With age, one can gain wisdom, confidence—and a growing lust for life. Some would even say that each passing year presents an opportunity to improve or reinvent yourself. But, to truly enjoy our lives and pursue our passions, we’ve got to also take care of our bodies (and our minds) so they can keep up with all our big plans. My experience with my family and myself has shown that these are truly important components.  Watching my father deteriorate with Parkinson’s, an uncle with diabetes and having a sister with an autoimmune disease has shown me that health is everything and keeping a resilient mindset and positive attitude is helpful. That’s why I’ve compiled some tips to help make daily selfcare simple. Adopting these small, easy habits can help you make the most of your mind and body—and keep your future bright and active.
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Fine tune your senses

Just like the muscles in your body, your senses could use a good workout to keep them sharp. Your hearing, sight, sense of smell and overall well-being benefit from activities that inspire and encourage engagement – think listening to live music, visiting an art museum, cooking a new recipe, journaling a daily affirmation or even attending a play or musical at your local theater. All of these things engage your mind and your senses in a way that keeps them active.  Additionally, you still need to get your blood pumping via exercise (nothing crazy–a brisk walk, pilates, hiking, light weight training will all do it) to increase blood flow in the nose, as well as your whole body. This allows us to easily register new smells—and, because the senses of smell and taste are so closely linked, clearing out of the nose will heighten your sense of taste too.
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Bonus: Walking (or any exercise) isn’t just good for your nose. Increased blood flow in the body also keeps brain cells healthier by delivering them more oxygen; it helps combat feelings of anxiety or depression (that’s probably why sidewalks and streets were flooded with walkers during COVID-19 quarantine); and it can lower your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and some kinds of cancer.
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Give yourself regular pep talks

You can’t expect others to lift you up every day—they’ve got their own loads and lives to manage. So, become your own biggest fan. When you encounter ageism, sexism…or you’re plagued with self-doubt because you’ve found yourself in a new, scary situation…STOP. The idea that young is good, old is bad is what’s, well, old. It’s dated. It’s nonsense. There are dozens of reasons age can be a true advantage. Here are a few (repeat them to yourself on the regular): You’re more experienced. You’re more knowledgeable. You’re savvier. You’re stronger, more resilient. You’ve been here, done that (and that’s a good thing). You know yourself better. Now, don’t forget it.
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Play games

Carve out at least ten minutes several times a week to tackle a crossword (or jigsaw) puzzle, Wordle, put together a LEGO set—or just read for fun. Like exercise for your body, routinely working your brain helps keep it fit, as well as lower the risk of certain types of dementia.
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Prioritize sleep

The body repairs, refreshes and rejuvenates itself while you sleep, so don’t scrimp on shut-eye. And if you have some trouble falling—or staying—asleep, you’re not alone. Insomnia is pretty common as we age, thanks to fluctuating hormones and stress. I suffered with insomnia during my teenage years and motherhood produced a lighter sleep pattern.  Good thing there are lots of ways to temper it, like these tips:

• Stop drinking caffeine after 2 pm and limit alcohol in the evening. That glass (or two of wine) may help calm you initially, but it will also prohibit you from sleeping deeply.

• Keep meals light if it is late at night.

• Try a relaxing bedtime ritual like a warm bath or shower, some meditation and stretching.

If I can’t sleep I’ll watch something light like  a comedy show or do some light reading.

• Make sure your bedroom is super dark (get black out shades or wear a sleep mask) to limit light disruptions.
• Turn off anything that makes erratic noise, like your TV or the alerts on your phone. Sound machines (or an app on your phone) that emits white, gray or brown noise can limit the impact of other, sleep-disturbing sounds.
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Keep choosing

When we’re in our twenties and thirties, we are faced with a constant platter of choices: What career? Should we further our education? Where should we live? Which partner? Do we want kids? But, as we age, many of us settle into the consequences of those earlier choices…and grow passive. Stop that now. Part of living is continuing to evolve and seeking new challenges. So, set new goals. Visit new places. Maybe try a new career—or hobby. Thanks to medical advances, life expectancy in the U.S. is expected to increase by as much as thirty years in the next generation, so you’ve still got a lot of living—and choosing—to do.