2. Change your beliefs about what aging means
“Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness,” says Gray. It's important what you believe, he says. Specifically, what does he believe about aging? Research shows that the way we think about aging can add up to seven years to our lives. A study from the Yale School of Public Health used data from the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement to find that people who had positive thoughts about their aging (e.g., “I feel as energetic as I did last year”) I found that there are people who agree with this comment. Those who opposed becoming less useful as we age lived an average of 22.6 years since first participating in the study, whereas those who felt less positive about aging lived an average of only 15 years. I lived a long time.
Gray says challenging yourself maintains your mental health. Let him learn a language, become a volunteer or join a committee. “think about [the late] Queen Elizabeth II. She always had challenging tasks to do, such as talking to the Prime Minister, who she may not have appreciated at all! ”
3. Rest when needed
“I'm 56 years old, very active, and play competitive sports with people in their 20s,” says author Carl Honoré. In praise of slow and B (older): Make the most of your long life. “But no matter how hard I train, I'll never get the same juices I had 30 years ago. But I can still play and compete and have fun. That's what really matters. Is there a sweet spot for the optimal pace of life as we grow older? “Everyone is different when it comes to finding the right pace of life, so there is no universal sweet spot.
But you shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed for slowing down. Adequate rest is the basis for living a fulfilling life at any age. ” Honore travels the world interviewing active, accomplished seniors in their 70s and 80s who work, volunteer, start their own businesses, play competitive sports, and continue to have great sex. did. What is their secret? “Stay active and engaged as much as you can. Ignore the prophecy of doom that says it's all downhill from age 35. It's not. These days, people are running marathons in their 80s and 90s. Welcome to the era of centenarian skydivers!”
4. Exercise for 42 minutes a day
Skydiving and marathons? I thought I should slow down. “You don't have to do anything extreme,” Gray says. “Focus on the four S's: stamina, strength, skill (balance), and flexibility.” He advises improving and maintaining your stamina with a 30-minute brisk walk every day. Plus, build strength, balance, and flexibility with this 12-minute routine. Every day, lift some light weights, do some stretching, and work on your balance. Stand on one leg for a few minutes each day. “Make exercise part of your daily routine,” says Gray.
5. Don't lie in the hospital bed
What about poor King Charles recovering from surgery? Is he not allowed to rest? “It's natural to slow down when dealing with health issues. The body needs time to adjust and heal. That doesn't mean Charles can't go back to 516 activities a year after recovery. That's not the case,” Honoré said.