Looking and feeling good when youth is on your side is relatively straightforward. After all, it’s easy enough to be happy when you have so few responsibilities, and easy to look your best when there are no bags under your eyes.
When we’re slightly over the hill, both those things become a little more challenging. And by that, we mean we can’t expect them to happen naturally. However, there are certainly plenty of things you can do that’ll have you looking and feeling great, regardless of how old you are. If you’re ready to give your physical and mental wellness a huge nudge in the right direction, then take the below tips on board.
Dress With Style
Forget what you really look like for a moment; your appearance is mostly determined by what you showcase to the world. If you’re looking to turn heads, then consider upping your style game. One of the primary advantages you have over the younger version of yourself is that you probably have a bit more money in the bank, so now you can afford to buy the clothing that was out of bounds when you were young and penniless.
Not that you necessarily need to break the bank to dress well. Take a look at second-hand stores for designer clothing. Really, if you’re wearing good boots and jeans with a designer top and sunglasses, you’ll carry style with you — and you’ll look great.
Find the Best Salon in Town
When you were younger, you were probably happy to dye your hair, play around with various cutting-edge styles, and the rest. Once we’re settled in adulthood, we’re usually a little more conservative with our hair. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it probably won’t make a splash, and you might be a little bored by what you see. If you want to mix things up, then look at finding the middle ground. You can have a great haircut and act your age at the same time. The trick is to find the best salon in town and ask them to work their magic. You’ll pay slightly more for it than you usually do, but it’ll be worth it when you leave looking a million dollars.
Hit the Gym
This is perhaps the easiest way to nudge your appearance and mental health in the right direction. Working up a sweat at the gym will have your skin glowing, help keep you toned, and ensure your body receives plenty of feel-good chemicals (working out releases endorphins, the ‘happy chemical’). That’s the good part. The bad part is that you’ll have to do the work. If you’ve never regularly been to the gym before, then start slow. All you need to do is go there three times a week. Over time, you’ll eventually figure out what you’re supposed to be doing. And once you’ve begun to see and feel the benefits, you’ll be hooked.
Stretching and Yoga
Working out is one thing. But it should really only be half of the good stuff you do for your body. The other half is stretching. Our bodies naturally seize up a little as we age, but there’s a simple way to combat that tightening up: stretch your body out by doing yoga. It’s an almost guaranteed way to feel better — your body will never feel as good as it does after a yoga class! Plus, they say that you stay the same age as you are when you start doing yoga regularly. So in other words: if you want to make your later years as fun as possible, then now’s the time to buy a yoga mat and hit a class.
Look After Your Skin
Your skin will take a beating through the course of your lifetime, and if you’re not actively taking steps to protect it, then eventually it’ll show. The best way to keep your skin looking its best is to wear sunscreen all year round. You might like to have a tan, but the short-term benefits are outweighed by the long-term damage. Note that it’s best to look after all parts of your skin, not just your face, which is what most people focus on. People past their forties tend to get dry hands and feet, so it’s best to give those sensitive areas of your body some love, too. It’s always wise to adapt your skincare routine as you age, too — what works when you’re in your early twenties may not be what you need when you’re in your forties, for instance.
Spend Time in Nature
It can take a bit of effort, but there’s a lot of value in taking the time to take a trip into the great outdoors. Nature offers a wide range of benefits that can improve your physical and mental well-being. For instance, most of the things you’d do while there — hiking, cycling — are good for your health. Studies have also shown that simply spending time in nature can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. By spending two hours in nature a week (either all at once or in chunks) you can help to keep a smile on your face. Perfect!
Give Up Alcohol and Cigarettes
Drinking too much alcohol and smoking cigarettes is bad at any age. But when you’re younger, you don’t tend to notice the impact — your body can just absorb the shock without too many consequences. When we’re older? You will, for sure, feel it. These toxins can impact your skin, your mood, and your general health, all of which you’ll want to have on your side when you’re older. It can be a little difficult to give them up, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Try to commit to just one month without alcohol or cigarettes, and you’ll likely feel so good that you’ll happily give them up forever.
Rethink Your Diet
You’ll hate us for saying it, but you really are what you eat. It can be so tasty to eat fast food meals and other not-good-for-you dishes, but the reality is that they will have a bunch of negative impacts, including on your energy levels. It’s really not that easy to live your best life when you have energy issues! So perhaps now is the time to rethink. Many people stop themselves from shifting to a healthier diet because they think that it’s difficult or expensive, but it’s neither of those things. At the very least, try to cut out highly processed foods — there’s nothing good about those products!
Consider Therapy
You might have built a happy life for yourself. However, if there are still issues from your past that you haven’t yet dealt with, then you may find that you cannot enjoy life quite as much as you could or should. There’s a lot to be said for therapy — just ask the people who have already gone through the journey. The vast majority say that it’s had a remarkably positive impact on their life. You’re never too old (or young) to find inner peace, so consider seeking out a therapist and seeing what happens. In all likelihood, the journey will be difficult but worthwhile.
Stay Curious
Finally, remember to stay curious as you age. If you’re always open to new experiences then you’ll never be disappointed, and you’ll avoid falling into the trap of the same old, same old. It’s a big old world out there and you never know what will happen if you throw yourself into it with open arms.
