The average life expectancy today is 70 years for men and 75 for women. That means at the age of 50; you’re still a youngling! Still, we often relate turning 50 to retirement, being a grandparent, or just entering a stage in life where some things don’t matter anymore.
The thing is, as you turn fifty, you’re certainly more susceptible to disease, so this is no time to sit back and relax; you still need to take care of yourself! Here are six things to never do after age 50.
Don’t Stop Taking Care of Your Looks
It might sound like vanity, but it isn’t. Taking care of how you look matters significantly because it boosts your self-esteem. You’re never too old to keep up with fashion trends, and remember, gray hair is trending right now (you can also die your hair, why not?)
Talking about looking great, make sure you get back in shape. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it, not only for the looks but also for your health! This leads us to the next point.
Don’t Pick Up Bad Habits
Make sure you eat healthily. And that doesn’t mean undertaking some crazy diet; you just need to eat a balanced diet and skip all the unhealthy stuff, like processed food, fast food and sugary treats.
And eating is just one side of the coin. You must work out as well. Don’t overdo it, just move around a little. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk every morning around the park, hit the gym from time to time. That’s it!
Many health threats are related to aging, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prevent some of them by taking care of yourself.
Don’t Forget to Check In with Your Doctor
As you turn 50, you want to check yourself every six months to ensure everything is okay. You also want to catch any disease or condition as early as possible — that might be the difference between treating them on time or suffering from them.
Check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Check your blood pressure and check for signs of cancer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Routine screenings are the best way of extending your life while reducing the risk of any life-shortening illness.
Don’t Stop Thinking. Stay Busy!
Mental degeneration, including memory loss, paranoia, difficulty solving problems, and concentrating, are all common signs of early dementia. And although there’s still a lot we don’t know about how to prevent and treat mental illness, keeping your mind busy is a sure way of preventing it.
Don’t just sit in front of the TV all day, solve crossword puzzles, start a consulting business, help your grandchildren with their homework; it all helps! As long as you use your brain, it will stay in top condition.
Stay in Touch!
As we grow old, we distant ourselves from friends and family, and that’s not healthy. Stay in touch with your people and try having an active social life. Studies have shown people living over 100 years have one thing in common, friends. Join a book club, put together wine-tasting parties, or just meet with your close ones for lunch every week.
Staying in touch with people that care for you is a fantastic way of aging healthily. After all, that’s why we’re all here — to make friends!
Don’t Stop Learning!
Keep on learning new things. You can learn something every day! Learn new skills, read about exciting foreign lands, visit galleries and museums. Whatever you do, keep on learning.
Learning new things becomes a bit harder as you age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Learn a new language or just read a book about something interesting. The thing here is keeping that mouse wheel spinning!
As long as you learn new stuff, your brain cells will keep on regenerating, and that’ll be a big plus later on in life.
The 50s are the new 30s!
If you just turned 50, congratulations! It’s time to be more active than ever, to enjoy life to its fullest and to take care of yourself more than ever. Sure, living half a century is easier said than done, but there’s still much to be done. It’s time to take on a new hobby, undertake a new project or just spend time with the family.
Whatever you do, keep on taking care of yourself. Trust me; the best is still to come! The 50s are the new 30s!
