There’s a running joke on the internet that millennials look younger than they are and I look at this comment and think… “My back pain doesn’t match that.”
Jokes aside, there is a lot of emphasis on “looking younger,” but why not feel younger? To stay young at heart despite the deterioration of your equipment?
Let’s talk about it today.
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, here are 9 habits you should consider saying goodbye to:
1) Be sedentary
Do you spend hours and hours sitting? Do you spend less time standing than recommended? Do you not exercise?
You probably have a sedentary lifestyle. This is something you need to say goodbye to if you want to continue feeling young.
HealthPartners defines it this way: “The correct definition of a sedentary lifestyle is when a person spends six or more hours a day sitting or lying down and lacks meaningful physical movement in their daily life.
It may sound familiar: in an office, for example, many people spend the entire day sitting in front of a computer, then relax in front of the television or with their phone before going to sleep. It’s a routine that’s easy to get used to, but it’s not without its risks.
These risks mainly concern health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Fatigue and stress also top the list.
So how will you feel young if you feel overwhelmed?
2) Not getting enough sleep
“Lack of sleep can interfere with work, school, driving, and social functioning. You may have difficulty learning, concentrating, and responding.
Additionally, you may have trouble judging other people’s emotions and reactions. Lack of sleep can also make you feel frustrated, cranky, or anxious in social situations.” – What Are Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Deficiency? | National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute
If someone can use sleep deprivation as a form of abuse or torture, you know it’s bad. Really bad.
And yet, some of us do it to ourselves! So if you want to continue feeling young as you age, get enough good sleep.
Personally, as an insomniac, I know how terrible it is to not get enough sleep. You feel groggy and disoriented, you feel lethargic and sleepy all day long. It’s a painful feeling to have.
Not to mention the health risks. Johns Hopkins Medicine states: “Having a bad night every now and then is annoying, but it doesn’t pose a health risk.”
However, chronic lack of sleep can increase the risk of developing dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers.
Makes you want to go to bed earlier, doesn’t it?
3) High alcohol consumption
The type of drinking I’m referring to goes beyond social drinking. We’re talking about high levels that can become problematic. The kind of alcohol that’s debilitating. The kind that makes it impossible to function without alcohol.
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, drink moderately, if at all.
According to the World Health Organization, “Alcohol consumption is associated with risks of developing noncommunicable diseases such as liver disease, heart disease and various types of cancer, as well as mental health and behavioral problems such as depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders.”
4) Smoking
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, consider not smoking.
If you smoke, I’m sure you already know the risks involved. If you’re not a smoker, great, don’t start. It’s not worth it.
Let’s talk about some of the risks involved:
- Increased risk of coronary heart disease.
- Increased risk of stroke.
- Increased risk of lung cancer, but also cancer in other parts of the body.
- Decreased overall health.
- May reduce fertility.
- May affect bone health.
For the full list, check out this CDC fact sheet on tobacco use.
5) Not having a balanced diet
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, you need to eat a balanced diet.
More protein, more fiber, less sugar, less saturated fat. Eat more fruits and more vegetables in your diet!
Reduce your sugar intake as much as possible. Drink more water.
And yes, I understand that eating healthy can be a strain on the budget when “unhealthy” foods are cheaper, but there are plenty of resources out there on how to cook healthy meals on a budget.
There’s also no need to adopt all of these healthy foods abruptly, you can start small.
6) Not managing stress levels
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, you need to manage your stress.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stress symptoms can affect your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Knowing the common symptoms of stress can help you manage them.”
Unmanaged stress can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes.
I think it’s an understatement to say that stress can take a toll on you. Your body can feel like it’s constantly in fight or flight mode and you’re not going to function optimally.
If left unmanaged, it can even pose health risks.
7) Not hydrating well
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, you need to drink water regularly.
There are many benefits to drinking the recommended amount of fluids, including optimizing physical performance. When you’re dehydrated, you won’t be at your best.
Now imagine if you had to do this for years and years. Imagine the toll it would take on your body.
8) Not attending regular check-ups
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, take care of your health. Don’t go to the hospital only when you feel something or are already sick, get checked regularly!
And I know this isn’t a completely feasible or affordable option for everyone, but look for options in your area for free clinics or free exams if you can.
9) Not having a life outside of work
If you want to continue feeling young as you age, you need to find a good work-life balance.
Working hard is good, you have goals to achieve and things to acquire. Maybe you have ladders to climb in your company or businesses to develop, and that’s great!
But you have to have a life outside of work. You have to have social relationships. You have to rest. You have to work and play in equal measure.
It can even keep your mind sharp, which is also important for feeling young.
According to Summa Health, “Socializing boosts brain activity because it constantly engages and exercises the mind, which strengthens neural pathways to combat cognitive decline. In fact, research shows that older adults who socialize regularly have better working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency.”
Final Thoughts
The best time to change your bad habits was yesterday, the second best time is today.
Reversing bad habits is no easy task, but if you want to continue feeling young as you age, you have to at least try.
Life is both short and long, and going years without feeling your best doesn’t seem like a good thing. Sure, it’s irresponsible to think that this isn’t idealistic, but what’s the alternative?
Are you getting older and feeling old? Are you losing the wonder of your youth? Are you losing sight of the things that used to make you happy? Are you taking everyday life for granted?
It may be idealistic to want to stay young at heart, but it’s something I want to carry forward.
And you?
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