I am in my 40s and proud of my age, my health and how I look. I also feel no different than I did in my 20’s or 30’s! Ageing is a natural part of life’s journey. It’s also a privilege that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience. Yet as women, we are taught to fight it at all costs!
People have said to me I look good for my age, but in reality, there is no set look for a woman in her 40s, 50s or upwards – we are all different and unique. Yes, I take care of myself but what you see on the outside is a reflection of my internal health. For me, ageing with grace is about having the vitality and energy to enjoy life to its fullest.
So rather than putting all our time, energy and finances into how we look – wouldn’t it be better to focus on how we feel and make choices that support our health and vitality as we grow older?
In this post, we’ll explore the key healthy ageing strategies that go beyond aesthetics, focusing on maintaining physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Let’s discover how you can embrace getting older with vitality and joy.
Prioritising Physical Activity: Moving for Longevity
Exercise isn’t just about the here and now. What we do today, pays off in the future. Regular physical activity plays a key role in enhancing your longevity and quality of life. From boosting heart health to maintaining muscle mass, bone density exercise helps with overall physical function.
As we get older we need to focus on weight-bearing exercise, to help keep our bones healthy and strong, and cardio for the heart and lungs.
Maintaining an active lifestyle will help, so regular walking swimming and even dancing – doing something you love will mean you are more likely to keep to it.
Balanced Nutrition: Nourishing Your Changing Needs
Our nutritional needs change throughout our lives, and as we age we need to adjust dietary habits to meet these needs. As you know, I am a big advocate for nutrient-rich fresh foods and cooking from scratch. As we head towards menopause and beyond, it’s important to get all the right nutrition for your needs.
Sometimes we develop intolerances for foods we once loved. If you notice your needs are changing, I would speak to a nutritionist and get tested for deficiencies and intolerances. It’s time to cut out the processed foods, unhealthy fats and sugars and eat more vegetables.
Mind Matters: Cultivating Cognitive Fitness
Keeping our minds active is essential for a functioning and healthy brain. Our brains need exercise too! Explore brain-boosting activities, like puzzles, learning new skills, and staying socially engaged, to promote cognitive health. Challenge yourself to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill every year!
Quality Sleep: Recharging for Optimal Wellbeing
As we age we might find we need less sleep, or we awake at odd times in the night. It’s important to maintain a consistent sleep routine to support physical and mental health. Find what works for you and create a calming bedtime routine.
Stress Management: Techniques for Inner Peace
Hormonal changes can be challenging. We may find we cannot keep up our fast-paced lifestyle and that our ability to deal with stress is less.
As you get older it’s important to take time for yourself! What we are seeing now are many women entering their 40s and 50s with dependents, high-pressured jobs and ageing parents. This can add to a stressful life where you are spinning many plates.
Taking time out to practice mindfulness, meditation, yoga or deep breathing will improve your overall well-being. If you are short on time, a simple walk in nature can do wonders to calm the mind and restore a sense of well-being.
Social Connections: The Power of Meaningful Relationships
Staying socially connected benefits our mental and emotional health, and this is just as important as we get older. We might not socialise as much or in the same way as we did in our 20s and 30s, but we can still make time for this.
Volunteering for or joining local community groups, choirs, sports teams or walking groups can help foster a sense of community and add to our support network.
Regular Health Screenings: Preventive Care for a Healthy Future
With ageing comes the importance of regular check-ups and screenings to catch potential health issues early. Even if you like to take a holistic approach to your health, it’s still important to deal with any issues that arise promptly.
Hydration and Nutrition: Supporting Digestive Health
Having a healthy gut is so important. Proper hydration and dietary fibre can aid digestion and promote gut health. My top tip for gut health is to eat the rainbow on your plate. By this I mean a variety of vegetables of different colours.
A thriving gut microbiome depends on feeding all the good bacteria in our gut, so we need to include diverse sources of fibre through ingesting a variety of plants. You may also want to take a good probiotic to help this process.
Ensure you are drinking enough water will help you stay hydrated and improve digestion and gut function – aim for two litres a day.
Flexibility and Balance: Staying Agile and Preventing Falls
Use it or lose it! I love this statement, it means in order to retain proficiency in a function, you must practice it regularly. To keep flexible and mobile, we need to engage in activities like yoga, stretching, and balance exercises.
Positive Mindset: Embracing Ageing with Optimism
As I said at the start of this post – you cannot halt time! So why waste energy being unhappy about ageing? It’s time to embrace it! Instead, cultivate a positive outlook on ageing, focusing on the wisdom and experiences gained over time.
Mindful Ageing: Finding Joy in the Present
Learn to appreciate each moment. After all, all we have is now.
Healthy Ageing Strategies: I’m here to help.
Ageing is simply another chapter in life’s book that offers an opportunity to embrace new experiences, cherish memories, and live with vitality.
By adopting these healthy ageing strategies, you can maintain your physical, mental, and emotional wellness, allowing you to truly savour the richness of life as you gracefully traverse the journey of growing older.
Remember, age is just a number, but the choices you make can determine how well you thrive throughout the years.
If you would like to discuss how you can manage your diet and exercise regime to help with ageing, get in touch via my Facebook page.