To age gracefully, do not become obsessed with aspects of aging that you don't like. Instead of thinking about physical changes as harmful, think about having lived long enough to earn things like gray hair and laugh lines.
Understand and accept physical changes
Aging does cause changes, and hormonally this period can be strong. For almost all women and many men, hormones that have orchestrated many aspects of sexual behavior begin to decline in the 40s. As estrogen levels drop, 90% of women go through four to eight years of perimenopause before menopause begins in the early 50s. Two-thirds of women will have hot flashes during this time. Men’s testosterone levels begin to go down in their 40s, but the drop is slower than in women.
Sounds slowly grow more muffled as the eardrum begins to lose elasticity. You may find that one day your arm is not long enough for holding reading material, and that reading glasses are needed. Forgetting names and misplacing keys may happen more often. Issues with hair (graying and balding), discovering crow’s feet and gaining weight more easily can be part of this period.
Knowing what to expect and accepting these changes while focusing on controllable lifestyle factors can be helpful.
Practice healthy habits—work out and eat right
Staying active and eating healthy are the best ways to fight against “middle-age spread.” This is a very unsafe form of weight gain because belly fat raises the chance of getting diabetes and heart disease. Cramming all exercise into days off work is not recommended. During this phase of life, the body’s tendons, ligaments and joints lose elasticity and become more vulnerable to overstretching and tears. Regular exercise, including cardiovascular, weight training and stretching, helps to avoid injury and weight gain.
Metabolism slows with age, but you can offset it by strength training and eating healthy meals and snacks. Your body still needs the same amount of protein, vitamins and minerals and, in some cases, even more nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D. Check with your doctor about your health needs.
Find your passion
Part of the test of aging well is that you have to keep finding things that mean a lot to you. When you follow your passions, you stay engaged in life. Travel to someplace new. Try a new hobby, social group or game. Take a volunteer, consulting or mentoring job. Healthy aging is also about staying emotionally healthy and maintaining your sense of purpose and zest for life. Finding ways to help others can bring joy and help you keep your own challenges in perspective.
Live fearlessly
Being afraid about money or your health can rob you of energy to live your life in the moment. Having a childlike playfulness and a sense of humor can help keep fears in check and help you enjoy life.
This is a good time to refocus on your variables for a successful, happy life.
To age gracefully, do not become obsessed with aspects of aging that you don't like. Instead of thinking about physical changes as harmful, think about having lived long enough to earn things like gray hair and laugh lines.
Understand and accept physical changes
Aging does cause changes, and hormonally this period can be strong. For almost all women and many men, hormones that have orchestrated many aspects of sexual behavior begin to decline in the 40s. As estrogen levels drop, 90% of women go through four to eight years of perimenopause before menopause begins in the early 50s. Two-thirds of women will have hot flashes during this time. Men’s testosterone levels begin to go down in their 40s, but the drop is slower than in women.
Sounds slowly grow more muffled as the eardrum begins to lose elasticity. You may find that one day your arm is not long enough for holding reading material, and that reading glasses are needed. Forgetting names and misplacing keys may happen more often. Issues with hair (graying and balding), discovering crow’s feet and gaining weight more easily can be part of this period.
Knowing what to expect and accepting these changes while focusing on controllable lifestyle factors can be helpful.
Practice healthy habits—work out and eat right
Staying active and eating healthy are the best ways to fight against “middle-age spread.” This is a very unsafe form of weight gain because belly fat raises the chance of getting diabetes and heart disease. Cramming all exercise into days off work is not recommended. During this phase of life, the body’s tendons, ligaments and joints lose elasticity and become more vulnerable to overstretching and tears. Regular exercise, including cardiovascular, weight training and stretching, helps to avoid injury and weight gain.
Metabolism slows with age, but you can offset it by strength training and eating healthy meals and snacks. Your body still needs the same amount of protein, vitamins and minerals and, in some cases, even more nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D. Check with your doctor about your health needs.
Find your passion
Part of the test of aging well is that you have to keep finding things that mean a lot to you. When you follow your passions, you stay engaged in life. Travel to someplace new. Try a new hobby, social group or game. Take a volunteer, consulting or mentoring job. Healthy aging is also about staying emotionally healthy and maintaining your sense of purpose and zest for life. Finding ways to help others can bring joy and help you keep your own challenges in perspective.
Live fearlessly
Being afraid about money or your health can rob you of energy to live your life in the moment. Having a childlike playfulness and a sense of humor can help keep fears in check and help you enjoy life.
This is a good time to refocus on your variables for a successful, happy life.
To age gracefully, do not become obsessed with aspects of aging that you don't like. Instead of thinking about physical changes as harmful, think about having lived long enough to earn things like gray hair and laugh lines.
Understand and accept physical changes
Aging does cause changes, and hormonally this period can be strong. For almost all women and many men, hormones that have orchestrated many aspects of sexual behavior begin to decline in the 40s. As estrogen levels drop, 90% of women go through four to eight years of perimenopause before menopause begins in the early 50s. Two-thirds of women will have hot flashes during this time. Men’s testosterone levels begin to go down in their 40s, but the drop is slower than in women.
Sounds slowly grow more muffled as the eardrum begins to lose elasticity. You may find that one day your arm is not long enough for holding reading material, and that reading glasses are needed. Forgetting names and misplacing keys may happen more often. Issues with hair (graying and balding), discovering crow’s feet and gaining weight more easily can be part of this period.
Knowing what to expect and accepting these changes while focusing on controllable lifestyle factors can be helpful.
Practice healthy habits—work out and eat right
Staying active and eating healthy are the best ways to fight against “middle-age spread.” This is a very unsafe form of weight gain because belly fat raises the chance of getting diabetes and heart disease. Cramming all exercise into days off work is not recommended. During this phase of life, the body’s tendons, ligaments and joints lose elasticity and become more vulnerable to overstretching and tears. Regular exercise, including cardiovascular, weight training and stretching, helps to avoid injury and weight gain.
Metabolism slows with age, but you can offset it by strength training and eating healthy meals and snacks. Your body still needs the same amount of protein, vitamins and minerals and, in some cases, even more nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D. Check with your doctor about your health needs.
Find your passion
Part of the test of aging well is that you have to keep finding things that mean a lot to you. When you follow your passions, you stay engaged in life. Travel to someplace new. Try a new hobby, social group or game. Take a volunteer, consulting or mentoring job. Healthy aging is also about staying emotionally healthy and maintaining your sense of purpose and zest for life. Finding ways to help others can bring joy and help you keep your own challenges in perspective.
Live fearlessly
Being afraid about money or your health can rob you of energy to live your life in the moment. Having a childlike playfulness and a sense of humor can help keep fears in check and help you enjoy life.
This is a good time to refocus on your variables for a successful, happy life.