7 Steps to Feeling and Looking Younger
Fountain of youth? Hardly. But these tips can make anyone feel like the clock is turning back
Turning fifty means going ‘over the hill’ right? Despite this myth that many people unfortunately take to heart, turning 50 is not the end of the world. In fact, it is the just the beginning of a new chapter in life. “If you believe the myth then you’re going to set low expectations,” Michael Brickey, PhD, licensed psychologist and author of “Defy Aging” (New Resources Press, 2007) says. “Start believing that things get better with age.”
Here are seven steps to follow to feeling and looking younger.
Have better, younger looking skin
With aging, skin problems like wrinkles and dry skin come along. According to the National Institute of Aging, these problems may be from not drinking enough liquids, too much sun, stress and dry air. To counteract this, try moisturizing every day, buying soaps sensitive on the skin and using warm water instead of hot when taking baths and showers.
Be sure to consult with your doctor before using wrinkle-removing products, as they might be damaging to some skin types.
Get a good night’s sleep
As you get older, health problems tend to catch up with you making it more difficult to sleep well through the night. Schwartz says instead of self-medicating with sleeping pills, take action. “If you have something that’s bothering you, go see a physician or specialist so that you can go get a good nights sleep,” she suggests.
Dress age-appropriate
This is a tricky topic because there is no scripted style for different age groups. “Obviously there are some fashions that don’t look very good on people that are older or heavier,” Pepper Schwartz, PhD, sex and relationship expert for AARP and professor of sociology at University of Washington says. She suggests everybody looks for styles they think are comfortable. “Ask a friend to give you feedback that you are wearing clothes that suit you,” she adds.
Brickey agrees, saying as people progress in age, so should their awareness of style. “You need to be very conscious of what works for you at your age in terms or your hair, in term or your style, cosmetics and clothes.” He suggests hiring an image consultant because expanding a wardrobe with unsuitable clothes can be costly and a waste of money. “That’s the price of an image consultant right there,” he says.
Engage in an active social life
“The problem is when people get older, it’s very easy to become isolated and isolation leads to depression,” Schwartz says.
And this issue tends to be more present in men, Brickey adds. “One of the reasons that men have so much difficulty with aging is that when they retire, they go from a life centered around their social life at work to not having a lot of social life independent from work,” he says. When men retire, the majority of their social life evaporates. Brickey says this is probably one contributing factor to why women live longer than men. “Throughout their lives, women tend to place more emphasis on relationships independent of their jobs,” he adds.
Brickey says it is important to continue making friends throughout life regardless of age. “By the time you get 65 or so, friendships get more important,” he says.
Have better sex
Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you have to slow down your sex life. Schwartz stresses it’s important to keep sexual health and behaviors alive. “The way to have great sex is to not stop having great sex throughout your life cycle,” she says. And if you don’t have a sex partner, you can masturbate, she says. “If you use it, you wont lose it.”
But just because you don’t have a partner, it doesn’t me you can’t find one. Schwartz encourages dating. She says in a 2009 AARP study, people with partners are happier than those without because they have someone to go out and be active with.
Always seek adventure
Don’t think that since you’re over 50, you can’t be as adventurous as you were during those coveted college days. “It’s important to be a lifelong learner and constantly learning new things that may be very risky, like sports and skydiving or maybe just reading a lot of books or being involved in community activities,” Brickey says. Staying active keeps the brain active and life with a sense of purpose and direction, he says.
Keep boredom at bay
“If you’re bored you only have yourself to blame,” Schwartz says. There is an array of things to keep busy like joining a book club, a community center or volunteering.
Brickey suggests never retiring. “ I say never retire but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in employment,” he says. People should volunteer and do some activities beneficial to themselves and their community. “You have to do something that helps you feel that you’re making a contribution and making the world a better place,” he says.
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