 photo courtesy of Unsplash The idea that “people are living longer” is a common refrain, and one that more or less represents a consistent trend over time. The idea that people are living better and longer, however, is a little bit more modern. Only in the past decade or two have we really started to look at the years past middle age as an exciting new chapter, as opposed to a gradual progression into “old age.”
As a piece on the Chicago Tribune discussed back in 2010, the consensus seems to be that “60 is the new 40.” It’s a number that once struck people as “senior,” but which now seems merely like another stage of adulthood — and one that can be filled with excitement, opportunity, and new things. For things to work out this way however — to truly live well after the age of 60 — there are some proactive steps one should take both approaching and following the milestone. Take Advantage of Medical Care We’ll start with the most practical aspect of living well after 60, which is taking advantage of available, federal healthcare. Once you turn 65 in particular — and possibly earlier depending on specific conditions — you’re eligible to enroll in Medicare. This program can be set up in different ways with slightly varying coverage, but overall it’s fairly comprehensive care. A handy breakdown of Medicare variations on Kelsey Care Advantage does a nice job of conveying that hospital visits (under Plan A) and outpatient care (under Plan B) are always covered. Versions of Medicare will also help with prescription costs and medical equipment. But the bottom line is, this is affordable healthcare to enroll in once you’re in your mid-60s, and doing so certainly qualifies as a step toward healthy and happy living as you age. Figure Out Your Self-Care Routine Making sure you’re insured for basic medical coverage and health events is vital. It is also important, however, to make sure you have ways of taking care of yourself on more of a day-to-day basis. Indeed, some would argue that establishing a routine to maintain your personal wellness is ultimately the most important aspect of living well as you age. Unlike with Medicare however, there isn’t a sign-up process in this case! Rather, as we conveyed in a post on ‘The Secret to Easy and Affordable Self-Care’, the process is thoroughly individual. It involves everything from finding a nutritious diet you can stick to, to establishing good work/life balance, to finding ways to relax and rest when you need to. But the specific routine is up to you to figure out. Determine Sustainable Exercise Habits In addition to working out a total self-care routine, it’s also in your best interest to establish reliable exercise habits. When you’re young, you can exercise in any number of ways. You may try new sports, take classes, vary your cardio routine, and so on — all because you have the time, energy, and physical health to do so. As you grow older though, you may be at least somewhat more limited in your options. In some cases this can lead people to stop exercising regularly altogether. Naturally though, this is detrimental to wellness! To avoid the problem, it’s important to figure out which exercise habits you enjoy that you can sustain past 60 (when those knees might not quite be what they used to be). Whether that means a walking regimen, hopping on a rowing machine in your basement, or playing golf or tennis a few times a week is up to you. The point ultimately, is finding a long-term, sustainable way to maintain physical condition. Work on Mental Wellbeing Every bit as important as developing habits to maintain physical health is finding ways to ensure mental wellbeing. To some extent, that’s what living well after the age of 60 all comes down to! But here we’re specifically talking about developing ways to keep your mind clear, keep stress at bay, and maintain alertness. It takes time for most people to figure out a routine that accomplishes these goals. Once you do though, you’ll have a means of working on mental health on a daily basis — which can only be good for your long-term wellbeing. Read & Learn Another way to work on mental wellbeing in particular is to develop a habit of reading and learning new things. There is some evidence that such a habit can actually benefit you in a biological sense. Per an article on The Guardian back in 2016, reading books leads to a “survival advantage,” with people who read books for just 30 minutes a day actually living longer on average than those who don’t read. Even setting this evidence aside though, reading can help you to live well as you age. Books represent new knowledge and experience; they keep the mind active; they’re even said to keep memory sharp. All things considered, establishing a reading habit makes for a significant step toward maintaining a strong and capable mind, and living better as a result. All of these tips amount to processes. Make them all part of your routine though, and you’ll be well on your way to developing a lifestyle that will keep you healthy and happy into your 60s and beyond. We hope this has been helpful, and that you’ll continue to come to All Ways Well with your wellness needs! Written by: Amanda Cross  We are all getting older day by day, and with it brings changes to our bodies and overall appearance. From fine lines and wrinkles to saggy skin, no one can escape from the natural aging process. Still, there are some methods that can help you slow down this inevitable process and maintain your youthful look.
Try them for yourself! Follow these three beauty tips to aging gracefully: 1. Reduce Wrinkles with Retinoids If and when you start to notice the development of wrinkles, you should invest in an anti-aging skin care product that contains retinoids. Retinoids—the overarching term for the active ingredient retinol—are an effective way to combat signs of aging. Derived from vitamin A, this ingredient works to increase the collagen production in your body, which helps to plump the skin. And it doesn’t stop there! Retinoids are also responsible for developing new blood vessels, allowing you to achieve a healthy, rosy complexion overtime. So, by incorporating a retinoid skin care product into your regime—whether it be a prescription anti-aging cream with tretinoin (retin-A) or another over-the-counter retinol treatment—it’ll be easier for you to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other tell-tale signs of aging. 2. Get Enough Sleep at Nighttime By now, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘beauty sleep,’ but do you know why that is? Because the hours you spend snoozing is the time your body spends rebuilding and bettering itself for the following days to come. Specifically, as you rest, your body releases a hormone that serves to restore the elastin and collagen in your body—both of which are two essential building blocks to preserving your youthful-looking complexion. This explains why when you don’t get enough sleep, it shows. Aside from just that, getting the right amount of hours of sleep at night can also speed up skin cell turnover. As explained by Jeanine Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, “If you don’t get enough sleep, your skin won’t renew itself and will start looking dull—especially as you age, when cell turnover is slowing down.” For this reason, no matter how chaotic your schedule gets, try and aim to get anywhere from seven to nine hours of sleep per night as this will keep you feeling good, and looking good in the long run. 3. Shield Your Skin from the Sun Don’t be mistaken, there is nothing wrong with soaking up the vitamin D that comes from the sun, especially during the warmer months. However, it’s important that regardless of how much time you spend outdoors—or even indoors for that matter—you’re still taking the proper precautions by shielding your skin from the dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Both UVA and UVB rays are extremely powerful at penetrating and damaging your skin. Too much exposure to either type of radiation can lead to negative short-term and long-term effects including: sunburn, sunspots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, sagging and other signs of premature aging, and in some cases, skin cancer. That said, remember to always apply sunscreen or SPF as the last step of your skin care routine in the morning. Even if you do not plan on soaking up the sun outside, UV radiation can still find a way to get to you from the inside of your house and cause the same harmful effects. To ensure you’re fully shielded from the sun, stick to a sunscreen or other product with an SPF of at least 30 on a daily basis, and an SPF 60 or greater on the days in which you plan to spend outside, as this will further ensure your complexion is fully protected. Aging is something that, like it or not, we all have to endure overtime. But luckily, with these three tips, you can gracefully delay this process. As you continue throughout the years, don’t forget to remind yourself about the tips listed above and take full advantage of the benefits that come with them. It doesn’t matter if you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50s, there is no better time than now to incorporate these practices into your everyday routine. So get started today!
1. Reduce deep and eliminate shallow forehead furrows, often referred to as the 11’s Reduce Deep and Eliminate Shallow Lines and WrinklesFacial Rejuvenation Acupuncture works on energetic and physical levels to create immediate and lasting change. Energetically, it improves Qi and Blood flow to the face and within the body as a whole. The healthier you are inside, the healthier you will appear outside on all levels. Physically, Facial Acupuncture works to relax the muscles of the face which can smooth lines and wrinkles as well as prevent recurrence. It also increases collagen and elastin. This acts like a natural filler and over a course of treatment, fine lines often disappear while deeper wrinkles can reduce significantly. Slow and Prevent Formation of New Lines and Wrinkles |
AuthorsRebecca M H Kitzerow is a Licensed Acupuncturist practicing in La Center, Washington. With over a decade of experience she has won 10 Nattie consumer choice awards from Natural Awakenings Magazine since 2014. Archives
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