3 Tried-and-True Tips for Aging Gracefully

There isn’t a person over 25 years old who doesn’t notice the slow, inevitable changes that come with aging. That fact makes me feel better as I forge into my 50s, for sure. More than anything, I don’t want y’all to suffer through feeling like you’re worthless because you aren’t a youthful bundle of energy anymore. I know that feeling, but I also am intentional about warding off that useless unease.

There’s such a richness to who you are as you take on more decades, more memories, more wrinkles, even. To help you see that and press into this next life stage, consider incorporating these three tried-and-true tips for aging gracefully.

Make Peace With Limitations and Embrace Wisdom

To start, don’t keep your hopes up. I don’t say that to discourage, but rather to keep you from discouraging yourself. Accepting your limitations—not being quite so mobile, not having the same impenetrable health as before—as they set in is refreshingly realistic.

Instead, always strain to see the good in getting older with the bad. What helped me is noticing that I had a boatload of wisdom to pass down to my daughters, and that with age that wisdom continues to multiply. I’m growing richer in some things even as others pull me down, and that goes for you too.

Retain Your Agency and Freedom

While limitations are reality, don’t err so far on the other side you lose more freedom than you need to. Hold tight to your friends who keep you sharp, the vacations that keep you fresh, and the passions that keep you excited for tomorrow. Commit to daily (or near daily) exercise to maintain your mobility for as long as possible. The stronger your body, the better you’ll feel and the easier it is to recover from an injury.

Commit To Consistent Medical Care

Another tried-and-true tip for aging gracefully is a no-brainer: when you get that injury or have another health scare, immediately seek medical attention. Better yet, starting around my age, establish a solid relationship with your doctor. Go in for regular check-ups to spot a problem early or learn the tools to prevent it. This will help you do everything from keeping your heart spry to promoting your urinary health. Your doctor and their advice are godsends as you face more risk factors than ever.