getting some cardio and endurance in for your heart health (hello, walking!).
Don’t have 30 minutes? Give 2. Can’t lift 20lbs? Lift 5. No energy to go to a class? Get outside and walk around the block. Any movement is better than no movement.
Movement you can (and should) do every day for just a few minutes:
- Strength: Excellent for bone and muscle health. Good for overall metabolism and weight management. Helps to prevent injury, falls, and disease. This can include weights, bodyweight, or resistance exercise.
- Stretching: Maintains flexibility and mobility. Keeps joints hydrated and moving smoothly. Helps with pain management. Increases blood flow throughout the body.
- Walking: Good for balance and coordination, preventing injury and falls. Light and low-impact cardio exercise for heart and lung health. Fresh air, sunlight, and mental health boost. Option to add weight or resistance.
Feed Yourself Well
Forget about the things to avoid and restrictions to follow–let’s focus on the simple essentials to keep in your daily meals to live well and age better. Feeding yourself with care (and enjoyment) is essential for healthy aging. First, it will help to keep you energized and moving well. Second, it will fuel your body systems properly: bones, muscles, digestion, skin. Good nutrition is also key for brain health!
- Protein: For muscle mass, healing and tissue repair, heart health, weight management.
- Try: Chicken, Chickpeas, Tofu, Fish, Nuts, Eggs, Cottage Cheese, Greek Yogurt, Beef
- Vitamins & minerals: For brain function, bone health, nutrient absorption (Calcium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Folate, Potassium)
- Try: Berries, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, seafood
- Fiber: Healthy digestion and weight management.
- Try: Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, potatoes with skins
- Good carbs: For blood sugar maintenance and metabolic health.
- Try: Whole grains, quinoa, brown rice
- Healthy fats: For hormone production and heart health
- Try: avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil
Find flavors you like, experiment with different cooking styles, and keep it fresh! The important thing is eating nutrient dense meals where you can, and enjoying mealtimes, travels, and time with friends. And, stay hydrated. Water, water, water!
Be With People & Things You Love
It’s really all about the relationships–with yourself, and with others. If you don’t feel good, nothing seems to work, does it? Doing a workout, eating well, finishing that one project on your list. Spending time with good friends, a supportive community, and in spaces and activities you love is what will keep you motivated, grounded, confident, and at ease. It’s well documented that our social relationships especially are significant indicators of mental health, physical health, cognitive health, positive health habits, coping mechanisms and stress management, and overall mortality risk. In fact, one 80-year Harvard study proved that embracing community helps us live longer and be happier.
Doing the things you love will also help you age better. Having hobbies and things you take pleasure in help with creative problem solving, building relationships, decreasing depression and increasing positivity, reducing stress. Bonus points if your hobbies are physical and can be taken outside! Make a list of the non-negotiable relationships and activities, and make time for them in your schedule, even if it’s just once a month. Future you will be grateful (and happier).
Train Your Brain
You probably already know the benefits of a good workout for healthy aging. But what about a good brain workout? Cognitive health is often something that gets missed–we take it for granted. The ability to think clearly, problem solve, retain memories, and learn new things is essential for longevity and long-term health, and it’s never too late to do something about it. Plus, all the things above (movement, good food, and community) will also help!
A few more things to support brain health:
- Move your brain in your downtime. This one’s fun: crosswords, sudoku, card games, puzzles, chess, word games.
- Try new things. This one’s a little more challenging–it can be hard to be a beginner! Take a class in pottery or boxing or dance, Try watercolor painting or photography. Learn a new recipe. You’ll never run out of new things.
- Take a few minutes to practice deep breathing and meditation.
- Lower your alcohol consumption. Cutting down on drinks will prevent brain tissue damage and lower the risk of dementia.
- Listen to (or play!) music. This activates different parts of your brain, and playing helps with coordination.
- Sleep well. A perfect segue.
Prioritize Your Sleep
Good sleep is associated with healthy aging. Why does good sleep matter? To regulate your body, restore energy, repair damage, manage inflammation, improve brain cognition, and boost mood. Without good sleep, our bodies are susceptible to brain disease and dementia, heart disease, injury and falls, and mental health conditions such as depression. People of every age need 7-9 hours of sleep per night, roughly.
Tips to sleep better:
- Stick to a consistent schedule, and create a bedtime routine that you enjoy. Little rituals will help signal the body and mind that it's time for sleep.
- Take a hot shower or bath 1-2 hours before bed. Because the natural sleep pattern is partially triggered by a lower core temperature, a bath or shower can facilitate that drop. Plus, the warm water can help relax your body and muscles as you prepare for sleep.
- Try magnesium supplements. Higher magnesium in the body is associated with better sleep, longer sleep times, and less tiredness during the day. Studies of older adults also found that magnesium supplementation helped with falling asleep faster and protected against waking up earlier than intended.*
- Do a guided body scan in bed. Mindful body scan meditations can help relieve pain, depression and anxiety, as well as improve the quality of your sleep. And, they can help you drift back into sleep if you wake during the night.
- Relax with calming music, white noise, or aromatherapy. Research has found that adults who listen to 45 minutes of relaxing music before going to bed get to sleep faster, sleep longer, wake up less frequently at night, and wake up feeling more rested. White noise can also help with maintaining sleep throughout the night for light sleepers.
- Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake. These stimulants can disrupt sleep during the night, and acidic food or drinks can cause heartburn when lying down.
- Limit screen use in the evening and in your bedroom. Keep your phone away from your nightstand while you sleep. Get a real alarm clock and charge it in another room.
- Exercise during the day. Movement will boost the effect of natural sleep hormones such as melatonin, and prepare your body for rest. Just don’t overstimulate your body and brain too close to bedtime!
- A light snack is okay. Avoid eating a big meal within two to three hours of bedtime, but if you're hungry right before bed, eat a small healthy snack (such as an apple with a slice of cheese or a few whole-wheat crackers) to satisfy you until breakfast.
Know Your Why
Having a long-term, firm goal will keep you going far beyond hitting your goal weight or fitting into a certain outfit. Think about the things that matter to you now, and what you want to be doing 20 years from now. Match it up with what you’re doing now, and fill in the gaps!
*This response should not be considered medical advice and is being provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider should you have any questions or concerns.
This blog was written by our partner, Movement Living. Movement Living is a lifestyle network for the modern woman, helping you cut through the noise and focus on what matters, from wellness, food, fitness, beauty & style, to culture, relationships, and more. Movement Living offers daily lifestyle news, need-to-know trends and shopping, newsletters you actually want to read, and a premium wellness studio––everything you need to live well and age better.
Access the MenoLabs x Movement Living exercise collection here.
