Aging is something that’s unavoidable. That might seem like an obvious statement, but most of us are in denial even if we won’t say so out loud. Perhaps your denial manifests itself through cringe-worthy attempts at sporting the latest fashion trends, listening to the newest music, or simply acting as if you’re twenty years younger.
There’s nothing wrong at all with striving to be younger than you are in terms of mentality and energy, but you also shouldn’t ignore the truth of your age. Embrace it. Embrace aging, and do all you can to turn it into a positive thing. You should live life as if you’re young because, in a sense, that can help your body and mind to age backward, but you also might want to deal with the consequences of aging in other ways. Here are some tips.
Picture SourceYour skin.
Your skin will wrinkle and sag with old age. There are things that can be done to delay this process, such as surgery and creams, but it’s almost better to come to terms with the effect of aging; there’s only so far that our tampering can take us. Many of the methods to reverse the aging process of the skin or disguise it don’t work as well as they promise, so it’s important to do a little research into anti-aging products before you blow all of your money on them.
Alpha-hydroxy acids such as citric acids, for example, can help to tighten and brighten the skin, but they can also increase stinging and sensitivity to the sun. Meanwhile, other ingredients in anti-aging products, such as antioxidants, provide a lot of benefit inside our body (vitamins C and E), but it’s debatable as to whether they can do anything for the top layer of our skin. Try out these methods if you want to, by all means, but don’t expect miracles. It’s better to simply embrace your aging and feel beautiful no matter how old you are.
Your aches and pains.
An unfortunate problem with growing older is the rise of regular aches and pains, but it’s not a problem that’s entirely unsolvable. Pain relievers and other medication that you might take will help dull the pain on an instant basis, of course, but there are other ways to help your body feel more relaxed and comfortable on a long-term basis. You might want to try meditative techniques such as yoga because there’s really a lot to be said for relaxing the mind in order to relax the body. The less tight your muscles feel, and the more you draw your thoughts away from painful jolts through your nerve endings, the more those aches and pains will start to feel less pressing and immediate.
Picture SourceYour hearing.
Your ears aren’t going to work as well as they used to as you get older, much like all aspects of the body; it’s something we all gradually go through. Still, there are things you can do to better look after your ears (again, much like any aspect of your body). A good piece of advice is to stick to safe volumes on TVs or any sort of music-player you might use. It’s tempting to turn up the volume as your hearing deteriorates, but this will only damage your hearing further, causing you to have to gradually turn the volume higher and higher on devices. Imagine having perfect hearing and listening to something at a loud volume; you’d feel how damaging it was to your eardrums, but it’s still just as damaging even if you can’t hear clearly.
Of course, we can’t always control the volume of our environment. If you frequently go to concerts or other big live events with a lot of loud sounds then you might want to get yourself some earplugs to help protect yourself from some of the chaotic cacophony of noise. These are all preventative methods, but they’re still useful even if you’ve suffered some degree of hearing loss already. You’ll probably also want to consider a hearing aid amplifier, of course, because your hearing will likely still deteriorate even if you’re incredibly careful with how you treat your precious ears. There’s only so much you can do to hold off the effects of aging, as has been repeated throughout this article. All you can do is look after yourself to the best of your ability.
Picture SourceYour family.
It’s important to listen to your children. Old habits rarely die, and you might still find yourself in a position of telling them that you know best, but they’re probably middle-aged (or nearing that age) by this point. You have to accept that they might be offering you very sound and helpful advice; in a few decades, they might be the sole voice of reason in your life because age often leads us to become more difficult. Listen, and you’ll be listened to. Treat your child like an adult if they’ve become one, and they’ll give you the same courtesy.
Your mind.
Often, your greatest enemy in old age is your mind. You might work hard to keep physically fit and eat well (both of which do wonders to keep the brain healthy), but age has a way of deteriorating our minds to the point of struggling to make connections in the way they used to. Depression is a common mental health problem in older adults, and it’s all a result of the general deterioration of the mind. It’s important that you have a strong support network to help you get through the issues that affect your mind.
Your family will do a great deal to help you if you just ask them, of course, but there are options in terms of professional help. You could always talk to somebody about your worries in order to try to find some level ground. There is a multitude of reasons as to why your mind struggles as it ages, and many of them are a result of nature running its course, but some of them are to do with your struggle with the effect of aging in itself.
