Feel young again
You have no interest in being 21 again. (neither do we.) but, oh, wouldn't it be nice to
feel 21 again: The energy! The metabolism! The sense of I-can-accomplish-anything-I-set-my-mind-to!
“It's
totally possible to rediscover that zest and optimism you felt when you
were younger,” says Caroline Adams Miller, author of
Creating Your Best Life.
“In fact, recapturing those qualities is essential to leading a
healthier, happier life in the long run.” Take these simple measures to
turn back your internal clock and make the date on your driver's license
feel like a big fat lie.
Turn in earlier
Getting your zzz’s is the simplest way to feel younger right now.
“The only time your body can truly restore itself is when you’re
asleep,” explains Henry Lodge, MD, co-author of
Younger Next Year for Women. “It helps build a more vibrant body and brain.” Chances are, you’re not getting as much as you need.
Make up for your sleep debt by turning in early enough to get eight hours of shut-eye for six weeks straight. (Skip
The Daily Show
and leave the dishes in the sink!) After six weeks, the time it takes
to form a lasting healthy snooze habit, you’ll feel the difference (more
energy, fewer dark circles).
Eat revitalizing food
While you’re turning that sleep deficit into a surplus, age-proof
your meals, too. “Front-load the healthy stuff,” Dr. Lodge advises.
“Start every meal with a fruit or vegetable and a tall glass of water.”
Loading up on the vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and veggies will
make you feel refreshed, recharged, and reenergized.
And no need
to always skip dessert: “As long as 90% of your food choices are
healthy, allow yourself to indulge in that remaining 10%,” Dr. Lodge
says. “When you have an ice cream cone, really, truly enjoy it!” Just
like you did when you were a kid.
Pump some iron
The right kind of strength-training can help you feel 10, 20, even 30 years younger, says Bob Greene, trainer and author of
20 Years Younger.
“When
done properly, weight-training makes microtears in the muscles, which
leads your body to generate thicker, stronger muscle fiber.”
Strengthening your muscles in this way leaves you less vulnerable to
injuries and builds your stamina.
Greene advises focusing on your
lower body and core: Use a set of dumbbells and do a combination of
squats, lunges, and calf-raises—two to three sets of 10 reps two to
three times a week. It won’t be long before you’ll be giving those
20-year-olds at the gym a run for their money.
Be (a little!) vain
True, getting nipped and tucked is not the golden ticket to eternal
youth. But don’t underestimate the power of taking care of your looks
(covering your grays, buying a fancy face cream).
“There’s a big
difference between going crazy trying to look 10 years younger and
trying to look your best at whatever age you are,” says Vivian Diller,
PhD, author of
Face It. “Prolonging the vitality of your skin,
your hair, and your body will make you feel more confident and
youthful.” So enjoy that salon visit, guilt-free!
Mix it up
Even if you eat right, pump iron, and apply that fab face cream,
doing these things in the same order every day is going to start
feeling, well, old. “The brain craves novelty,” Miller says. “To feel
younger, you have to stimulate it with new associations and new things.”
Miller
calls it electroshock therapy for your behavior, but it’s not as
painful as it sounds. Just make little, out-of-the-ordinary changes like
stopping at a different café for your morning latte or trying out a new
running route in your nabe.
Step back in time
Did you love punk rock music in college? Load some Sex Pistols tracks
on your iPod. You might think that being so nostalgic would make you
feel ancient, but research shows it can have the opposite effect.
In
one study at Harvard University, people who were placed in an
environment that resembled their youth—with movies, music, and
memorabilia from the past—experienced marked improvements in their
memory, vision, happiness level, and overall health.
“It shows that our mind-set is what limits us,” says lead researcher Ellen Langer, PhD, author of
Counterclockwise. So do something that really takes you back (like re-reading your Anne Rice paperbacks!).
Play up the positive
It’s natural to be a bit more gloomy than you were at 18, since time
often exposes just how cruel (natural disasters, divorces, job losses)
the world can be. That’s why the final step to feeling younger is nixing
your inner naysayer. “The goal is not to deny the less-than-pleasant
stuff that is happening, but rather to focus on what’s going well,” says
Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, author of
A Happy You.
If the
flight for your romantic vacation gets delayed, remind yourself that
you’re on your way to a great destination with your mate. “Cultivating a
greater sense of optimism will provide you with more positive energy to
motivate you to do youthful things,” Lombardo explains.
http://www.health.com
