6 Ways To Stay Healthy And Happy As You Age

There is a lot to do in this world, so making sure you are healthy and happy should be a priority. Here are some tips to get you there!

Stay Healthy And Happy

As we get older, time tends to take a toll on our mind, body, and soul. The experiences we’ve gone through in life have made us happy, sad, or angry at times, and it can wear us down.

No matter who you are and what you’ve been through, we all get a little older every year. If you find that you are growing older year after year and don’t feel content, then these tips will help you stay happy and healthy as you age. This is the perfect way to help transition your mind and body back towards a positive lifestyle without too much effort.

1. Pay Attention To Your Language

The first thing that you need to remember is that there is a difference between “being old” and “getting older.” One is a fact (“I am old”) and the other is the acceptance of continuing the journey (“I am getting older”). There is nothing wrong with either, but when you “get old” you feel old – so don’t go there. 

There is only one alternative to getting older and that is not getting older. Which means death. It’s not a pretty comparison, but it’s true! So if you mourn during every birthday, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You can be 50 or not be 50. If those are the options, I’d go with being 50.

It is often about the little things and watching how you frame your words can go a long way towards having a happy life. There are effective ways to describe your situation without the negativity, so think of the direct impacts that your words have. 

There’s a lot to do in this life and when you have decided that you “are old,” you are giving yourself an excuse to give up. You deserve better, so give yourself better. 

2. Have A Social Life

Whether you are an introvert and not really into going out for huge social events or someone who has health challenges that keep you close to home, having social interaction on a regular basis is an important thing for a happier life.

Keeping a close group of friends who know you and love you regardless of life changes and uncertain times an powerful tool that even older adults can take advantage of. 

Whether it is keeping in contact with people through social media, exchanging text messages with friends or acquaintances, or having a phone call with a family member, a little bit of socializing can go a long way towards better health. 

If you don’t have activities in your area or with your friends (and you feel up to it), create some. Start a book club where someone different hosts once per month – this can be done in person or digitally. Meet up each week for a card game or Mahjong. If you are a beer connoisseur, gather with the friends to try a new brewery each month. If you are a movie buff, create a standing movie time each week where whoever can attend does attend. There are thousands of options, you just have to find little ways to make them work for your lifestyle.  

3. Be Physically Active

As we age, so do our bones, joints, and muscles. Everyone has a trouble spot that makes it difficult to get out of bed easily or up off the couch the way we used to. We’re all familiar with that snap, crackle, and pop!

Even if you are in perfect health with no major aches and pains right now, being physically active on a daily basis helps ensure your body stays healthy as you get older. Plus, if you take care of your physical health, you will be taking care of your mental health as a byproduct. 

People who get regular exercise not only have higher energy levels, but it can assist with heart disease, high blood pressure, and building muscle mass. Additionally, it makes it easier to get through a stressful time.  

You do not have to do aerobic exercise for it to be “working out.” Go swimming, play some tennis, or pickleball. If that is too much physical activity for you, try taking a walk in the fresh air every morning or evening.

The good thing about putting together an exercise program as we age is that there are a lot of things to try or not try. If running hurts your knees, that is a good reason not to do it. Come up with a realistic goal for what works for your body. 

4. Watch Your Food

The older we get, the wiser we become (or should become) about our food choices. We all know that healthy eating habits and nutritious food lower the risk of heart disease, but it can be tough to feel we’re living our best lives when we feel like we have to make healthy food choices. Therefore, starts small. 

Consider swapping out some bad food choices with a few good ones. Have baked sweet potatoes for dinner instead of regular potatoes, low-fat peanut butter instead of regular, or Greek yogurt over a traditional yogurt. The flavors don’t change much, but hopefully your body will recognize the differences. 

This isn’t to say that you can’t ever have junk food. If you are padding your diet with fresh fruit, a few cups of vegetables, and whole grains, there’s no reason you can’t indulge in some M&M’s or Cheetos. Live should be lived, so do what you have to do so that you can occasionally do what you want to do. 

Want to try something completely different? Take a month of giving up red meat – or giving up meat altogether. Try to eat a gluten-free diet or a vegan diet and see how it affects your body. Oftentimes, we have eaten a certain way so long that we forget that there are potentially better diets for our body. Not every diet is for every body, so listen to what your body is saying as you eat. It is the best way of calculating what is working and what isn’t, you just have to listen closely. 

5. Get Good Sleep

Another healthy habit that we all know about, but don’t often give ourselves is getting enough sleep. Not only are there physical health benefits related to sleep, but there are mental health benefits as well. 

Those not suffering from lack of sleep tend to be more positive people with more thriving brain function. Make sure that you are getting enough hours of sleep most nights of the week, if not every night. 

Adults typically need 7 or more hours of sleep per night, so get to know your body. If you feel rested after 7 hours, that should be your nightly goal. If you feel rested after 9 hours, try to make that happen. 

6. Have A Purpose

Human beings feel happiest when they have a purpose in life. We used to be hunter/gatherers and homemakers, but the world has become much bigger. You should have something that you’re passionate about other than your family. Whatever it is, start pushing forward in your mission of making it a priority.

Have you always loved children? See if you can volunteer to read or play games at a hospital or rehab facility. Do you love art? Start taking classes at your local center. (Groupon is a great way to find classes!) Have you always loved film? Look for film festivals in the states around you and plan a trip. Do you enjoy traveling? Rope in a friend or join a trip with a local organization (like a church, temple or community center) to see the world. Want to do something completely different? Start a new hobby or learn a new skill. 

When you have a purpose in your life that really matters to you, you tend to live a happier and healthier life. You have things to look forward to – which is a key to aging gracefully. It becomes less about “being old” and more about looking to the future. You have a mission, a passion, and a drive. 

While aging is a fact of life, there are ways to stay healthy and happy as you are doing so. Age is just a number as long as you treat it as such. It is never too late to start something new, so make a decision that today is going to be the first day of the rest of your life and go out there and live.