There’s a common assumption that vibrancy, happiness, and an active and healthy lifestyle are limited to those under a certain age.
In some ways, this assumption seems fair—as we age, our bodies begin to atrophy. There’s a biological peak in performance and resilience, and after this point, nature begins to take its course.
However, just because you find yourself past what can be considered the prime of your life doesn’t mean that life ends. In many ways, age and wisdom can allow you to experience things in new ways or afford experiences that the young and vibrant couldn’t manage.
If you’re entering your golden years, consider the following tips and tricks to live your best life and continue to enjoy each day—regardless of what society or mother nature may be trying to tell you.
Eating Right & Working Out
When we’re young, eating that second meal or staying up without sleep is far easier to do. Bodies at their peak are resilient, and managing your health at these ages can be difficult to do.
Now that we’re past this point, we need to make sure our diets and lifestyles are compatible with the full life and future we’d like to set for ourselves. That means undergoing a whole lot of planning and making some hard choices.
Enjoyable foods filled with excess sugar and fat need to be on their way out, and any vice you have—such as smoking—also needs to be dealt with. Older bodies tend to utilize slower metabolisms, so cutting down on excess food may not leave you as hungry as you may expect.
When it comes to exercise, pushing your body to its limit will hurt you more than it will help. Consider taking up yoga, Tai Chi, or other exercise routines that focus on mobility and cardio rather than muscle gain.
Picking the right diet and working out will give us a foundation to improve our lives—and regardless of your age, there’s always room to improve in this category.
Scheduling Check-Ups
If you are 50 and cannot remember the last time you went in for a checkup or physical examination, we can guarantee you that you’re long overdue.
Physical check-ups after the age of 40 need to be taken annually, and in some cases, more often than that. Similarly, if you have prescription medication that you take daily, talk to your doctor to see if your prescriptions can be phased out, need to be updated, or otherwise are incompatible with the lifestyle that you’d like.
Diet and exercise are wonderful precursors for a full and healthy life, but some medications can make specific meals and workouts dangerous. Clarify your lifestyle with your doctor and check to see if cialis or other medications you may be taking work with your current standard of living.
Redirecting Your Assets
One of the great economic benefits provided to those aging past 50 is the ability to access savings, take advantage of federal programs, and retire from full-time work.
If you’re several years away from retirement or aren’t quite ready financially to make the transition, now is the time to look at your finances and see what needs to be done in the meantime. The goal is to utilize your energy and drive now to ensure the long-term comfort and success of your future self.
Aside from wise financial and spending habits, redirecting your assets also means shifting your hierarchy of needs to include trips, experiences, and vacations that you’ve been putting off for far too long.
All too often, those in their golden years spend their days looking back on previous experiences instead of forming new ones. We’d encourage you to take advantage of the extra time in the day to see new things and go to new places.
For those with lofty savings accounts, you may find yourself able to travel to distant countries and focus your discretionary income there. For others, this may mean trying out local restaurants or parks that you hadn’t previously discovered.
Regardless of what your situation is, redirect your assets and time towards the things that either matter in the present, or in the future—but never for the past.
Making Peace
Finally, the key to enjoying a full and happy life after 50 is not necessarily eating right, traveling, or even maintaining proper health.
So much of fulfillment comes from the mind, and your ability to embrace what lies ahead.
It’s no secret that those over 50 will most likely see less time in their future than they had before, and find themselves in the latter half of their lifespans. For too many people, this can be a cause of depression or deep existential dread.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you’re older. In fact—embrace your age. Don’t be afraid of new experiences or how those younger than you tend to see you. Part of what makes the golden years golden is the amount of time you have to do the things you’ve always wanted to do, and be the person you always wanted to be.
In some ways, these years can be considered the best of your life. So what’s is there to dread?
Making peace in whatever manner is right for you will allow you to clear away unnecessary thoughts and focus on making each day better than the last.
Final Thoughts
Aging may not always be kind to our bodies, but it doesn’t have to be as cruel to our souls. By taking the time to get your biological and mental health in order, you’ll be able to eliminate unnecessary struggles and focus exclusively on the things you want to do.
We hope that our tips here have given you are few ideas as to how to approach your specific situation. Work to minimize what’s necessary, and maximize whatever truly brings you joy.
What are some other tips for staying healthy and leading full lives as we age? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.
Revision 8.6.2020 – dead link removed
