Midlife Crisis: How To Cope With The Ageing Process
Coming to terms with one’s own mortality can be a difficult thing to do. Not only that, but along with ageing comes signs that we are rapidly moving closer towards old age and ultimately death. However, there are ways in which you can learn to cope with the ageing process. Continue reading for some of our suggestions.
The most important way in which you can cope and potentially extend your life expectancy is by making sure you take the time to look after yourself: both mind and body.
Balanced Diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is vital. This does not mean you need to cut out all treats forever. However, it is wise to limit them. Veganism has really taken off recently and many state this is the healthiest diet to choose. This is not necessarily the case and not everyone is able to successfully follow it anyway.
Plan your meals in advance to reduce the risk of resorting to takeaways. This also helps you to make sure you are providing your body with everything it needs. Slow cookers can be a great investment as it can mean you prepare a meal in advance and in a lot less time. Another positive is that it is ready whenever you are.
Regular Exercise
Getting regular exercise is another important way of looking after your body. This must be done in combination with healthy eating though. It can be difficult finding something that you enjoy participating in, but persevere as there is a physical activity for everyone.
If you enjoy spending time outdoors and on your own, how about starting with brisk walking? Anything that increases the rate at which your heart pumps means it is having a positive impact on your physical health. If you already have a good level of fitness, trying something with a higher intensity may be a better option, going to the gym or running for example. Many gym memberships also include unlimited swimming and access to fitness classes. Swimming can be fantastic for those with injuries as the water means the pressure is less. Fitness classes can also be a great option. Try a few out and see what you like best.
In addition to cardio fitness, it is useful to also incorporate strength work. You don’t even need to have any equipment to do this. Using your own body weight is perfectly ok. If you are unsure what to do, perhaps you could seek advice from a personal trainer to ensure your posture and positions are correct. Alternatively, there are many workouts freely available on the internet.
Me-time
As well as focusing on your body, looking after your mind is also a necessity. Poor mental health can be very draining and impact all areas of your life. Exercise can help because of the endorphins produced, but you should also ensure you build in some me-time into your daily routine. Some people swear by a few stretches before bed to settle an active mind whereas others choose meditation. Reading books is another great form of escapism. If you are in a relationship, making time for one another is of high importance too. Regular date nights to restaurants, the cinema, the theater or even somewhere like bowling will really help to keep the romance alive. Try to keep your phone out of the picture and spend some screen-free time together. It is amazing how much better you will feel by doing this.
Look Good, Feel Better
Dressing well and making sure you look good can really help you feel that little bit younger. Choosing clothes to suit is important. Take a friend or family member along with you if you need some support in decided what looks good. Alternatively, consider visiting a shopping centre and spending time with a personal shopper.
Your hair can be your crowning glory. Choose a decent shampoo and conditioner. If you have a dry scalp, there are many moisturizing products on the market, so invest in one that suits you as dandruff can be unsightly. If you are concerned about hair loss, there are many options available out there from Manual, for example. Preventing or slowing down a bald patch or receding hairline will certainly reduce your worry about ageing.
A decent skin care regime is vital to ensure your skin looks youthful. Be sure to remember the skin elsewhere on your body too. Remember to use a hand cream regularly as dry, chapped hands can look a lot older. Body lotion on your arms and legs can make you smoother too.
Stop Smoking and Reduce Drinking
Smoking and drinking are many people’s chosen vices. It can be difficult to give things up, but the impact these two have on you are incredible. The nicotine contained in cigarettes contribute to wrinkles and saggy skin. Smoking is also dangerous for your health and that of others, reducing your life expectancy. Some people find that using another product containing nicotine, gum for example, can help. However, each and every person is different. If cold turkey is too much for you, vaping is another option, although it has not been around long enough for any hard and firm medical research to have been carried out to monitor its impact over the years. Hypnotherapy is said to support some to quit this bad habit, but for it to work, participants must start the process with an open mind and some belief that it is going to work.
Alcohol can also age both the outside and inside of your body prematurely. Unless you have a reliance on alcohol, it would not be necessary to quit altogether. However, cutting back drastically can have major benefits. Many choose to use alcohol as a way of numbing the pain, but this is an unhealthy response to life’s problems. Short term, drinking alcohol in excess can cause impairment of judgment making you more susceptible to making mistakes. Long term effects include higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke, infertility and many types of cancer.
Although the initial change in your lifestyle may be difficult, the positives you will start to feel from giving up these vices will far outweigh that. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help if necessary. No one would think any less of you for needing some extra support to ensure that you are able to quit.
Embrace It
No one can physically stop the ageing process, so rather than worrying about it, why not embrace it? Growing older and having midlife crises does not need to result in you going off the rails at all. Creating a bucket list of things you’d like to achieve in your life may be a good idea. This does not necessarily need to include the typical choice of a sports car that most people envisage when the term ‘midlife crisis’ is mentioned. In fact, why not consider your dreams and ambitions? Is there anything actually stopping you from succeeding at them? If not, go for it. If there are barriers, try to overcome them. Achievements can make us feel pride in ourselves, which certainly goes a long way towards making us feel better about ourselves.
