When you think of getting older, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? I think it is pretty safe to say that we all wish to extend our life as long as possible, but without sacrificing quality. Do you think about spending time with loved ones and enjoying your hobbies, or does your mind immediately jump to doctor’s visits & assisted living facilities? By incorporating some of these healthy aging practices into your routines, you may help prevent/delay some of the conditions associated with aging. So what is healthy aging? Similar to wellness, healthy aging is actively taking steps to promote health throughout the lifespan, especially in your later years. Healthy aging practices may help you maintain your independence, prevent the onset of health conditions, improve your quality of life, and increase longevity. Let’s explore a few of these.

One of the most obvious things we can do for our health is to focus on getting proper nutrition. I’m not going to go too in depth on this, as we covered it extensively last year in our aging newsletter. Focus on whole foods, prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. If you take a look at your diet and find that you have major changes you need to make, it’s best to focus on one thing at a time rather than doing a complete overhaul. Another great way to make lasting changes is to swap unhealthy items for a healthier alternative. Next month we’re going to go in depth on how you can take advantage of supplements to ensure that you’re getting enough nutrients to support good health.

Physical activity is another aspect of your health that cannot be overlooked as you age. Have you ever heard the phrase “if you don’t use it, you lose it?” Muscle mass and strength are two things that tend to dissipate/disappear in people as they age, typically because they’re no longer moving or exercising like they used to. It is recommended that people practice two primary forms of exercise to promote health and healthy aging – strength training (bodyweight exercises or light weight lifting) to build/maintain muscle and aerobic exercise (brisk walking, jogging, cycling) to train your heart to perform at a higher rate. The best thing you can do from a strength training aspect is to train your body to better perform tasks it will need to do on a day to day basis – carrying groceries in from the car, carrying laundry to/from the washer, getting up from a seated position or even off of the floor in the event of a fall. Maintaining the strength to perform these everyday tasks will give you confidence to go about your day.

Mental and cognitive health are just as important as your physical health, and are unfortunately often neglected. One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Adults need anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep per night, and factors such as stress, alcohol/smoking, medications, mental health conditions, & other underlying conditions can interfere with your ability to sleep. Getting enough sleep helps the brain process, play a role in memory, learning, and supports emotional well-being. We’ve covered this extensively in the past, so feel free to check out my past articles on this on our website.

Loneliness and isolation are harmful to people of any age, but become increasingly common in older adults. Human beings are social by nature and not meant to be isolated from one another. Creating meaningful social connections can have real benefits to emotional well-being. Ways to reduce loneliness include: walking with neighbors, utilizing technology to keep in touch with loved ones, join group activities, or even adopting a pet for companionship.

Long-term stress is believed to accelerate the aging process and contribute to earlier onset of many of the common health conditions associated with old age (insert health conditons). Actively working to decrease stress in your life can lead to substantial improvements in mood and overall quality of life. Strategies include reducing avoidable stress whenever possible (i.e. cutting ties with toxic things/people in your life), avoid using alcohol or tobacco as a coping mechanism, practicing healthy coping skills such as meditation & breathing exercises, or seeking professional support if necessary.

Preventative care is incredibly important at all ages. By following through with preventative health care, you can reduce risks of certain conditions as you age or catch a small thing before it becomes a big thing. By attending regular checkups, continuing wellness chiropractic care, and visiting the dentist at least once per year, you can stay on top of your health and set yourself up for success as you age.

We’re all going to get older. That is an uncontrollable fact of life, but we hold the responsibility for what our quality of life looks like in our later years. I encourage you to take inventory on your daily habits to see if there are any that may not be serving you positively and pushing you towards good health and happiness. If the process seems daunting at first, focus on making one or two smaller changes. Remember, healthy aging isn’t an end-game. It’s a process, and it’s never too early or too late to start working towards being the best version of you that you can.

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