Aging Healthily – Can Aging be Beautiful and Healthy
Humans have long wanted to live a long life. Some humans in the past didn’t even want to die; they wanted a long and never-ending life.
But the truth is that as humans age, we start becoming more prone to diseases, and this can be very difficult if you are unhealthy and still living.
I have always wanted to live only as long as I am healthy. I don’t want to have an unhealthy life in this world.
I dug a little deeper into this topic and found out what we can do about aging.
Aging should not be about celebrating a birthday every year, but it should be about celebrating how healthily you successfully spent that year.
Years when your brain was working perfectly, you had a strong and healthy body, and you were enjoying daily life.
So let’s understand what healthy aging really means.
Healthy aging = living well, not just passing each year.
The first thing that everyone needs to understand is that aging is a natural process. Every one of us who is alive ages; only the dead do not age.
So what healthy aging is:
• You are as independent in your work as humanly possible
• You can take care of your human needs
• You are mentally active and present
• You are able to attend social events
• Your body feels healthy inside and outside
There is a difference between living and living healthily.
1- Quality of life defines healthy aging
To determine the quality of your life and whether you are aging healthily, you have to ask yourself these questions:
• Can you walk without anyone’s help or difficulty?
• Can you cook for yourself, pamper yourself, or bathe without help?
• Do you feel like waking up every day and going to work or doing whatever you want to do?
• Do you have a good night’s sleep?
• Do you have any hobbies and social activities?
A body that is aging healthily should be able to do all of these things. Aging does not mean having restricted movement, hobbies, or tasks.
People age healthily when they can continue doing the things that give them happiness, purpose, and freedom.
(If you are disabled, remember that you are doing enough, and these questions should not dishearten you. Remember that you are loved, and happiness has a different definition for everyone.)
2- Healthy aging means that you are still independent
You are independent in most things if you are aging healthily. What this means is:
• You move around freely and easily
• You can run your own errands
• You can manage your home
• You are mentally sound enough to make your own decisions
• You do not need anyone to care for yourself
A person can be 90 years old and still be considered aging healthily if they are independent in these tasks, even if they have some minor health issues that they can manage easily.
3- Healthy aging = efficient performance of the body, not looks
People confuse healthy aging with looking young or younger than their age, but the truth is that healthy aging is having a body that works well for you.
Healthy aging includes the following physical markers:
• Good body balance
• Muscles that are not weak
• A fine walking speed
• Neither overweight nor underweight
• Medical conditions that can be managed easily and are not chronic in nature
This allows a person to have a decent healthy lifestyle and an active social presence in everyday life.
Some simple habits that can help you age healthily are:
• A daily walk routine
• Breathing exercises
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Yoga
• Reading one to two pages a day
These habits help keep your physical and mental functions young even as you age.
4- Healthy aging = an active body + an active mind
Most people care for their skin and judge aging by appearance, but they forget the most important thing: the brain.
Mental health, including psychological health and brain health, are the building blocks of healthy aging.
Healthy brain aging includes:
• Good memory
• Clear thinking
• Ability to focus on tasks
• Stable mood
• Low stress
• Low anxiety
• Ability to handle pressure
Healthy aging is not just about preventing dementia; it is about keeping your brain active and working properly.
Some simple brain-health-boosting habits are:
• Reading
• Learning something new
• Games
• Social life
• Lower levels of loneliness
• Stress management
• Good sleep
5- Emotional health is also a part of healthy aging
What emotional healthy aging really means:
• Starting to feel calmer as you age
• Feeling grateful for your life instead of resentful
• Still having hobbies that you enjoy
• A positive attitude toward life
• A balanced social life
Did you know that smoking 15 cigarettes a day is comparable to chronic loneliness?
Healthy aging is about connection — with your life, with your brain, with your emotions, and with other humans. Aging is not isolation.
I will not say that healthy aging starts right now because you are aging with every microsecond.
You even aged and your brain changed while you were reading this article.
Healthy aging is a mindset and a lifestyle.
Healthy aging is different for everyone. We have different goals, different aims, and we look forward to different things as we age.
If you are able to do these things and are aging healthily, remember that healthy aging is much more than your skin, your face, and your looks.
6- Having a purpose is a powerful medicine
People who believe they have a purpose in life:
• They age better
• They live longer
• They stay mentally active
• They have lower levels of stress
• They heal faster
• They have motivation
7- Healthy aging is about balance, not perfection
Remember that healthy aging includes:
• Wrinkles
• A slower pace with age
• Hair turning gray
• Some forgetting
• Some aches and pains
If you are not a superhero, all of this is normal.
It is about spending your life as best as possible.
