15 Ways To Stay Healthy After Age 50 with Carolyn Wellington

A happy beautiful mature woman admiring herself in the mirror

At the age of 50, you may feel healthy and young. However, your body needs extra care to protect it from the effects of ageing. We can’t stop the ageing process, but we can certainly slow it down. 

During this second phase of our lives, we must avoid empty calories, keep our minds active, maintain regular exercise and get adequate sleep. Then there are the other things like menopause, expanding waistline, more frequent eye tests and hearing tests. Oh, the joys of midlife!

With a healthy lifestyle, self-care, and time you can enjoy the second chapter of your life; with a smile and greater confidence. Let’s start with these 15 suggestions that will help you stay active and strong in your 50s and beyond.

Staying Physically Healthy After Age 50:
  1. Protect your joints. As you age, your joints become stiffer and more brittle. You can slow the process down by keeping track of your weight, staying hydrated, and choosing exercises safe for your body and mindset. There are lots of Apps out there and YouTube videos. Make sure you work to your abilities and mobility. Speak with your doctor before starting any exercise regime.
  2. Make time for your eyes and ears. Most adults experience age-related hearing loss and vision changes. If you’re over 50, experts recommend eye examinations at least every two years and hearing tests at least every three years.
  3. Don’t forget about your feet. Callouses and hard skin are not pretty and can become quite unsightly, so make sure you take regular care of your feet. Wearing correctly fitted shoes can help keep you comfortable and active.
  4. Schedule screenings. Make sure you book in for your scheduled screenings that come with hitting your 50’s. Your doctor can recommend the tests you need based on your individuality and family history. For adults over 50, that usually includes blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
  1. Menopause. If hot flashes and other symptoms disrupt your life, you may find relief through natural remedies, or your doctor may recommend treatments such as hormone therapy. Also, make sure you have a healthy eating plan. What you eat or don’t eat can affect your moods, bring on anxiety, affect your sleep, and so much more.
  1. Build strength. Being in your 50’s is not the time to be slowing down in the gym. It is time to focus on your physique by lifting weights or doing other kinds of resistance training. Strength training is not just limited to free weights or machines. You can also use water, your body weight, or elastic bands for resistance.
  1. Postural balance. One of the best ways to prevent a fall is to maintain a good postural balance. Make exercise part of your daily routine, focusing on balance. Be aware of your posture, stand up straight when walking, make sure you walk heel to toe. Tai chi and yoga are gentle and great for postural balance. 
  1. Eat healthily. Avoid added sugar, hidden sugars and excess salt. Make sure you have a healthy daily eating plan that consists of whole foods to provide needed nutrients to enhance the second chapter of your life.
  2. Manage your sleep. A lack of sleep can cause a whole list of issues, for example, poor motivation, stress, anxiety, low energy and much more. Time to sort out your bedtime routine. Here are a few tips to get you started. 
  1. Do not eat late at night. 
  2. Have a nice warm soak in the bath.
  3. Listen to some relaxing music. 
  4. Have a warm drink. 
  5. Turn your phone off.

           Make sure you work on getting between 8 and 9 hours of sleep each night.
 

  1. Weight control.  Stay healthy, stay mobile, sleep well and control your weight. If you struggle to lose or gain weight, talk with your doctor or nutritionist about finding a safe weight control program for you.
Staying Mentally Healthy After Age 50:
  1. Fight depression. Midlife, menopause and other lifestyle conditions can contribute to anxiety and depression. In addition to medication and talk therapy, regular exercise, healthy eating, sleep and staying hydrated are also main factors. Reach out and ask for help. You are not alone and do not have to face it alone.  
  1. Manage stress. As we age, we develop less resilience. You can boost your powers of recovery with physical exercise, living a healthy lifestyle, a change of mindset, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Step back, take a deep breath in and a slow breath out. Remove yourself from the negativity. Take time out for yourself, reset and refocus.
  2. Connect with others. Maybe you are single or dealing with an empty nest now that your children have grown and moved away. Re-establish your relationship with your spouse, enjoy your time together learning new things about each other and bringing back the romance. Stay engaged by keeping in touch with old friends and making new contacts who share your interests and hobbies. 
  1. Keep learning. Continuing your education can slow cognitive ageing too. Take courses online or visit the adult education centre at your local college. Travel and hobbies can also be enriching. 
  1. Positive Mindset. To achieve anything, you must have an optimistic attitude. To gain this, you must first remove any self-doubt, learn to believe in yourself, set goals and become the person you have always wanted to be. Having a positive mindset can have a significant impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.

Taking care of your body and mind, you will have many happy and rewarding years ahead of you. Celebrate midlife by making choices that help you to thrive. The second chapter of your life should be the best. Come along and join me and my new online community, The Second Chapter, for even more tips, guidance and support through midlife. We are women supporting other women. Together we are a powerful source. https://www.thesecondchapter.net 

Need any more information, you can view the website www.carolynwellington.com or email Carolyn at info@carolynwellington.com.

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