Healthy Habit Helper – 6 Tips For Ensuring You Stay Healthy in Older Age

We all want to live long and happy lives, to watch our children grow, and be around to meet their kids. Not only that, but we also like the idea of being mobile enough to enjoy our lives, travel the world and partake in all activities. Like any long-term investment, implementing regular contributions to your health will pay dividends in the long run.

Many people leave health and fitness low on their priorities; putting work, money, and leisure ahead of it. Here are six simple tips to ensure that you stay healthy, mobile and happy into old age.

Do your best to De-Stress

No doubt you assumed that number one on this list would be exercise, and while these tips aren’t necessarily ordered by importance, stress is a big killer in the modern world. However, can you guess what one of the best ways to de-stress is? Exercise.

We all lead busy lives.

The world is faster and more insistent on our time and energy now than perhaps ever before. We enjoy a lot of luxuries, however, the demands on our time from work, family and technology have increased. People can now carry their offices in their pockets. Convenient, yes, but also potentially destructive.

With the added convenience that smartphones, tablets and laptops provide, comes the price of reduced privacy and almost non-existent time away from work. So, we need to devote time to de-stressing – exercise, do yoga, drink plenty of water and less coffee, make time to read, to meditate, to take walks, to play with your dog or children, make time for you.

Look After Your Foundations

Your feet are the foundations of your body.

They are an incredibly complex and often neglected body part. Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump knew the importance of looking after your feet and wearing clean, dry socks. Even if you’re not planning on heading into trench warfare, it’s a good idea to look after your feet, and if you have any issues, it’s worth a visit to a foot and leg pain clinic. Paying attention to your body and correcting bad habits will pay off in the long run and give you a happier, healthier life.

Exercise

This isn’t new information.

We all know how important it is to maintain a regular exercise regime, and yet we so often neglect to do so. If you’ve fallen off the wagon, that’s okay, try again. Movies are the only place that people are able to experience sudden and life-changing events; in real life we try, we gain momentum, relapse, resolve and then have another go. We move in small increments. Real, lasting change is slow, it takes time, but if you develop the willpower to keep at it then anything is achievable.

Sleep

Make sure you sleep well. Exercise will help you to sleep better at night, so a good workout can do wonders for your nocturnal habits if you aren’t a good sleeper. Getting the adequate amount of quality, deep sleep will do wonders for your physical and mental health. Many of us cut back on sleep as our lives get busier, but this is only asking for trouble and can’t be maintained. Do your best to create a healthy sleeping environment and get a good night’s rest.

Lose the Bad Boy Image

As we age there are certain things we need to let go of. Destructive behaviours such as smoking and drinking need to be reigned in or given up completely. Everyone will tell you to quit smoking, and once you do, it will improve your overall quality of life. Reducing your alcohol intake will have the same effect. Of course, it’s alright to enjoy a few glasses of wine every now and then, but the nights out involving tequila shots and beer bongs need to be left behind.

Stretching and Flexibility

Yoga is becoming more and more popular in western culture, and for good reason. Increased flexibility and range of motion will help protect your muscles and joints into older age. One of the best things you can do for yourself is partake in some form of yoga or stretching on a daily basis. Make a habit out of it; your body and future self will thank you for it!

Good health generally comes down to common sense.

Most people these days are aware of what’s needed for good health, and yet many of us still choose to ignore the facts or convince ourselves that we are too busy. Don’t be too busy to look after yourself. And of course, don’t be afraid to seek medical help.