Guest Post by Jennifer Hardy

If there is one reality that is difficult to accept as we grow older, it is the inevitable slow breaking down of our physical bodies. We can fight against the tide, but eventually we will find ourselves losing muscle mass and looking wrinkly. With these realities come physical challenges many of us have not adequately prepared for.

Since this will happen to all of us, should we be fortunate enough to live that long, the problem is how to overcome the physical challenges that go along with this slow deterioration process.

So here are some general tips you can use to help the process along.

 Conditioning

Conditioning doesn’t take a lot of effort, but it does require a routine. Simple stretching exercises, such as stretching your arms over your head, bending over to touch your toes (if possible), and squatting keep your muscles in reasonable shape. Biologically, there will be some muscle loss as a result of aging, but take care of what you have to maximize its flexibility.

Knowledge

There are several types of knowledge you need to acquire. One is knowing your personal limitations. A variety of diseases and physical ailments go along with aging in many populations. Knowing how these limit your physical abilities is vital for your quality of life. Another type of knowledge is learning about the various problems that affect you from a medical standpoint. It’s generally true that the older people get, the more resistant they are to accepting new knowledge. In the case of overcoming physical challenges, this can negatively affect your lifestyle. You don’t have to know everything, just enough to be aware of the present effects and future limitations you will encounter.

Effort

For many, everything you do will seem harder. Walking the same distance will take longer and require more effort than it did 20 years ago. That means you will likely have to make an effort just to keep up with your current level of activity. And when things get harder, you’ll have to make an effort just to keep things moving in general. Commit yourself to making the best effort continuously that is possible. Don’t overdo it or the result may be damaging your body, one of the last things you want to happen at this point in your life.

Acceptance

One of the hardest parts of losing physical strength and tone is accepting the fact that it is happening. The adjustment time will be different for everyone, so there is no hard and fast rule to use. What is important is that you don’t try to do the things you could do when you were 20 years old, since that will increase the likelihood of you damaging your body. Everyone grows older, and trying to keep up with the youngin’s will be likely to fail. This mental aspect of dealing with physical challenges is essential to enjoy the remaining years of your life.

In addition to these tips, it’s important that you focus on living a safe lifestyle. For some, this may be the most challenging part of growing older, as we all want to live life to its fullest in our remaining years. However, it would behoove you to try to achieve a balance between accepting the reality of growing older and maximizing your physical and mental well-being.

This is the key to longevity!