4 Tips For Aging Gracefully

If you are feeling a little upset about how you’re getting older, look around. If you see anyone—anyone at all, then you noticed someone who is going through the same thing as you. Everyone is aging, but not everyone is doing it the same.

The goal might not be to look 20 years younger but to be the healthiest, active person you can.

Establish A Good Sleep Routine

This goes far beyond getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night (which you should). This is merely quantity. We need to focus on quality sleep as well. There is:

  • Light Sleep
  • REM Sleep
  • Deep or Slow-Wave Sleep

REM and deep sleep have restorative value. To get to these stages, you need good sleep hygiene:

  • Dimming the lights an hour or two before 
  • Avoiding screens and blue lights
  • Reading before bed 
  • Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day
  • Having a cutoff time for caffeine intake

Having good sleep has multiple health benefits such as reducing stress, reducing inflammation, and lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fuel Yourself Properly

Foods such as vegetables and fruit have antioxidants and combat some of the signs of old age. The opposite would be true for processed sugars which can speed up the aging process. 

To protect your skin, consume more Omega-3s than Omega-6s. You’ll typically find more of the good fatty acids (Omega-3s) in whole, unprocessed foods and meats.

Keep Enjoying Things

Maintain your mental health by finding new ways to socialize with people, discovering new hobbies, and keeping positive. Studies show that most of our thoughts are negative. It takes work to remain positive—even about aging. 

Here’s another tip that is uncommon but should be more widely practiced: take care of your teeth and feet. It’s one way to keep you enjoying your food and to keep you running around with your grandchildren. Also, oral hygiene prevents gum disease which can lead to heart disease.

The Secret To Staying Active

Staying active to stay healthy is not uncommon advice. Here’s the secret on how to do it: find something you enjoy doing. Being sedentary is going to have short-term appeal. And it will be hard to break the habit if you are going out and doing something that you genuinely dislike. 

Is swimming a good way to stay active? Especially if it is something your doctor is recommending. But if you prefer taking dancing classes with your spouse, do that instead. Shared bike rides and evening walks are other options. Choose the thing that you are going to keep wanting to do.

Kevin Tharpe, P.C., 

At J. Kevin Tharpe, we practice elder law because of how passionate we are about helping this unique portion of our community. Everyone ages and we want to help you do it well. We can discuss Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits. Whether you need advice on how to plan for long-term care or even how to modify your estate plan, we can be your best asset. Schedule a consultation today.

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Kevin Tharpe

With 25 years of experience, Kevin understands how estate planning, special needs planning, and government benefits programs work together. This is a crucial element of a thorough plan. He explains your eligibility for benefits programs and ensures that you do not make costly mistakes that may disqualify you or deplete your assets.

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