The New Way to Grow Old & Older Women Influencers
Take Control of Your Ageing Process
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The New Way To Grow Old
Genetics account for only twenty percent of longevity, so diet and lifestyle play the biggest roles in determining lifespan. This means you can make a difference that will affect your length of healthy life if you so choose. The earlier you take up a healthy lifestyle, the better your second half years will be.
However, it’s never too late to make those choices to not eat overly processed food, but instead opt for a nutritious, preferably plant-based diet, and ensure you get regular exercise. Science tells us that to keep moving is the way forward if you want to live a long, disease free life.
So if you’re in a sedentary job, perhaps spending a lot of time at the computer, it is important to get up regularly and move about; have squat breaks or do some strength exercises with weights. A standing desk is a bonus, as standing is considered the new sitting. Remember to not only move more but to eat less and include beans in your diet.
Beans and grains produce a whole protein, which is an essential nutrient for maintaining muscle mass. Controlling your portion size is important; according to Dan Buettner in his book The Blue Zones 9 Lessons for Living Longer, the Okinawans in Japan have a saying: Hara hachi bu which means eat until you are eighty percent full. They have one of the lowest rates of chronic illness and live long lives.
Having a social network of healthy friends is another good choice to make. Where most of the friends in a network live healthy lives, it has a positive impact on all the participants. For instance, if your friends tend to be obese, you have a greater risk of being obese yourself, possibly through social acceptance of weight gain. Being surrounded by people who live a healthy lifestyle will make it easier for you to keep to the beneficial routines.
Maintaining strong social connections is a vital aspect of healthy aging. It’s good practice to develop meaningful relationships and stay socially engaged to improve your mental and emotional well-being. Regular social interactions will help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, lower stress levels, and boost cognitive function. Engage in activities such as joining clubs, volunteering, or taking part in community events to forge new connections and nourish existing relationships.
Stress is a large part of life today, and it is not good for us. It negatively affects both body and mind. Ensure you have methods for dealing with any stress you might feel during the day. Managing stress and tension is important for reducing inflammation in the body. Chronic disease is linked to inflammation. When you’re stressed, your body goes into the “fight or flight” mode, which causes the release of stress hormones which adversely affect the organs.
One method to calm the body I have found useful since discovering it during my yoga practice is a breathing exercise. Inhale to the count of eight, hold to the count of four, exhale to the count of eight, hold to the count of four and repeat several times. It’s the breathing out part that is so important as that is what activates and calms the parasympathetic system and that, in turn, makes you feel less stressed or anxious. Breathing exercises are really helpful in controlling stress levels.
When I was in my forties, I gave up eating meat and took up yoga. These two lifestyle choices have held me in good stead over the years. Now I’m in my mid-seventies and still doing yoga and not eating meat. Though I can no longer claim to be a vegetarian, as I’ve been eating fish for the last few years. Not without some guilt, I might add. So, all that I’m advocating to be healthy, I have actually put into practice myself. I keep up to date with scientific research on these areas to be my guide, as well as passing what I learn on to others.
Cultivating a positive mindset is one of the most powerful changes we can make as we age. Embracing a positive outlook can significantly influence our overall health and longevity. It means not dwelling negatively on age-related issues, even with friends. It’s tempting when you are with older people to join in the discussions of their health and latest medications; you probably have some yourself, but moving the conversation on to more life enhancing subjects will help everyone be more positive, and to feel more optimistic.
Adopting a growth mindset allows us to view the challenges of ageing as opportunities for personal growth and development. By embracing positivity, we can reduce stress, boost our immune system, and enhance our overall well-being. Focus on gratitude, practice self-compassion, and engage in activities that bring pleasure and fulfilment.
In conclusion, as we age, embracing healthy changes and nurturing a positive mindset can empower us to live longer, healthier, and more satisfying lives. By prioritizing physical and mental well-being and fostering social connections, we can unlock the potential for longevity. Remember, it’s never too late to make positive changes so that you can enjoy a rewarding lifestyle that embraces the joys and possibilities of aging.
(I stress that I am not a medical practitioner and strongly recommend that anyone that makes a change in their life regarding health, especially if they have an underlying health condition, should seek advice to do so from a suitably qualified person).
Older Women Influencers
There are an increasing number of women over fifty on social media promoting a positive image of what it is to be an older woman in the twenty first century. It’s a growing phenomenon, which makes me happy because I am one. They show that life doesn’t end after the menopause. We don’t have to settle for the grandmother role (although this can be fulfilling) but may choose to continue to make an impact on the world.
There are women in their seventies showing us that taking up a healthy lifestyle can turn a sad and ailing life around, like Joan MacDonald, a Canadian influencer on Instagram who looks younger now at 78 than she did at 70, when she started her life affirming turnaround.
A friend sent me a video of a postmenopausal woman on Instagram, looking fabulous in her figure hugging outfit. She was talking very positively about her upcoming seventieth birthday. Obviously, someone who had already achieved a great deal, she was outlining all that she planned to do in the future. I sent a message back to my friend “Older women rock!” Back came my much younger friend’s reply: “Of course they do.”
Discussion
Do you think older women rock?
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