According to some research, those who do not feel their chronological age are more likely to live a long and fulfilling life. Nobody knows the true secret of youth, but there are three qualities that all people who feel young tend to share. Keeping your mind supple, your body active, and a dynamic social life are all ways to feel younger than you really are.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Keeping a Young Mind
Step 1. Encourage yourself to try something new
Go dancing, join a reading or hiking club, audition to enter a choir. Singing, dancing, and finding new ways to stay on the move will help you look at life from a fresh perspective.
- Don't be afraid to be self-deprecating.
- Having new experiences with enthusiasm stimulates dopamine production and makes you more energetic.
- Listening to music and dancing also stimulates dopamine production.
Step 2. Sign up for a course
Surely in your city there are several proposals. They will help you gain new knowledge or brush up on skills you haven't practiced in a long time. For a low cost, you can sign up for more than one course and keep your mind supple.
- If possible, try to join a cultural outing. Initiatives like this are organized by various associations: they are great for traveling and learning at the same time.
- Taking a class is great for making new friends, another way to always have an active mind.
Step 3. Learn to Be Aware, or to live in the present
The ability to know how to focus on the present is associated with several benefits: reduction of stress, preservation of cognitive flexibility and good health in general.
- Try to practice mindfulness daily, for example by meditating. 10-15 minutes of meditation a day are enough to improve your psychophysical well-being.
- Adopt mental awareness practices in your daily life. Eating consciously, in a relaxed and attentive way, allows you to digest better and therefore enjoy good health in general.
Step 4. Try meditating while walking
This allows you to apply mental awareness practices to the very common act of walking. Contrary to brisk walking, this is not an aerobic exercise, so the benefits it brings are different. It is a meditative activity that focuses the mind and calms the nervous system. You can do it practically anywhere, but it is preferable to walk in a place where you will not meet people you know or obstacles that can distract you.
- To practice this type of meditation, you must first be aware of your body while standing upright. Feel your feet as they rest on the floor, feel the wind caressing your skin.
- Walk at a moderate pace. As you move, constantly observe your sensations on a body level.
- Breathe through your nose, focus on the air that enters your nostrils and ends up in your lungs.
- Stop and see how you feel the moment you stop moving.
- Repeat this exercise until your attention starts wandering elsewhere, at which point you stop. Over time you will learn to practice this meditation for longer.
Step 5. Spend time on an experience greater than yourself
People who are tied to something beyond their individuality are more likely to enjoy good resilience. You can try mentoring younger people or becoming a member of a spiritual group. Cultivating a relationship with loved ones will also make you feel part of something bigger.
- When you focus only on yourself and your needs, you risk having more difficulties with the aging process.
- Being a member of a group will give your life meaning and you will find a new purpose.
- If you actively intervene in other people's lives, you will likely feel more important.
Step 6. Eat a healthy and balanced diet
If you are feeling young, you are probably more inclined to eat foods that can keep you healthy in the future. To stay young, you have to believe you have a future. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein and fiber will help you feel better.
- Avoid overdoing it with alcohol, sugars, trans and saturated fats.
- To keep fit, increase your consumption of healthy fats, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Part 2 of 3: Keeping fit
Step 1. Always be on the move
People who do at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week see numerous benefits. They also enjoy better mental health, are less prone to depression and anxiety, and have better cognitive abilities.
- Doing 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times a week is all you need to train consistently.
- When you play sports, listen to your body. Before embarking on an exercise program, consult your doctor.
- If you like animals, you may want to volunteer to walk dogs from a shelter.
Step 2. Build Muscle Mass
In addition to doing aerobics for 150 minutes a week, it's important to train your muscles. Weight training exercises build muscle mass, help muscles process energy more efficiently, and strengthen bones. Generally, training schedules are structured by set and rep numbers rather than by time.
- Strength exercises are often done in the equipment room, with the help of an instructor to lift weights. However, you can also do gardening (like working with a shovel) or moving heavy items from around the house.
- Exercises that use the body's own weight, such as sit-ups or push-ups, are also considered effective for building muscle mass.
Step 3. Sign up for a yoga class
According to research, one hour of yoga reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It also optimizes blood pressure and lowers cholesterol. There are different types of yoga - talk to your doctor to find a variant that fits your body.
- If you have physical obstacles, look for a yoga class designed for people with limited mobility.
- Most yoga classes allow you to tailor the exercises to suit your needs.
- Yoga is great for those who can't do harder workouts.
Step 4. Sign up for a dance class
It is a great activity for people who are at risk of falling because they have weak legs or problems with balance. Dancing improves stability and helps prevent falls that could cause fractures. For most people, ballroom dancing and group dancing are moderate intensity workouts.
- Yoga and tai chi can also improve balance.
- While doing moderate-intensity activity, you should be able to speak, although you shouldn't have enough breath to be able to sing or shout.
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining a Dynamic Social Life
Step 1. Strengthen the bond with friends and family
Many people who report feeling younger report spending a lot of time with loved ones. Special encounters with your family and friends must be a priority. Try to organize dinners, shopping mall rides, or just plain coffee appointments.
- By dedicating yourself to friends and family, you will be less likely to feel isolated and alone.
- If you live close to your family, try to see them every day and make time for them.
- Together with your friends, organize evenings dedicated to party games, but you can also go out with them to go to meetings and events.
Step 2. Volunteer
People who feel young usually think they have something to offer their community. As a result, they feel appreciated. You can volunteer in schools, hospitals and other public places.
- Try volunteering at a soup kitchen, or offer to tutor a kid.
- Retired entrepreneurs can mentor ambitious young novices (there are websites for this).
Step 3. Look for groups that share your interests
If you enjoy reading, you could join a reading club. If you speak another language, look for a group to get together for conversation. You can also join a religious community, a cinema group or one that engages in manual work.
- If you've never had the opportunity to pursue your interests, ask group members questions. People usually feel stimulated to talk about their hobbies.
- If you can't find a group dedicated to your interests, you can search for people like you online.
Step 4. Try to build relationships online
It is not the same as seeing someone in person, but the groups that find themselves on the internet are becoming more and more popular among people of all ages. Plus, they're great for keeping in touch with friends and family you don't see often.
- Learn to use social networks, share pictures and videos with friends and family.
- Since younger people are the ones who are most comfortable managing their social interactions using technology, you just need to learn how to socialize online and you will immediately feel younger.
