How are you handling the prospect of aging? New psychological studies are beginning to uncover evidence that a positive attitude about aging can actually keep you feeling younger, healthier, and help you live longer. The way you think about aging may have a real impact on how you actually age.
The Impact of Negative Attitudes
Studies in the past have shown that there is a strong correlation between negative attitudes toward aging and physical frailty, lower cognitive abilities, and even dementia. It may be that those seniors who experience deteriorating health have a more negative outlook because of frailty, but psychologists believe there may still be a link between keeping a positive attitude and remaining mentally sharp and physically capable.
Positive Aging
Other studies have shown that our attitudes toward life have real biological consequences, mostly related to stress. If we see our situations as stressful or unfair, our bodies respond in kind. The way we respond to life events has an affect on how we age. Changing how you think about aging and receive life events can reduce your stress levels, and your body’s response matches that perception.
If you’re looking for some advice to change your outlook on aging, here’s some senior living advice you can use, taken from our residents.
The Motivation to Stay Healthy
When you have a positive attitude toward aging, you’re also more likely to take steps to lead a healthier lifestyle. If you look forward to aging, you’re going to take better care of yourself by exercising and eating healthier.
We go out of our way to facilitate a positive, healthy lifestyle at All Seniors Care Living Centres, where we offer regular exercise classes such as Aquafit, yoga, tai chi, and dance classes, as well as provide healthy meals made under the direction of Red Seal chefs designed to meet senior nutritional needs.
A Healthier Lifestyle Adds Years to Your Life
A positive attitude alone may not add years to your life, but it can help you live a healthier lifestyle and increase your life expectancy. Below are some of the other health factors that help as you age:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Not smoking
- Keeping a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
If you want to make sure you keep up with healthy habits and a positive outlook on aging, find out how a retirement residence can make it easy. With retirement residences in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, there’s one near you.
Independent living can help you lead a stress-free retirement. You don’t have to worry about surprise costs like home maintenance, someone else can do the cooking, and you can rest easy knowing that even if you require care in the future, you can stay right where you are. Knowing that you can age in place will make a huge difference to your attitude and approach to aging.