Graceful
aging isn't rocket science. It just requires energy, stamina & motivation. Aging
well isn't just about counting the lines on one’s face; it's about feeling good
in one’s own skin. Aging well is also about taking care of your spirit,
nourishing your emotional body as much your physical body — with thoughts,
experiences, people & activities that bring you joy & avoiding those
which don't. Aging is inevitable & there is no reason to associate the
advancing years with pain, disability or mental decline. But with the right
attitude, you can pass through your sunset years with astonishing grace. People who are aging gracefully are in fact,
just aging smarter. Aging well is about taking care of your body so that you
can enjoy the next 40 or so years of your life with energy, low stress,
vitality, limber joints, strong muscles & organs that do their job to
maintain good health.
Maintaining
Health
Regular exercise is a preventive measure that enhances quality
of life. Moreover, screening programs can lead to preventive measures &
timely treatment interventions can substantially reduce impact of illnesses
among older people. Diet is just as important & also supplements. When it
comes to aging well, most of us already know what we need do: Exercise, eat
right, get a good night’s sleep. Don't smoke or drink heavily. But the biggest
difference as to how you are aging comes from one thing - How You Handle Stress.
Age-Related
Depression
Depression can happen at the same time as other chronic
diseases. It can be hard for a doctor to diagnose depression, but the good news
is that people who are depressed can get better & live a life in balance
with right treatment.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a gradual loss of
memory, decline in the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation,
difficulty in learning, loss of language skills, impaired judgment &
ability to plan, & personality changes. Early & careful evaluation is
important because many conditions, including some that are treatable or
reversible, may cause dementia-like symptoms.
It's true that aging brings hardships, but the old are
survivors & their old age is also associated with wisdom, resilience & a
mature perspective, the hard-won prizes of aging. Growing old in itself is an
accomplishment. But if you sit around mulling over the meaning of existence
& how time is running out, you're building in a scenario where you're not
going to age as successfully.
Accepting
Changes
Aging changes everyone & to age gracefully one needs
to anticipate the changes that are inevitable. People who think rigidly do not
do that. Rigid thinkers tend to get overwhelmed. They view the natural changes
& health status negatively & add a lot of stress as strain to their
lives.
Finding
Meaningful Activities
Part of the challenge of aging gracefully is that you
have to continue to find meaning later in life, continue to find things that
are important to you. That can include travel, spiritual pursuits, hobbies, new
social groups, lifelong learning, or recapturing time with family if one lacked
chance during the career years.
Financial
Issues
Adequate
income & assets are of critical importance to virtually all dimensions of
well-being in later life. How well you understand your options for managing
money & how well you have planned will be the most critical factors in
determining financial well-being as you grow older. The better the planning,
more relaxed & carefree your later life can be.
