The Science of Aging Well: How Your Beliefs Affect Your Health
It has been said that “In youth we learn; in age we understand.” When it comes to healthy living habits, the younger we learn, the longer we’re likely to live. With this in mind, let’s explore some healthy living habits we can all cultivate in youth so that we can reap good health in our golden years.
Go to the Doctor
Nobody likes being poked, prodded, and told what’s wrong with them. But sucking it up and going to the doctor for regular check-ups is an essential part of health and wellness. You never know what the doc might spot or identify; a routine exam just might save or extend your life.
So make that dentist appointment, get that physical on the calendar, and become an active participant in your health.
Cut Down on Sugar, Salt, Cigs, and Booze
No doubt this will certainly be the least popular of our healthy living tips, but it’s never too early to cultivate a habit of limiting the intake of stuff that can kill us. Sugar, salt, cigarettes, and alcohol are everywhere around us, yet they are among the deadliest vices.
Even in youth, we’re not invincible. The incidence of young people being diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase. But you can head off serious damage to your body by developing healthy living habits and limiting toxic treats in your younger days.
Build Exercise into Your Day
Even if you work in a cubicle and stare at a screen all day, there are ways to get the exercise your body needs. This is deadly serious, as sitting too much is literally killing us. Exercising is not one of those things that gets easier with age, so it’s critical to get in the habit while you’re still young.
Here are 20 ways you can incorporate physical activity into your day.
Rest and Recharge
Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. Repeat.
Stress is terrible for you at any age, so it’s important to devise healthy ways to rest and recharge. Whether you’re into yoga, long walks, gardening, prayer or meditation, be proactive about finding restorative activities that help you unwind and chill out. And do them often.
Learn New Things
An often overlooked component of healthy living habits is nourishing our minds and building knowledge. Keeping our minds sharp is obviously good for our mental health, but science shows that robust learning can even increase the size of our brains. Staying mentally fit also plays a key role in fending off dementia.
Healthy Living Habits, Healthy Financial Habits
In addition to nourishing your physical and mental health, it’s wise to incorporate smart financial management into your suite of healthy living habits. As soon as you can, start saving money, paying down debt, and getting into the habit of analyzing and trimming your budget. Protect your income with disability insurance, and prepare for the very real possibility that at some point, you may not be able to work.
None of us are promised tomorrow, but we can do a whole lot to ensure a brighter future for ourselves and our loved ones. Wherever you are, whatever your age, start making healthy living habits an everyday affair!
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Want to enjoy the debt-free life you deserve? Download Your Financial Guide to Life, a free e-book we put together to help you better navigate finances and make the best financial decisions for you.
About Council for Disability Awareness
Related posts
