8 Strategies For Healthy Ageing: Tips For A Longer, Happier Life

Having a good mindset and good health habits can ensure our well-being as we age. Taking good care of yourself must be prioritised as we age because, with increasing age, the need to take care of yourself also increases. Ensuring all-around well-being helps people have a longer and happier life. It's never too late to start caring for yourself. If you don't know where to get started, then these tips will help you kick start your journey to wellness and will help you lead a healthier life, even as you get older.  (Image source: getty images)

1. Eat Well: As your age increases, your digestive system starts slowing down. Therefore, you must consume foods rich in fibre. Also, make sure that you eat a balanced diet that is rich in all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Also, with the increase in age, dehydration increases, which is why it is crucial to keep yourself well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and fluids. Maintaining your weight by eating well lowers the risk of many health issues like diabetes, heart problems, and certain types of cancer as well.  (Image source: getty images)

2. Be Physically Active: Make sure that you are physically active by exercising every day regularly. It's one of the best ways to stay fit and maintain weight, flexibility, and bone health. The key is to engage yourself in those physical activities that you enjoy doing. You can go for a walk, do yoga, go jogging, etc. to be physically active. To make these activities enjoyable, you can listen to music while doing them or do them with your friends and family so that the regular exercise routine becomes a fun activity.  (Image source: getty images)

3. Keep Learning: Just because you have reached a certain age, this doesn't mean that you must stop learning. To keep your mind stimulated, you must continuously learn and engage in activities that require mental exercise. For this, you can do crossword puzzles, read, learn to play a new instrument, or engage yourself in a new hobby. These kinds of activities can help prevent a decline in cognitive health.  (Image source: getty images)

4. Prioritise Sleep: Make sure that you get at least 8–9 hours of sleep every day. Lack of proper sleep can cause problems like irritability, fatigue, memory problems, etc. Have a regular bedtime routine and make sure that your bedroom is quiet, dark, and comfortable, which helps you have a good sleep. Furthermore, refrain from having any kind of screen time while sleeping, like watching TV, using the mobile phone while lying on bed, or using devices like tablets or laptops. Also, make sure that you don't consume caffeine before bedtime. (Image source: getty images)

5. Regular Checkups: With the increase in age, you are likely to experience certain health issues that are age-related, but there are a lot of health concerns that can be avoided if you take proper care. As your age increases, there are a lot of health issues that manifest themselves later on, and when they do, the condition gets very complicated. Therefore, you must have regular checkups with your doctor so that if you have any medical conditions that you are not aware of, they come to light during the check-up and can be timely treated. Also, make sure that you are very clear about explaining to the doctor any changes or symptoms that you might experience. If you are experiencing anything abnormal, then immediately consult a doctor rather than neglecting it. Timely medical intervention helps in the treatment of the problem and prevents it from getting worse.  (Image source: getty images)

6. Avoid Unhealthy Habits: To ensure overall good health, refrain from indulging in unhealthy activities that are detrimental to your health. These activities include smoking, taking drugs, and drinking alcohol. Also, limit your consumption of junk food and cut down your consumption of sugar and salt. (Image source: getty images)

7. Stay Connected: As your age increases you are likely to experience a feeling of loneliness which might negatively impact your mental health. It is therefore important to stay connected to your loved ones like your family or your friends. Reach out to them whenever you think you need to talk and speak your heart out. Staying connected to loved ones and cultivating new relationships helps in having good mental health and keeps you sane. (Image source: getty images)

8. Avoid Stressing:   Avoid stressing over things that you cannot control. A lot of people start ageing early just because they stress too much. It is estimated that more than 90% of health-related problems are caused by stress. Some situations are quite stressful, but you can find better ways to deal with them. To deal with stress, you can do yoga meditation, indulge in deep breathing exercises, and talk to someone who can listen to you and help you by providing much-needed emotional support. (Image source: getty images)

Inputs by: Dr. Rahul Chandhok, Head Consultant, Mental Health and Behavioural Science, Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram (Image source: getty images)