6 Secrets to Aging Gracefully

Many people‘s main focus when aging are wrinkles, but there‘s so much more to aging gracefully than that. Aging well is about living your best life and taking care of yourself by maintaining mental and physical health. Lifestyle factors can outweigh genetics when it comes to aging gracefully, so now‘s the time to adopt wholesome habits and a positive outlook on life. Below you‘ll find the tips I follow to maintain my glow!

A good night‘s sleep is essential no matter your age but as you get older it becomes even more important. It affects our overall health: getting enough sleep boosts your mood, supports your metabolism, influences energy levels and improves memory. Sleep also affects our immune system and hormones. The negative impact from poor sleeping habits can contribute to aging less gracefully than ideal and can cause us to be fatigued and stressed.

Here are a few ways to improve your sleep quality:

• Wake up and go to bed at consistent times to create a routine that your body adjusts too.
• Exercising can improve your sleep but you should avoid it in the evening as it increases alertness
• Create an optimal sleep environment by sleeping in a clean, dark and cold bedroom
• Engage in relaxing activities to wind down before going to bed. I recommend reading, taking a warm bath or meditating
• Try to get sunlight everyday but avoid blue light exposure from electronic devices in the evening
• Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption as it can prevent your body from relaxing naturally

Stress is detrimental to your health but fortunately, there are many ways to cope with it or learn to avoid it. Stress can be a beneficial reaction for short periods of time, for example when you‘re in danger, but it‘s harmful when it lasts for a long time and becomes chronic. Here are a few ways to cope with stress:

Take herbal remedies

Either consult with your local herbalist or get advice at a good health food store. I use a lot of herbs in my clinic to reduce stress and anxiety. A few of my favorite herbs are Ashwagandha, Holy Basil and Rhodiola root. Both Ashwagandha and Holy Basil help to lower cortisol, the hormone that is produced in response to stress. They are natural Ayurvedic remedies that I often use for my patients and they also have many additional health benefits. Holy Basil is tasty in tea and Aswhaganda is easily available in powder which can be added to drinks. Rhodiola root grows in Iceland and is an excellent remedy to increase the body’s resistance to stress and for reducing anxiety. All of these herbs are easily available in capsules and tinctures.

Find time for your hobbies

Engaging in activities you enjoy can be a great way to reduce stress. Do something every day that brings you joy, whether it‘s dancing, drawing, reading or something else entirely. Discovering new hobbies can bring you a lot of pleasure too!

Meditate

Meditating is a great way to relax a busy mind and restore your peace. You can do it anywhere but peaceful surroundings and relaxing music can be helpful. Meditating for as short as a few minutes a day can help you stay present, gain a new perspective on a stressful situation and reduce negative emotions.

Talk to somebody

Opening up about your worries and troubles to somebody you trust can be healing and is much more effective than bottling all your emotions up. Next time you feel overwhelmed with stress, try sharing with a friend or book an appointment with a therapist.

Drinking enough water is important but hydrating with herbal teas can aid even more and add extra moisture to your skin. I recommend this tea because it tastes great and it‘s relaxing, anti-inflammatory and hydrating.

1 tbsp Holy Basil

2 tbsp Peppermint

1 tbsp Yarrow

Put the herbs into a teapot or thermoflask and fill with boiling water. Strain the tea into cups but leave the herbs to steep all day long.

Hydrating yourself internally is essential but moisturising your skin shouldn‘t be ignored, especially if you‘re trying to look your youngest! My Age Defying Value Set is perfect for mature skin as it contains my age-defying Divine Radiance moisturizer and balancing Facial Glow moisturizer. Used together they will minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. My products are 100% natural and personally handmade by me with wild Icelandic herbs!

Poor-quality foods can have a bad effect to your health, as everybody knows. But proper diet probably has a bigger effect on aging than you‘d expect. A balanced diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle so you should incorporate a lot of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and protein into your diet. Antioxidants can help delay the aging process so you should include more blueberries, bell peppers and dark leafy greens in your diet, just to name a few healthy options.

You should avoid staying in the sun for too long, especially during the hours of the day when the sun‘s the strongest. Sunscreen creams can be beneficial too but they can be loaded with harsh chemicals so you should choose organic when possible. Also, you can‘t go wrong with buying yourself a stylish hat or sunglasses and act like you‘re a famous person trying to hide their identity on the beach or by the pool.

Exercising regularly lowers your risk of diseases, improves sleep and gives your skin a healthy glow. And it boosts your mood! Dance is my go-to exercise because it incorporates music and because it allows me to be creative. I recommend either joining a dance class or simply jamming out alone at home to your favourite music (which is what I do)! If dancing‘s not your cup of tea, any exercise will do. For example, daily walks can be game-changing – and it‘s a great way to get some fresh air while boosting your mood!