Happy April... just a few days late, as I decided to start April with getting really sick. I RARELY get sick, or at least not sick enough to miss a day or 2 of work, so when I do, it is always a good reminder for how much I APPRECIATE my body when it feels GOOD. I am used to having energy and working out daily. What a GIFT it is to be able to take care of my body!
In the last couple of weeks, I've been reminded, not only in my own sickness, but in other ways, WHY I do the things I do to stay healthy. I want to AGE WELL!! Last week, so many of my patients ages 40 on up kept telling me how horrible it was to get older. When, I told them, "well, it beats the alternative... as in being 6 feet under," they laughed and said it might be better to be dead than alive. Their aches and pains, fatigue, weight gain, and more made them wish their life was over, instead of just beginning another season. How sad it that?!?!
As a family nurse practitioner, I am reminded every single day that I don't just want to live and get older, but I want to AGE WELL. I want to feel good, be happy, have purpose in every season, and be filled with kindness and gratitude everywhere I go. I don't want to be a grouchy old granny that tells people she'd rather be dead than LIVING. I want to be an example to others how to LIVE LIFE to the FULLEST. I want to be that 60 or 70 year old still running marathons (okay... maybe half marathons) and hiking the most beautiful places in the world.
Today, I made a list of my top 25 tips to AGING WELL. These are things that I already do, see people who are aging well doing (I see around 80 different patients a week of all ages... so I've seen and talked to A LOT of patients in my 21 years in healthcare!), and things I want to do BETTER.
HOW TO AGE WELL....
1. Take responsibility for your OWN health and happiness.
2. Eat mostly REAL food that nourishes your body.
3. Walk, run, cycle, swim, and MOVE your BODY as much as you can EVERY single day.
4. Strength train several days a week to maintain your muscle and bone health and avoid falls.
5. Look at exercise as a GIFT and not a chore.
6. Keep up with your healthcare, screenings, and immunizations.
7. Prioritize skin care and protection. Wear sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses when outside.
8. Take care of your teeth.
9. Prioritize 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
10. Never start smoking, and if you do, quit.
11. Drink mostly water and limit alcohol.
12. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend conferences, go back to school. Never stop LEARNING and GROWING.
13. Prioritize your mental health, cultivating peace and calm in your life.
14. Have faith and hope in your Savior. Have a moral compass or guiding light in all you do.
15. Have hobbies that bring you JOY. Make time for them.
16. Invest in some meaningful relationships. We were not meant to do life alone.
17. Travel as much as you can WHILE you still can. Don't wait for retirement.
18. Live in a state of GRATITUDE. There is always something to be grateful for, even your morning coffee.
19. Don't be afraid of change. The world is always changing. Sometimes change is good.
20. Build daily rhythms and routines that make sense for you in your season.
21. Get a dog, walk it daily, make new friends and get outside in nature!
22. Be a NICE person, smile, laugh, say thank you.
23. Give GRACE to yourself and others. Life is hard. Don't make it harder.
24. Find a PASSION that fuels your PURPOSE and makes you want to WORK HARD and be generous with your time, gifts, and money. Your purpose might be different in every season.
25. Accept your AGE and your SEASON, and EMBRACE it for all that is GOOD.
Aging well is all about being healthy and happy for as long as you can. Don't just focus on adding years to your life, but on adding LIFE to YOUR YEARS!!!
Make APRIL all about AGING WELL. If you haven't been doing a lot of the things I listed above, give yourself GRACE, and consider adding some. Make that yearly wellness visit with your healthcare provider, get that mammogram done, start walking daily, lifting weights 2-3 days a week, reading a book at night, and wearing sunscreen.
Join my virtual gym community this month and make health and fitness a priority for you! Workout from home, follow a simple nutrition plan, learn and grow inside of community, and choose to AGE WELL! Reach out to me on IG at filluptospillout OR send me an email at filluptospillout@gmail.com if you want to learn more!
Every day on this earth with the people we love is a GIFT and an opportunity to live well and age well. Don't just GO through life, but GROW through life.
Until next time,
Allison
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