We’re all going to get old, but only some of us will grow old with grace. Those who want the right to age like a fine wine will be pleased to know that it is attainable but only if you want to earn it. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to achieve because you have to change your entire mindset about age in the first place. It’s said that age is just a number and that you’re only as old as you feel. But actually, there is a kernel of truth to this because ageing is just a process of cell degeneration. If you care to research the advancements in anti-ageing science, you’ll see that stem cell therapy is being used to ‘replace’ cells that are ageing and nearing their life’s end. But, while technology is still developing, there are some other things you should be doing.

Stay out of the sun 

Your skin is the largest organ you have, but it’s also perhaps the most complex. On average you will replenish your skin with tens of thousands of new skin cells every single day. That burns a lot of calories and puts enormous pressure on your skin every day. The best thing you can do for it is to stay out of the sun. 

The older someone is, the more time it takes for their skin to properly lubricate. Direct sunlight for more than 15 minutes for those above the age of 60, will be harmful. Most people only require 30 minutes of sunlight a day to get their fill of vitamin D. However, the more fragile and aged your skin is, the less time you will want to be in direct UV light. So, do the following and you should be fine.

• Wear sunscreen and heaps of it. Make sure you’re wearing full clothing when it’s very hot. So rather than wearing a t-shirt, wear a thin cardigan or dress that covers your arms and legs. 
• Drink plenty of water. Yes, hydration is the key to almost everything skin-related no matter your age. Lots of H2O and you should be fine.
• Stick to a skincare routine that is ‘gentle’. That means, no coarse face scrubs or peels. Do use acidic formulas like lemon and vinegar. 
• Keep checking for skin cancer

Looking the part

There’s nothing quite as sad as someone who can’t accept they are part of the old folk’s society: that they are in a category that has to dress and look their age. Other people can try to live out their fantasies of looking 30 but being 40. But when you’re 50 and over, you need to begin to look like you wear your life experience and seniority with pride.

If you need spectacles, get a pair of glasses like these from Eyeglasses.com which actually suit your face shape and vision needs. You will find lots of different styles which is great for anyone who is fussy about their frames. Select the size of your glasses as well as the accesories needed to keep your glasses clean.

Dress the part too. You should be wearing clothes that show you’re happy with your age and are confident in your own skin. So try to read up on fashion for over 50s, from magazines like Vogue, Elle, GQ and Cosmopolitan. They have some excellent columnists who have some great tips for those who want to reinvent themselves in their older years.

Stay active!

Perhaps the secret to ageing with grace is working out on a regular basis. 

• Join an aerobics class. You can do pilates or classic aerobics which will improve your stamina, heart health and generally help you lose weight. All of these exercises will be bodyweight only, so you don’t have to be too muscular to do them.
• Take up yoga. A brilliant way to stay healthy in your old age, it will allow you to stay flexible and support your joints into old age. Your body will also feel a lot more usable thanks to your tendons and muscles being stretched.
• Join a local outdoors club. Staying active isn’t just about working out, it’s about just keeping, well, active. Joining a club that has outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife conservation, is a brilliant way to remain healthy both physically and mentally.
• Try to do some brisk walking everyday. NHS England recommends 90 minutes of moderate exercise a week for over 65’s.
• Workout as a couple. Whatever kind of exercising you’re doing, try to do it as a couple to boost each other’s morale and confidence. It helps to do this because sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy and give in to laziness. But together, you support each other and motivate the other to keep going.

Bad habits need to go!

If you want to have the remotest chance of looking 50 at 60, you have to cease all bad habits. Smoking has to go out of the window, along with excessive alcohol. It’s true that when you’re younger you can withstand these bad habits better. Your skin, teeth, eyes, mouth, hair and nails, will not show signs of degeneration. But when you’re older, that youthful protection that your body provided has now faded. So alcohol hits your system harder, you will feel more tired from smoking, your teeth will become yellow and worn out, etc.

So stopping bad habits in your old age is definitely going to prevent you from looking far older than you actually are.  There are some simple tricks you can try to break bad habits. If you can keep your hands busy you will find it easier to resist smoking a cigarette and if you have a jug of iced water in the fridge it will help you to resist alcohol.

Go to bed

Get extra sleep! Rather than the usual 8 hours, try to get 9 hours instead. Going to bed on time and routinely waking up at the same time each morning, will balance your health naturally. It’s something that is so underrated but it works so well. Just getting plenty of time to sleep, will age your body gracefully. It also reduces stress, so you will feel happier as well. You might prefer to copy the Spaiards and take a siesta in the afternoon.

Many of these tips will be apparent to you and some of them could be surprising yet effective. Ageing with grace is very possible if you change your mindset and your lifestyle.

(collaborative post)