It’s never too late to start taking care of your body. Staying healthy with age takes motivation, commitment, and a desire to truly be healthy long-term. In observation of Healthy Aging Month, we want to discuss some of the ways you can start aging gracefully. Although some of these habits are productive on their own, a combination of all the habits will surely help you live your best and healthiest life. Learn about the top healthy aging habits so that you can start living a healthier life for yourself and those around you.
Exercise
Staying active is a vital element of maintaining your health. According to the CDC, the average person should perform about thirty minutes of exercise each day, or roughly two and half hours per week. Whether it’s going on a simple walk or going to your local gym to workout, any amount of moderate to vigorous exercise will ultimately improve your health. For those that have a hard time finding the time to exercise, try implementing activities throughout your day. For example, if you’ve been working at your desk for an hour, try standing up, stretching, or taking a five-minute walk. Not only does this give your mind a moment to refresh itself but you also start contributing to your daily exercise. Do this a few times throughout the day and you’ll hit your target of thirty minutes of exercise in no time!
A note for those of you that have a goal of losing/gaining weight:
The amount of recommended exercise time changes depending on if you are trying to lose or gain weight, especially if you are interested in building muscle. If this is something you’re interested in, make sure to check out this article, How often to work out for weight loss and muscle gain, by Medical News Today.
Before starting a new exercise routine or changing your current routine, check with your doctor.
Drink Water
While many of us understand the importance of drinking water, are you drinking enough? Considering that your body is composed of around 60% water, it’s extremely important for your brain, digestion, and blood circulation to stay hydrated. While the recommendations vary on how much water you should be drinking each day, our research has shown that it should be anywhere from as little as ten cups of water or more for adults. This will vary from person to person based on height, weight, gender, activity level, age, and current health status.
Contrary to popular belief, soda pop, coffee, and tea do not count towards your daily water intake. These drinks do the opposite of water and dehydrate your body rather than hydrating it. When your body becomes dehydrated, it can lead to headaches, lethargy, and even long-term health issues. Our recommendation is that you keep a bottle of water on you at all times. Make it a routine in your day to drink water constantly, even if your body isn’t thirsty. If you need help remembering to stay hydrated, check out the app store on your phone for a water reminder! There are a ton of apps that can help you develop healthy habits by frequently reminding you throughout the day.
Sleep Well
As you may know, sleep is a very important factor to your overall health. People tend to overlook the long-term health effects that can come with insufficient sleep. According to an article by Harvard Medical, consistent lack of sleep can be linked to serious health issues such as depression, obesity, and even cardiovascular disease. Lack of sleep also has an immediate effect on the body. When we don’t get a proper night’s sleep, our productivity and energy are hindered throughout the day, making it much harder to complete tasks. The best way to get a good night’s sleep is to get into a routine that’s comfortable in your life. This way, your body can get a consistent amount of sleep each night, specific to your sleeping needs. Additionally, consider painting your bedroom with Activa Coating; read our blog and sleep well with Activa.
Avoiding Air Pollution
Last but certainly not least, make your best efforts to avoid air pollution. Consistent exposure to air pollution can be tied to a variety of health issues ranging from mental illness to various cancers. A large percentage of the air pollution that we experience comes from poor indoor air quality (IAQ). This can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which include poor ventilation, gasses, various particles and dust, cleaning materials, and much more. Avoiding air pollution doesn’t have to be a difficult task; cleaning, good air circulation, and products like Activa are great ways to have the best possible IAQ. If you want to learn more about indoor air quality, make sure to check out our blog on the paint for healthy indoor air quality!
Conclusion
Being mindful of your health at all ages is a great way to live a more productive and happier life. Although, staying healthy takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and anyone at any point in their life can start making a difference in their health today. Whether it’s drinking more water, going on a walk, or regulating your sleep, any difference you make is going to be healthy. Trust us, your body will thank you.
