These are your golden years, but they won’t be golden for long if you don’t keep your health up. The reasons should be crystal clear. As you advance in years, you are at a higher risk for many severe mental and physical conditions, ranging from high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, and depression.

However, there’s a reason to be hopeful. Staying physically, mentally, and emotionally fit is easier now than ever thanks to advances in our understanding of human health. Here are some proven methods of keeping your mind and body in top form for years to a come, along with a few tips for dealing with whatever risks remain.

Adjust Your Diet

You need fewer calories than when you were younger, but the opposite is true of nutrients. That means you need to learn recipes consisting of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish. As you have already been told countless times, stay away from sugar and fat to maintain a trim waistline.

Improve Your Sleep Routine

It is harder to get a good night’s sleep when your body produces less melatonin, resulting in a disrupted sleep cycle. To combat this adverse effect of getting older, maintain a regular bedtime schedule, keep your bedroom dark, cold, and quiet.

Exercise Intelligently

Along with strength training, cardio remains crucial. While a jog in the park would be fantastic, it’s not always possible to work out in the fresh air. So, have a backup plan to accommodate your tastes and lifestyle. You could head to an indoor pool for a swim. Plus, you can visit the museum and mall for a power walk. There’s no reason even to leave home if you have an exercise video and a mat for stretching.

Learn to Relax

After a life of work, work, work, you may not have found the right activities to soothe your mind and body after a stressful day. So, don’t be afraid to try something new. Remember, relaxing is an art form, and everybody goes about it differently. The Nurse Next Door has a few recommendations for you, which includes taking a pottery class or going to the fair.

Practice Meditation

According to Mindworks, as a senior, you have as much to benefit from this ancient art form as the younger generation, if not more. For one thing, meditation may help keep your mind alert and slow down any mental decline related to aging. Meditation helps to relieve stress, regulates your mood, and aid with digestion.

Keep on Reading

The brain needs exercise just as much as the body and reading is a great way to get it. You will ward off dementia with a good book in hand and learn to expand your vocabulary as you age. That will make you a much better conversation partner to your friends and family.

Spend More Time Outdoors

Hiking is miraculous when it comes to calming your thoughts while moving your body. A writer with Senior Living Blog lays out all the benefits that a stroll through woods can bring you, and it’s impressive. You’ll improve your circulation and overall cardiovascular health while relieving stress and improving your memory. Be careful to choose an appropriate trail for your level of fitness, though.

We hope our wellness tips set you up for a healthy retirement packed with as much fun and excitement as you had when you were younger. Enjoy the years ahead.

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