Aging is inevitable and something most people are not excited about. As we get older, the stress of everyday life increases, and we find ourselves scheduling fun and yearning for our youth. So, here are some fun tips to keep your heart youthful at any age.
1. Revisit Childhood Places
Nothing can make you feel youthful more than returning to where you experienced your childhood. Visit a beach you went to as a kid or a shop or bakery in your hometown. Plan a weekend at your childhood home if your parents still live there.
Once you’re there, take it in using each of your senses. The sensations of places like this can bring back the potent feelings of nostalgia.
2. Spend Time With Little Kids
As a mom, I can promise you that spending time with your kids will make you embrace your youth. Take time to see the world through their eyes as a reminder that we don’t have to take everything so seriously.
Kids find the smallest things interesting, fun, and beautiful. Join them in building a fort, having a tea party, or building a town out of blocks, and feel your heart fill with joy.
3. Color a Picture
Take time to draw or color a picture. Allow yourself to do so without judgment, and have fun with it! If you have kids, join them for an afternoon of drawing or coloring. There are even adult coloring books that you can get lost in for hours.
4. Laugh and Be Silly
Scientific research supports the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing helps relieve stress and can increase circulation, which benefits your heart. Find the things that make you laugh and the people you can be ridiculous around—especially if you want your heart to feel youthful.
5. Ride a Bike
Hop on a bike and feel young again. Not only is exercise great for your mind and body, but it is also an easy, low-impact workout that can be done at any age. Many cities and towns are bike-friendly, so you can choose to ride instead of driving to stores or work. As a bonus, cycling is good for the environment, too!
6. Live in the Moment
Staying present is easier said than done, especially as we get older. To keep your heart youthful, change your mindset to when you were younger.
Try not to worry about work when the day is over. Don’t second-guess if you said something dumb earlier. Pay attention to what is right in front of you—your family, a great book, the sunset. Even being present when doing dishes promotes mindfulness.
7. Ignore the Diet Sometimes
It is true that to keep your heart healthy, you need to watch what you eat. However, to keep feeling youthful, give yourself a break from the diet occasionally. Get an ice cream sundae with all the toppings and enjoy it.
8. Watch a Heartfelt Family Movie
A good movie can pull you away from everyday stress. Choose a family movie or comedy that is light and fun. Try a Disney movie, The Sandlot, or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Revisit an old childhood favorite or try something new, and get ready to laugh!
9. Practice Yoga
There are endless benefits to practicing yoga, such as stress reduction, improved circulation and flexibility, and increased strength. Yoga can also tone your body and give you a more youthful appearance. Inversions, which are challenging positions involving headstands and handstands, are sure to make you feel lighter on another level.
10. Swing on the Swings
Few things feel as freeing as flying high on the swings. The wind in your face, the reminders of childhood fun, the carelessness—and then there’s always the jump at the end! Your local park might even have an adult playground you can try.
11. Skip
We tend to be much more reserved as we get older. Instead of walking to get the mail or to get in the car, try skipping! You may initially feel silly, but it is fun and will make you feel youthful. This exercise takes a bit more energy than walking and will boost your mood as a result.
12. Visit Old Friends and Family
Visiting with loved ones increases connection, which is valuable to your mental health. Reminiscing brings you back to a different time in life and takes you out of daily routines. More importantly, friends can offer support when you are feeling down or stressed.
13. Blast Music and Dance
Have you ever heard a song and had it take you back in time? Those memories are forever with us and can turn your mood right around. Download your favorite tunes—or dig out your old CD collection—then turn it up and dance!
14. Toss the To-Do List
Adulting is hard. The to-do list is endless and gets even more insane as your career and family grow. Don’t be irresponsible, but take a day to not worry about everything that needs to get done. It will still be there on your list after you take your day off, and you’ll get it all done eventually.
15. Stay In Bed
Finally, let yourself sleep in later than usual. Stay in bed a little longer; give yourself a slow start once in a while. We’re programmed to get up and get going so we can jam everything we need to do into our day. See where the day takes you when you let go of the normal get-up-and-go attitude.
You’re Only as Old as You Feel
There are endless treatments to make you look younger, but it is great to feel youthful. Stay present, laugh, and visit old friends and places as often as you can. If you’re feeling like your heart and spirit need a lift, be sure to refer back to this list.