How to Manage Old Age with Grace

Becoming an elderly person is not without its positives: youre wiser, calmer, more attuned to your body and those around you, and you have a deep reservoir of happy memories to draw from. As with all ages, though, aging brings its own challenges: physical deterioration, and a lifestyle that seems to emphasize a slow-down of the pace of life. In order to manage these changes without allowing them to get the better of you, some mental preparation and graceful adaptation will make your transition into old age smooth and comfortable.
Be Young at Heart

Its all well and good to say youre a twenty-something in a sixty-somethings body - and you may know people who do say that - but there is something to be said for maintaining glimpses of the mentality you held when you were younger. Thats not to say you ought to party, stay up late, make reckless decisions or travel the world, but it does mean nursing the flame of vitality thats gotten you this far in life and which leads you to the new and the exciting.

Older folks are unfortunately unable to live the life of younger adults, whether its due to physical decline, the need to care for an individual, or a simple yet overbearing tiredness. Perhaps, though, pushing your boundaries every now and then to do something a little bit unexpected may lead you to a thrilling psychological place that places the rose-tinted glasses of youth firmly over your eyes, leading you into bright and enjoyable mental spaces that have direct repercussions for your physical wellbeing.

Balance Dignity with Need

A large challenge for older generations is this tightrope of independence versus the admittance that their life needs to change slightly. Often the pride that maintains dignity - in not asking for a carer, refusing to move to a smaller home, or not visiting the doctor - can end in bad news, whether it be a fall at home or a nasty illness that knocks older people out for a good deal of time. Dignity is a crucial and respected part of every adults personal make-up, but it begins to look like proud hubris when it leads to blind prejudice and a refusal to see the sense in suggestions.

The council here is therefore to maintain dignity up to the point of recognizing something needs to alter in your life. Its not about being submissive to family members or friends who have gently suggested you look at retirement living conditions, but it does mean not being insulted by the idea. Only with calm acceptance of the process of aging and the knowledge that your current lifestyle may not be sustainable will you be able to gracefully accept the limitations your age places on your prospects, acting wisely on these realizations.

Diet and Exercise

A piece of advice youll have read or heard time and time again, it cannot be overstated: how you treat your body in old age is perhaps more important than how you treated it in your youth. Thats because your body isnt the endlessly rechargeable, healing, growing, strengthening mass of organs and tissues it once was: now you must consolidate what youve got, and make sure that the food and drink you put into your body, and the way you convert that into energy, muscle, and fat, is responsible in that it makes you stronger, fitter, and more able to pursue your hobbies.

As with dietary advice youve been receiving all your life, there are certain foods to avoid, and certain foods to invest in. Fats, oils, excessive carbs or the wrong proteins can end up clogging arteries and adding weight to your skeletal frame that may already by creaking slightly in pain. On the other hand, fruit and vegetables, dairy, fiber, and carbs will top up the vital vitamins and minerals that make your body tick over so well, giving you the right amount of energy without adding fat. Exercise is just a case of keeping your muscles active; inactive muscles waste away and, as you age, are harder to rebuild.

Cosmetic Appearance

Even the most fit of elderly people can let their physical appearance decline, as unfit elders can maintain a good appearance. Its up to the individual to decide how they wish to look as they age, but it can never be a bad thing to invest a little more time, money and energy into your appearance in order to move into and through old age in a peaceful and graceful manner with dignity and respect. Taking care of your physical appearance may feel a pain, but its actually something of a ritual that we perform all our lives that provides us with satisfaction and comfort, so its worth maintaining.

Theres plenty of medical procedures out there that target specific areas of physical cosmetic decline, whether it be of the skin, the hair or the body. Those with thinning hair can learn more about remedies in order to manage the switching off of hair follicle production cells, while anybody with skin they feel is blotchy and blemished can receive a variety of treatments in order to remove blackheads, submerge visible veins, and reduce blotchiness.

Family Involvement

Most people in old age - but by no means all people - have some family with which to relax, share happy memories with, and in some cases live vicariously through from the comfort of their favorite chair. Its important for those entering into old age to establish, reestablish or maintain good links to family who will provide care and emotional support in times of need.

If you have grandchildren, why not send them letters or emails, setting up a correspondence between generations that might prove to be life-changing for the two of you. Ensure you can find the time to visit family, and invite them to visit you, as regularly as possible, and never allow yourself to feel a burden on your family, as many elderly people tend to do, as this will lead you to social isolation that does you no good whatsoever.

When entering your silvery years, its important to find ways to age with grace and acceptance; hopefully this article has pointed at some key areas in which to triumph over the challenges of aging.


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