Aging well means staying in tune with your body and your mind. Mindfulness practice is more than just self-insight; it’s proven to positively impact focus, emotional reactivity, memory, stress, rumination, and more.¹ As we age, it’s important to ask ourselves questions, listen to our bodies and minds, reflect inward, and leverage self-awareness at every opportunity.

We’ve captured a series of thought-provoking questions for a self-reflection session that will help you self-assess your current state of being, and therefore aging. Learn how each set of questions and their corresponding answers can give you insight into ways to fine tune your routines, lifestyle and choices each day for optimal healthy aging. The idea is to use this guide as a jumping off point for your new mindfulness practice that is centered around your wellbeing, health, happiness, and therefore aging process. Take a regular inventory, and report back what works for you!

• Are you consuming enough, too few, or too many calories? Is your daily intake of micronutrients and macronutrients sufficient for your body’s needs?
  • Making sure we get enough vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates, (and more), is one of the most important contributors to our vitality age. Each nutrient gap has an impact – from a dearth of energy to leaving our immune system weaker. They can take a big toll on our bodies – especially collectively.

• Are you getting your heart rate up a few times each week? Are you moving around as easily as you used to? How hard is it to do the same activities you once loved? How hard is it to perform regular day-to-day activities?
  • With exercise comes a healthy heart, circulatory system, improved circulation, and so much more.² Physical activity promotes healthy bodily functions and serves as a powerful indicator of our body’s health.

• How is your general happiness level? Do you have any strong (and healthy) social connections? Do you give back or help others regularly? Do you feel optimistic, pessimistic, anxious, calm? How is your energy and stress level day-to-day?
  • Staying social and maintaining strong, healthy relationships is scientifically proven to improve quality and length of life. So are activities like volunteering and helping others.³

• Are you smoking cigarettes? (Or, how long has it been since you quit?) Are you drinking alcohol more than occasionally/in moderation? (Or how long has it been since you quit?) Are you stressed out and/or anxious? Am I getting a healthy amount of regular sleep?
  • Studies have shown that reducing alcohol intake and abstaining from cigarettes significantly increase the risk for chronic health problems, and more.⁴ Studies have also proven stress and chronic untreated anxiety, as well as sleep deprivation, are all linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.⁵

As you ask yourself these questions and reflect on ways that you can give your body a better fighting chance at aging gracefully, add your own personalized questions and expand on these sets. The more you ask yourself, listen to the signs and cues, investigate, and stay mindful, the better chance you have for living your healthiest, best life! Share your own mindfulness tips by tagging us in social media – #ShineAndShare with Fluoressa!

Sources:

1. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner
2. https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/pdf/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/strengthen-relationships-for-longer-healthier-life
4. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm
5. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-deprivation-and-deficiency