As much as we try not to think about it, aging is inevitable. Eventually our years will begin to catch up to us and people will know we’ve seen our fair share of trips around the sun. It can be humbling to realize this, but also unsettling as no one wants to feel they are no longer themselves or no longer look like themselves. You can do a lot to ease this though by learning techniques to help yourself age gracefully. Good genes help, but you can do a lot more with a few simple lifestyle adjustments. Most of us already acknowledge that a good skincare routine goes a long way towards helping us age gracefully and as a result it seems fitting we turn our focus to other things that help. Consider this a crash course in a few of the basic truths around aging gracefully. You should be able to get something out of these little tips regardless of your age.

Exercise
Most of us have had our doctor give us a meaningful look and explain that we could stand to exercise a little more at one point or another. It isn’t really a mark of shame to admit that because, culturally, we’re more likely to have issues ensuring we get enough exercise than to get it. Trust your doctor’s advice though. Exercise goes a long way towards helping ensure that you age gracefully. It helps keep your body active and healthy on multiple levels. On the immediate level, your body’s metabolism will keep functioning better if you’re exercising regularly. It will keep you feeling more full of energy and make you less likely to gain as much weight as you age. Many studies also show that physical exertion is linked to the release of serotonin in the brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for helping to elevate your mood and with helping you to get regular sleep. Both of these factors contribute to a longer and happier life because you can’t neglect your mental health and expect to age gracefully.

Staying Happy and Alert
There’s no denying that there is a certain sadness and slowness that we associate with the elderly. It is a sad stereotype that seldom has any basis in reality. Your body slowing down and difficulties keeping things working as well do tend to impact mood, but you don’t need to surrender to the idea that you’re going to inevitably become sadder with age. You can counter this by actually ensuring that you engage with a community whether it is your broader one or a smaller one built around a hobby. We lose contact with people one way or another as we age and it it shrinks our social circle. Making sure to keep making friends and having active discussions will keep your happier and ensure your brain is constantly working. Forming habits to keep your mind active are also a good idea. Take up chess, Sudoku, word puzzles, or some other activity that keep your brain active and working. That will go a long way towards ensuring your remain as alert as ever as you age.

Eat Well
Aging gracefully, in case you can’t tell, is largely about ensuring that you do what you need to do in order to take good care of yourself. Yes, it gets a bit harder to do that with age, but it is still possible. One thing that is rarely that hard is ensuring that you eat well. Eating a healthy diet goes a long way towards helping to ensure that you maintain a healthy weight and that your body has all the materials necessary to take good care of you. In general, a healthy diet tends to be weighted heavily towards fruits, vegetables, and grains instead of meats. The former are all a bit more work for your body to process and also tend to have less negative extras riding along with them. Dark, leafy greens and brilliantly colored vegetables and fruits tend to be particularly good for your health thanks to their combination of vitamins and nutrients. Consider talking to your doctor for a meal plan that caters to your particular health needs though.

Taking care of yourself at every stage of life is ultimately what it takes to ensure that you age gracefully. Eating well and exercising contributes a lot to your health by keeping your body working well. You can counter loneliness and isolation by involving yourself in your community in some way whether it is volunteering or taking a class with others to learn a new hobby or to ensure you get in that exercise. All of these contribute something different that builds towards the greater whole that is your health. So put in the effort and ensure you enjoy most of the years of your life.