Most of us understand the importance of building up healthy habits. People appreciate that some choices have long-term consequences. But we too easily fall back on a laissez-faire attitude.
I’ve got plenty of time. I can improve my habits later.
Therefore, there’s no time like the present to create habits that will keep you healthy in old age. Ideally, you want to focus your attention on some of the most common complaints:
- Chronic pain
- Weight gain
- Cognitive confusion
- Depression
So, what can you do today to avoid those tomorrow?
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is wrongly associated with old age. In reality, it can affect individuals at any point throughout their lives. Still, it can be a recurring issue for an aging population. Soreness and stiffness can dramatically affect your mobility. However, it doesn’t need to be the case.
Unfortunately, our day-to-day routine is contributing to chronic pain in old age. Most individuals have a sedentary lifestyle. As such, desk jobs can facilitate strain and RSI injury. You can’t change careers to remove the desk from your routine. But you can change your approach to the workplace. Ergonomic options and standing desks can help reduce unnecessary pressure on your back and neck. Additionally, introducing regular breaks during the working day will help to keep desk pains at bay. A short walk around the office is all it takes to get your body moving again and break the curse of a sitting job.
Sitting can be dangerous for your health. It is a position that facilitates not only chronic pain but also encourages muscle weakness. The hip flexors are the first muscle groups to become tight when you spend too much time in a prolonged sitting position. In the long term, simple motions can lead to soreness. Maintaining an active lifestyle today will help alleviate the damages that occur during a desk job. You’d be surprised to know that 30 minutes of physical activity can do wonders to lubricate joints and strengthen weak muscles.
We are used to dealing with occasional soreness. Whether you’ve been sleeping in an awkward position or your hectic work is creating tensions in your back and neck, most people pop a painkiller and carry on with their days. However, painkillers do not remove the pain; they only stop your body from letting you know about it. Therefore, they can hide conditions you could eliminate with professional treatment. If you find yourself relying on painkillers a little too often, you need to deal with the underlying issue before it gets out of hand.
Understand Weight Challenges
As we grow older, the metabolism slows down. What this means is that the body is not as efficient at burning calories. Yet, your metabolism isn’t the only culprit for heavy weight in old age. More often than not, we create their weight issues early in life and fail to manage them effectively.
Experts such as the Bariatric Experts are dedicated to teaching their patients healthy diet choices, both through targeted nutrition and workout programs and surgical options. Weight loss specialists have noticed that a lot of people fall into harmful lifestyle habits, either out of convenience or coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, when weight becomes a problem, many don’t know where to start their journey. There is no denying that losing weight is a long-term plan, but it is also a lifestyle upgrade. The sooner people seek support and guidance, the more likely they are to replace bad habits with healthy routines.
In a fast-paced society, home-cooked meals have become an anomaly. It’s ingrained in the social mindset that you need time to cook at home. As a result, professionals can fall into the trap of processed foods and pre-ordered meals. The reason is that we believe we don’t have time to look after ourselves. It appears essential to make time for mindfulness in our lives, starting with the food you put on your plate. Hectic eating routines pile up weight and stress, creating a vicious circle in which people feel too pressured to make time.
Rapid Cognitive Degeneration
Dementia affects up to 7% of adults aged 60 or over. While this may not seem like much, 25% to 50% of seniors aged 85 or more are likely to exhibit signs of dementia. It is a terrifying prospect, and unfortunately, one that we don’t know how to manage. But we do have tools at our disposal that can keep our brains sharp and healthy, giving us the best chances against dementia.
We all love the comfort of not having to take school tests anymore. However, school is not all bad. Students can learn new skills, building up new connections in the brain. There is no age to stop learning. In fact, you can learn a variety of skills for free, using applications tools or online tutorial videos. Language apps, for instance, are a great way of brushing up your knowledge or learning new vocabulary. Smart brain training exercises can also make a big difference in keeping the mind trained and active. The moment you stop thinking and learning, areas of the brain can become vulnerable to damage.
Needless to say, the brain is an organ too. As such, it requires plenty of oxygen and nutrients. The food you eat will preserve brain health. Similarly, regular physical activities ensure good blood flow. You need to think of the brain as a part of your body, and therefore it also needs fueling.
Loneliness and Old Age Are Not A Fatality
Sadness is as much a state of mind as a response to life situations. For elderly people, mental health issues are primarily linked to loneliness and depression. Making friends and trying out new things are not skills related to age but individual personalities and preferences. Adults who maintain a small circle of friends and activities are more likely to experience loneliness and depression as they age, as they get separated from their social circles. Cultivating connections can completely transform your experience of the aging process.
The choices you make every day will affect how you age tomorrow. While there is no denying that some health issues are likely to develop as the body ages, it is important to remember that most complaints can be avoided. The truth is that introducing positive habits as early as possible makes them more sustainable in the long term.
Thank you for reading!