As we age, we often focus on physical signs of our aging bodies, and the steps we need to take to remain healthy. While proper nutrition and regular exercise are important components of aging in place, there’s more to holistic health than just physical concerns. Our minds and spirits also need care and attention if we’re to remain vital and engaged in later life. A holistic approach to aging takes into consideration not only our physical wellbeing, but also our mental and spiritual wellbeing. By finding balance between our body, mind, and spirit, we can age gracefully and comfortably into our later years.
1. Embrace Aging: A Holistic Approach
Aging is such a natural phenomenon and one that needs to be celebrated and embraced, as opposed to feared. We can do this through a holistic approach which may prove to be the most useful in making aging a positive and enjoyable experience. Here are our top tips:
- Diet: As we age, our bodies need different benefits from food than when we were tending to our growing bones and muscles in our younger years. Instead, now our bodies lean more towards anti-oxidants and whole foods such as ancient grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. We should also focus on gut health to ensure we can absorb all the nutrients from our food.
- Exercise: It is important to remain active as we age and focus on exercises tailored to age-appropriate challenges. Low-impact activities such as yoga or tai chi can help us to stay in shape and develop balance. Even walking, swimming, or just 10-15 minutes of exercise a day is beneficial, especially when done both for our physical health and mental wellbeing.
- Get Checked: One of the most important things to do as we age is to make sure that we are regularly visiting our doctor and keeping on top of check-ups. It is important to stay up to date with any changes that may arise with new medications that may interact with other health conditions. It is also important to keep track of any physical changes and to always look out for red flags.
We also want to tap into the emotional side of aging. Practicing positive affirmations and reciting daily mantras can have an impact on our overall outlook and mentality. Having a go-to practice or person to turn to in times of need can help us stay emotionally and mentally balanced.
It is also important to identify things that make us happy and that bring us joy. This may be something small, like meditating for five minutes in the morning, or something big like a semi-annual road trip. The key is to keep these practices part of our routine to help us feel young and invigorated.
Aging is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be seen in a negative light. With a holistic approach to embracing aging, we can make it an enjoyable journey that allows us to flourish in the best way possible.
2. Enhancing Body, Mind, and Spirit
The path to health and wellbeing is often a broad and windy one. To improve your body, mind, and spirit, it’s important to take a holistic, balanced approach when it comes to self-care. Here are a few simple ways to begin instilling wellness into your daily routine:
- Start your day with a few minutes of gentle stretching or a yoga sequence.
- Set aside time for meaningful conversations with friends or family.
- Get creative and express yourself through music, journaling, or art.
- Be mindful of your nutrition and fuel your body with healthy ingredients.
- Take regular walks outdoors and let nature fill your lungs with fresh air.
It’s important to find a rhythm in life which works for you and your needs. When striving to bring balance to all three aspects of our health, some things may suit us better than others. Maybe your mind feels particularly cluttered and some traditional meditation could give you mental clarity – or maybe you crave more adventure and physical activity to feed your spirit. Understanding our personal needs is key in creating a holistic lifestyle.
Don’t beat yourself up trying to master every skill at once. Start small and notice what brings impactful wellbeing changes into your life. Make self-care a priority and recognise that investing time and effort into your wellbeing can be a transformative process.
Choose whatever works for you and enjoy the journey of improvement. Remember to gently move forward at your own pace and endeavour to make healthy decisions that will improve your state of body, mind, and spirit.
3. Relinquishing Worry, Reclaiming Joy
It could be said that worry and joy tend to go hand in hand. In moments of joy, we often lose ourselves in bliss and forget our worries. Conversely, when we are concerned or anxious, it can be difficult to experience true joy. This cycle can be extremely draining and destructive over time. So how can we consciously choose joy over worry? Here are a few steps we can take to reclaim a sense of joy in our lives:
- Become aware – mindfulness and self-awareness work best to address our worries or anxieties. Trapped in a cycle of worry, it can be easy to overlook signals that tell us when it’s time to take a break. Developing an understanding of our patterns can help us recognize indications that it’s time to give ourselves permission to take a break and let go of our anxieties.
- Find a distraction – absorbing ourselves in a creative activity or hobby can be an effective way to take our minds off our worries. Participating in activities that are meaningful to us can be therapeutic and uplifting. Whether it’s cooking a meal, painting a picture, going for a walk, or filling a sketchbook, find something that can provide a sense of satisfaction and joy.
- Create a plan – sometimes it can be helpful to take a step back and calmly approach our worries. If we’re feeling overwhelmed by our anxieties, it can be useful to write a list of resources or strategies that can help us confront whatever it is we’re struggling with. Setting realistic goals and targets can provide a sense of direction and help redirect our energies towards more productive and meaningful pursuits.
Relinquishing stress and worry allows us to regain a sense of joy in our lives. Reclaiming joy can seem like a daunting task, but with some awareness, intention, and mindfulness, it can be achieved. When worries and anxieties arise, we have control of how we choose to address them, whether it be with action or acceptance.
4. Celebrating the Process of Growing Old
The world is constantly developing and moving on to the future. While that’s all well and good, it can be easy to forget the beauty of aging gracefully. Growing old is a natural part of life and should be something that’s embraced, not something that’s feared and resisted. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the process of growing old:
- Optimize wellness: It’s never too late to start taking better care of your body. There’s no secret to physical health – a healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep should be part of your daily routine.
- Stay socially connected: Good relationships are key to a healthy aging process. Reach out more often to your friends and family and stay connected with them. This will help you stay more engaged in life and avoid isolation, which can lead to depression.
- Keep learning: Keeping your mind active can help improve your health and make you feel that aging is an advantage. Try to learn something new each day. Also, consider signing up for a class or taking part in an activity that will challenge you.
- Focus on the positives: It’s easy to only focus on the negative aspects of growing old, but instead, try to look for the positives. Aging can bring about new experiences and opportunities for growth.
Celebrate life experiences: Appreciating the life experiences you have is one of the best ways to celebrate the process of growing old. Take a moment to remind yourself of all that you have accomplished in your years, and be grateful for the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Learn to laugh at yourself: Aging can take its toll physically and emotionally, but being able to laugh at yourself can help you not take life too seriously. Instead of focusing on all the ways in which your aging body is slowing down, try to see it as a chance to joke about your age and have some laughs.
Take pleasure in the small things: Life can be short, so it’s important to take pleasure in the small things. From spending time with family and friends to savoring a hot cup of coffee, to enjoying a movie or going for a nature walk, cherish the moments that bring you joy.
As we age, it’s important to pay attention to the balance of body, mind, and spirit. Through a holistic approach, we can ensure a healthier and happier aging process. As we move through the ages with grace and understanding of our changing bodies, we can grow into our best selves.
