Life is ultimately uncertain in that none of us has any guarantee how thing’s will work out in any part of our lives. The older we get the more worried we get. Getting older is something we all will experience, but the older we get the more things we seem to worry about.
So many people I talk to facing the prospect of aging are filled with fear.
“What scares you about aging?”
- Illness
- Dementia.
- Caring for sick parents.
- Being cared for.
- Running out of Money.
- Being Alone.
- Dealing with a failing body.
- Losing your mind or mobility
- Not leaving your mark
Many people’s fears are intensified by seeing people their own age having strokes, struggling with depression, developing diabetes, passing away.
They begin to ask themselves the question ‘what if this happens to me?’
Maybe the question they should be asking, is ‘am I doing enough to prevent these things happening to me?’
I understand that you’re scared of getting old… but it doesn’t HAVE to be a bad thing. I think with age we realise what’s important in life. And we do understand finally that health is number one. Up to now we have treated it as something that will take care of itself, but now our health is of utmost importance.
You need to understand that there will be an impact created by your current actions and non-actions. We all know, or we should, that there is many things we can be doing to take care of our current and future health and well-being.
I imagine that everyone whatever their age would want to feel good and look good and be supported by good health.
If you not only embrace your age but do everything you can to get as healthy as you can then you won’t have too much to fear. .
“We’re frightened of becoming weak and needy, but those who have a positive view of ageing stay healthier longer”
As individuals, we must consider the consequences of our lifestyle- like our diet and physical activity. These actions can have a dramatic impact (for better or worse) on our health prospects.
A healthy lifestyle helps reduce your risk of developing the thing I fear the most, dementia and many other illnesses that put the fear of god in most elderly people.
To bring about good health here are a few tips.
Healthy Eating
Limit the amount of high-fat, sugary and salty foods you eat. Drink alcohol in moderation. Eat a balanced diet including lean proteins, fruit and vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Eat several small meals a day instead of three larger ones. Breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day, followed by lunch and then dinner as your smallest meal. This helps to increase your metabolism and ensure your health is supporting you.
Getting Active
Be active on a daily basis performing up to an hour of moderate intensity activity. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do for yourself. Exercise is one of the best anti-aging tools we have. There are so many benefits received from exercise including weight loss, maintaining balance and flexibility, stress relief and so much more. So start to move and get active to ensure good health.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Way to many people are classified as obese. Obesity is linked to many health problems so it is important to get your weight in check. Doing both the above,eating healthily and exercising will help you achieve the target of a healthy weight. This is so important for you,so worth the effort
Regular Medical Checks
It makes a lot of sense to get regular check ups at your doctor. I suggest once a year go for a health check. Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. So that will take any worries away.It makes sense to pick up early warning signs of disease and ensure you stay healthy.
Stop Smoking
Smoking has an extremely harmful effect on the heart, lungs and blood system. So this is a dangerous thing to be doing. Stop now!
Adequate rest and sleep
Getting a good night sleep is so important. Your mind and body need the rest that sleep affords. I suggest aim for 6 to 8 hours every night. A lack of sleep impacts our health, safety, and longevity. With so many demands on our time, we often sacrifice sleep to fit everything into our days. But sleep affects both mental and physical health so no longer cut down on your sleeping time.
Mental exercises
If you don’t use it you lose it. You have to keep your brain active. To do this keep challenging it. Mental activity strengthens brain cells and neural connections, and may even give rise to new nerve cells. Engaging in stimulating leisure activities throughout your life can reduce the risk of illness.Reading, writing, completing or crossword puzzles will help stretch your mind.
Be Realistic
If you’re 60, you can’t expect to look and be able to do what you did when you were 25 but there is so much you can still do. Don’t get yourself down by what you can’t do, but be excited by those things you can do. With age comes experience. So by having realistic expectations you will reduce stress and worry.
Value your life
Know why you wake up in the morning, have a passion for life and everything you do. Success rarely comes to those who lack direction or purpose. It is now time for your life to have meaning, purpose and significance. Your personal priorities must influence the decisions you make in your day-to-day life.
Don’t get scared by getting older, embrace it and make the most of the time you have left.
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Illness and death. Two things that scare me the most when aging comes to mind.