It goes without saying that aging is just a natural progression of life and it isn’t anything we can stop magically but we can slow down aging with a few simple tricks. Now of course there’s always plastic surgery to help take care of wrinkles and sagging skin, which we aren’t talking about in this article, but I do want to say that if you decide to go that route, make sure you do your research and choose a highly qualified professional. Always. For now here are 10 habits of women who age slowly!
It’s important to know that once you reach a certain age, there isn’t much that can be done to reverse the signs of aging but if you start practicing some healthy habits early on in life, you will definitely slow the aging process.
Also keep in mind that genetics does play a role in aging so with that said, there are simply some things you can’t do anything about unless you go under the knife.
“Family studies demonstrated that about 25 % of the variation in human longevity is due to genetic factors.”
Source US National Library of Medicine
Habits to slow aging and stay youthful
We’re not going to be young forever but we certainly can be proactive in slowing down the aging process. Keep in mind you can’t start taking action at 75 years old and wonder why nothing is working! Ha!
Regardless, no matter what age you are now, making any healthful changes will certainly benefit you in some way, shape, or form. It’s never too late to start taking better care of yourself.
Even though there are no magic potions to stop aging I think one secret habit on how to slow aging is to stop thinking and worrying about aging and just enjoy life!
Now with all that out of the way, let’s get to the good part! I’m going to share 10 habits you should adopt to delay aging for as long as you can.
10 simple ways to slow down the aging process
While I cannot guarantee any or all of these ways to slow down aging will produce results, they’re all pretty easy healthy things to start doing so they can’t hurt either, right?
1 Drink more water
Yes, this has to go on top of the list because still so many people just don’t drink enough water. Did you know that 60% of the human body is water? Here are a few more cool water facts for you:
According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.
Source: USGS
We also lose a lot of water throughout the day in various ways. It’s important to replace that daily water loss to stay healthy, hydrated and make sure all our parts are well oiled (er or well-watered)!
Water is also the best to achieve glowing, radiant, and youthful skin and slow down aging…
2 Use sunscreen
For the love of God and everything holy, use sunscreen daily! It’s no secret that the sun is very damaging to our skin. Sun is the number one cause of premature aging.
While not all of us love to put on store-bought creams and lotions, you should know that it’s quite possible to make your own homemade sunscreen with items you may already have in your kitchen!
Simply Google homemade sunscreen or DIY sunscreen for plenty of ideas. Check out this great video tutorial on how to make homemade sunscreen.
3 Quit smoking
Like right now. I know I know. It’s an addiction and it’s ridiculously hard to quit smoking but it’s not impossible. If you’re a smoker you need to know that this comes in as the number 2 culprit that speeds up the aging process, especially in women.
Start thinking about quitting smoking now, get in the mindset that you are going to quit. Read smoking materials to help you stay focused on picking a date to quit and just doing it. There are a plethora of stop-smoking support groups (even on social media!) to help you.
Remember, you’re worth it.
4 Cut down sugar
Or cut it out completely from your life if you can. Did you know sugar is the most unhealthy ingredient on the planet? Yup. There is a list as long as your arm of all the potential health risks of eating sugar.
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
These are just a few of the more serious ones but you can’t forget that even the smaller health risks eventually take their toll on our bodies and skin.
Some really good sugar substitutes are actually quite healthy. If you aren’t ready to give up sugar, at least choose the healthier alternative.
5 Wash your face with great care
The beauty industry has blown up over the past two decades with so many products claiming to “erase years off your face” and “reverse the signs of aging”. Unfortunately, not many live up to their claim.
The skin on your face is very fragile and you should treat it like a delicate flower. With love and care. Instead of using harsh soaps and heavy creams to cleanse, why not whip up an anti-aging face wash at home? Many of these are made with items you already have.
Another fun thing to Google!
And while we’re talking about washing your face, don’t forget you should not tug or pull your skin roughly, while washing or drying. Always pat your face dry gently with a soft towel.
6 Exercise 3-5 times a week
Regardless of this being an article on how to slow down aging, you really should be exercising 3-5 times a week anyway. Exercise, without a doubt, is simply the best way to stay healthy and delay aging.
When we exercise, it gets our hearts going, which then supplies oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our bodies, making sure that everything is running smoothly. When we stop doing this, things start breaking down.
Think of your car. It needs maintenance, oil, gas, and running consistently to work well and prolong its life. The same thing goes for your body and skin.
7 Eat healthily
Have you heard the expression “you are what you eat”? What this means, in a nutshell, is that if you consistently eat unhealthy crappy food you will be unhealthy and progressively get unhealthier. That’s no way to live!
It’s important to get in fresh fruit and veggies, along with your water, and choose lean meats. Yes, it’s ok to have a burger and fries now and then but limit your junk food intake. You should definitely check out this amazing recipe of mine for this delicious vegetable soup! Bon appetit!
8 Drink less alcohol
Yes, even alcohol contributes to aging faster. Sorry. Alcohol causes wrinkles, puffiness, dryness, red cheeks, and purple capillaries. Not to mention what it does to your overall health too.
Try cutting down your alcohol intake and be more aware of the alcohol you choose to drink. Many fancy drinks (cocktails) have tons of sugar in them and we already know how bad sugar is for you.
Try opting for a lighter cocktail with lower sugar content if you can.
9 Reduce stress in your life
Ok, easier said than done but can you try? A lot of the stress we have is caused by overthinking and worrying. Pretty shocking right? To think we cause our own stress but it’s true.
Sadly, our lifestyles often play a huge role in the stress we have in our lives. The best part of that is that you can control it by making small changes to your life. You can dump the toxic people who cause you stress and get rid of overwhelming things.
You might really like to check out this 14-day minimalist challenge. Remember, the fewer things we have, the less stress we have.
10 Get your beauty sleep
And the last simple tip I have on how to slow down aging is to get your beauty sleep. There’s a reason why they say that. Because that’s exactly what getting enough sleep does: maintains your youthful appearance, wards off wrinkles and under-eye bags, and keeps you looking radiant.
If you have a hard time getting enough sleep speak to your health care professional if you can or try all-natural remedies like melatonin. Many claims that listening to guided meditations at night also helps them sleep.
Whichever method you choose, do your best to get your beauty sleep in!
We can’t stop the aging process
We can’t stop it but we can certainly slow it down. Don’t forget, you’re only as old as you feel and if you’re feeling old it’s up to you to change that.
Change your mind, change your thoughts, change your life!
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This is a great write up. Already aging faster than my age. Will try to incorporate this into my daily life. Thanks
I am so happy some of these tips might help. I hope you are having a great week =)