We all want to keep looking good even as we grow older. Everyone is looking for ways to fight the signs of aging. We all want to still feel strong and look fit even after we retire from our jobs. We want to maintain our youthful energy as much as we can, for as long as we can.
The answer to this seems to be the Fountain of Youth; a myth which has inspired many works of art, as well as scientific innovations to delay aging. There are many ways to slow down the aging process. Here are some things you can do on your own to help you feel and look young.
1. Think Positive
There is no better way to wake up in the morning than to start the day with a positive vibe. The simple habit of smiling to yourself in the mirror can instantly lift up your mood and boosts your confidence. It encourages you to pursue your goals and face the day with a brighter outlook.
The Law of Attraction states “That which like itself, is drawn.” Thinking positively about something will increase your chances of attracting more positive situations, persons and things into your life. That should keep you from frowning too much and keep facial wrinkles at bay. This is the easiest and most natural way to fight the signs of aging.
2. Have Time to De-Stress
If you are having a hard time keeping a positive outlook, don’t hesitate to give yourself time to de-stress and have fun. Pamper yourself with a massage, spend the weekend in a spa, or indulge yourself in an at-home facial. Listen to your favorite music playlist, go to your favorite restaurant and eat your favorite dish. You can also cook yourself some comfort food or declutter to clear your space.
A quick way to de-stress is to do a breathing exercise or to meditate. Just sit in silence for at least 5-15 minutes. Get away from a stressful situation to recharge yourself. This way, you can handle the situation with a clearer mind instead of being overwhelmed.
3. Keep Learning
Your brain is like a muscle; the more you use it, the more it grows sharper. But don’t overuse it either. Instead, use it in different ways by learning new things such as a new language; a new game like chess and other strategy games such as tackling your monthly budget; a word or math puzzle like sudoku or learn to do math with the abacus. Do things to unleash the genius in you. Keeping your mind healthy is a natural way to fight the signs of aging.
You can start simple by learning a new song or memorizing a poem penned by one of your favorite authors. Learn to write a poem yourself. You can try to review your geography again and learn to use the compass. This will help you know where exactly on the map you’re going when you’re traveling.
4. Be Grateful
To complete the positive vibe that you started in the morning; end the day with a positive vibe too. Review your day and think of at least 3 things that you are grateful for that day. You can also keep a gratitude journal in any notebook you like. Reflect on your day and write down the things that you are blessed with. Try it out for the whole month.
Take the time to express thanks for the little things that people around you do for you. You can still be grateful even in tough times for the lessons that you can learn from the situation.
5. Stay Connected
Personal connections are important channels that provide us a venue to de-stress. With people who understand us, we can share our anxieties and doubts as well as reaffirm our beliefs and values. They also serve as our support group. They encourage us and advise us on how best to handle our problems and reach our goals. Maintaining good relationships will naturally help you fight the signs of aging.
Your social circle keeps you grounded. They also give you the confidence boost, knowledge and insights you need to move forward with your plans. And when things get tough; you know you can count on them. They are willing to help you erase the lines on your forehead and put back the smile on your face.
6. Avoid Overexposure to the Sun
Our skin is the first part of our body to show signs of aging. It also serves to protect our vital organs and is the biggest part of our whole body. So we should protect it just as we protect our face. Don’t forget to bring your umbrella with you. Use it when it’s too hot to go outside even if you are just walking a short way.
Sunshine in the early morning is good for you. But from 8AM onwards, the sunlight can cause more harm than good for your skin. If you do need to go outside, use your umbrella and put on your sunscreen product.
7. Stay Hydrated
Your daily activities keep you busy and you may not feel thirsty. You need to ensure that you hydrate your body so you can function properly. There are many times when we get a headache while working. We think it’s because we are stressed from work when in fact we are just dehydrated. Adequate water intake helps you fight the signs of aging by keeping you skin plump and looking youthful.
Drinking your water allows your body to work more efficiently. It helps your body to flush out toxins so you can stay healthy. Tired of just plain water? Jazz it up by infusing it with lemon slices or cucumber and other fruits like oranges, grapes and strawberries.
8. Eat Your Way to Healthy
A healthy eating habit is one of the basic ways to stave off the signs of aging. What you eat will definitely influence how you look. A healthy diet consist of a variety of fruits and veggies as well as nuts and healthy oils. Consuming these regularly will definitely help you look and feel healthier.
As much as possible, choose foods that promote an alkaline environment in your body. An acidic body becomes an environment for the development of illness. The primary culprit of an acidic body is consuming too much sugar. These sugars are found in starchy foods such as potatoes, breads, pastries and in many processed and packaged food.
Replace your sodas with green tea or a hot chocolate made with dark cocoa. Most importantly, read the labels when shopping so you know the ingredients of what you’re buying and eating.
9. Keep an Exercise Routine
Cap off your healthy eating habits by improving your physical wellness with a regular exercise routine. Exercise will definitely help you feel healthy and look healthy too. It’s a great way to fight signs of aging. Exercising helps you improve your circulation. It helps you detoxify as you sweat and it gives you a youthful glow right after. Try dancing to an upbeat tune for at least 10 minutes. Check your face in the mirror right after to see your healthy glow.
Put your running shoes and old bike to good use again. Or search online for exercise videos that you can do at home or in the office. As you go about exercising, ensure that you are exercising different parts of your body. Switch up your exercise routine from time to time. To get a more fit look, incorporate weights into your exercise routine. This will help you bring out your youthful beauty even more with toned muscles.
10. Quit Smoking and Ditch Alcoholic Drinks
As part of eating healthy, you should also stop harmful habits such as smoking. Smoking pollutes the air you breath and has a harmful effect on your lungs. The 2nd-hand smoke that you leave floating around is even more harmful to non-smokers around you. A very tangible side-effect of smoking are stained teeth and dark lips. This is a major disadvantage for you when you’re trying to retain your youthful looks. We should also learn to avoid little habits that can damage our skin in the long run.
Alcoholic beverages dehydrate your body pretty fast and can be dangerous to your kidneys and liver when taken habitually. There’s nothing like a major headache the next morning to remind you of how foolish you were the night before. A hangover makes you wish you were sober again real fast. Going for that hot cocoa might help ease that headache and ease the frown lines off your forehead.
11. Cleanse and Moisturize
Moisturizers can help keep our face feeling and looking youthful. Maintain a basic skin care routine that you do in the morning and night. Make a ritual out of your beauty routine. Think of it as a way to wind down as you get ready for bed.
You only really need to be vigilant in cleansing and moisturizing and doing it morning and night. Any more than that in a day can lead to overly oily skin or dry, flaky skin.
Remember to be patient with the cleansing and moisturizing. Massage your face gently using your ring finger and do so in circular motions going upward to your scalp. As you do this, you can reflect on your day and reflect on the things you are grateful for. If you have the time, you can try out the Korean beauty routine.
12. Get Your Sleep Right
A beauty sleep is exactly that. Don’t skimp on your sleep time. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Your body repairs itself from 10PM to 3AM in the morning. This is why you should be in your dreamland during these times.
Adequate sleep also means less puffy eyes in the morning; less dark circles under your eyes and you won’t feel too groggy to wake up even during bed weather. A good night’s sleep ensures that you get the relaxation you need to be able to function properly all day.
These are just some of the ways you can keep your youthful look and a positive outlook in life. These habits will not only help make you look good but make you feel good too. Do practice these in moderation so you can live a well-balanced life.
Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.03.03.
Feature Image: Original Photo by DANGTIMÔ TIMÔ on Unsplash.
