Getting older can be a beautiful experience, and more so if you’ve acquired great secrets for looking great throughout the years. A lot of times lines and wrinkles point to poor lifestyle habits that people acquire over time, and are not impossible to prevent or at the very least, minimize their impact on your face. We’ve gathered expert advice to help you develop a lifestyle that enhances beauty and keeps you looking great through every stage in your life.
These are the top 10 commandments for staying young and beautiful longer:
- Stress less
One of the biggest causes of health problems is stress. We tend to pick up more stress than we release, and this has a disruptive effect on every single process in the body. Make a point to take things easy and find an avenue for releasing stress – it’s one of the best things you can do for your body and mind.
There are tons of things you can do to release stress and feel good – it could be shopping, jogging, cooking, laughing, socializing, taking long walks, bird-watching, sex, etc. Find what works for you and fit it into your schedule.
- Do mental aerobics
It is absolutely important that you keep your brain active to prevent cognitive decline. Studies show that people who spend at about 30 minutes doing a mental activity every day have much sharper memory, higher deduction speeds; and there is some indication that certain activities like doing crossword puzzles can actually rewire the brain for better performance. So from now on take every opportunity you find to engage your mind whether through creative challenges, solving mathematical problems, or playing brain games.
- Make Sure Not to Overeat
Food should always be consumed in moderation, and there are several reasons for this. The first has to do with the amount of nutrients your body can absorb from a single meal, and in reality there’s only so much you’re going to get from one plate of food. When the body takes what it needs, anything extra ends up wasted, or worse, it is stored as fat. Avoid large meals and instead of eating just three times a day, eat five or six meals spread out throughout the day, and keep the meals small but healthy. A glass of water taken before the meal will reduce the amount of food you eat.
- Do yoga
Yoga is one of the best tools to improve your health both physically and mentally. It allows you to build core strength, boost energy levels, improve concentration, have greater flexibility, and it also reduces stress. In Sanskrit, Yoga actually means “union”, and the goal is to bring the mind and body to a place of balance, which allows you to live fully in the present moment, and to experience a higher state of awareness. In the spirit of staying young and healthy, you may consider implementing some of yoga’s most basic techniques such as breathing exercises. As simple as it is, conscious breathing has a wide range of benefits including oxygenating cells and eliminating toxins, improving energy levels, enhancing skin condition, preventing illness, and basically rejuvenating your entire body system for improved performance. A few weeks of regular yoga classes will lead to a strong immune system, better reproductive system, and less trouble in your digestive system.
- Regularly Exfoliate Your Skin
It takes only a few minutes to exfoliate the skin but it does wonders for your appearance. Clogged pores can lead to pimples and uneven skin tone, which makes you look older than you are. But exfoliating regularly means your skin stays soft and smooth, and makes it less likely to develop wrinkles in the face. For people with sensitive skin, there are natural exfoliates that won’t burn or irritate the skin. For example, you can make a simple face scrub with coconut oil and sugar. Put a small amount of sugar into a small jar and add coconut oil, and stir to mix. Gently rub your face with it using circular motions, for about a minute, and rinse with warm water. If that’s
- Moisturize and Hydrate Your Skin Everyday
The worst thing you can do to your skin is to leave it to dry. Dry skin is much more likely to develop wrinkles and mouth lines; and you will age quicker. Hydrating skin should be done both from the outside though ointments and lotions, and also by drinking enough water every day. If you don’t drink enough water, it’s going to lead to dry skin and higher levels of acidity, both of which increase the appearance of aging. Check your local department store for skin moisturizers or make an appointment at your local medical spa to keep your skin looking radiant.
- Start Going to the Gym
Exercise has amazing health benefits that you can’t ignore if you want to live longer and look good. The thing about exercise is you don’t need to go straight into weight lifting or running for hours on the treadmill. Any kind of workout you do in the gym has the positive effect of building strength, reducing stress, and releasing happy hormones that carry you through rough days and keep you motivated. Find an instructor and work on building a workout routine that is perfect for your goals – this way you can build strength gradually and integrate the gym into your normal life.
- Give yourself a break
Are you feeling overwhelmed at work or in the house? Perhaps you need to create some balance between work, family, and your personal time. Everyone deserves a break when things get hectic so take some time off to recharge – this will be good for your body and soul.
- Strive to Eat Healthily
What you put into your body has a profound effect on how you look, the way you feel, and your health in general. Be conscious of what you eat and always make an effort to consume at least 80 percent natural, whole meals (preferably cooked at home). A diet rich in greens, fruits, and white meat will do wonders for your skin. To learn more about how to make tasty, healthy food, search for whole-meal recipes online.
- Get beauty sleep
People who don’t get enough sleep end up looking much older than they are. The biggest telltale sign is heavy bags under the eyes, and lack of sleep in general can cause havoc on your skin. Remember your whole body needs at least 7 hours of sleep every night to heal, renew cells, and generate energy for the day ahead. Make sure to get at least 6 hours of sleep in a well-established routine, and don’t be fooled into using stimulants to get around sleep. You need a healthy immune system to keep your skin looking great, and sleep is a major part of that.
Remember, attitude is just as important as what we do on the outside, and there’s nothing like love to change how you see and experience the world.
