Getting older is something that we all hope we will do with style and grace. Aging isn't the end of the world and if you do it properly, each new year can be the best of your life. Use the tips provided here to keep yourself feeling young and alive.

If you are dealing with age-related joint and muscle stiffness, try using warming up stretches before leaving your home. The morning can be especially tough, so stretching out is a way to ease your body into the day. This may also help you increase your range of mobility.

Don't stop "€ just because you are getting older! Make sure that you keep your mind active in your older years. As you age, your brain cells will not reproduce. However, you can strengthen the network of your existing brain cells by engaging in brain activities, like crossword puzzles and trivia games. When you challenge your mind with complex activities, your brain will be healthier.

Physical activity is necessary to keeping your body feeling young even as you age. Find an exercise routine that works for you. Challenge yourself with strength training, jogging, even water exercise. It's good for aging joints! Exercising can help you feel as young as you want to be!

A concern that many people have as they age is Alzheimer's. One great way to help prevent it is to learn a new language. Several studies have been conducted which show that individuals who know more than one language have a delayed onset of Alzheimer's. Any language will do so pick one that you enjoy.

To slow your aging process be sure to do activities that increase your breathing rate. Keeping your lungs active is very important. As people use their lungs less they lose lung capacity. To understand this, an old person struggling up the stairs likely feels like they are breathing from a straw.

Free radicals are destructive by-products formed as your body turns food and oxygen into energy. Because they protect against those free radicals, antioxidants may help you deal with the effects of aging. Sources of antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Blueberries, blackberries, broccoli, and spinach are particularly desirable, as darker foods tend to have a higher amount of antioxidants.

As you age, continue learning. It has never been easier to enroll in a community college or take classes online. You are never too old to take up a new hobby, study a foreign language, understand statistics, learn about quantum physics or learn anything of interest to you. Lifelong learning will keep your mind sharp and give you goals.

If you are feeling down because the thought of aging has you in a funk, just smile and laugh. You have the wisdom that those younger than you do not. Laugh and smile often, and occasionally cry, but laugh more. It's true that laughter is the best medicine because laughter releases your body's feel-good emotions called endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.

Take note of how your body now responds to food and make changes in your diet accordingly. As you age your metabolism slows making it necessary to adapt your common food choices. Food impacts many aspects of overall health such as cholesterol and weight, so making proactive changes in your diet can significantly improve your health.

To combat the aging process one of the things that you can do is get some sun. This will help you to maximize the way that you feel and get vitamin D into your system, which can be very beneficial for your looks. During the spring and summer, spend at least an hour in the sun to look much younger and feel great during the day.

As you begin to age, don't fall victim to the common belief that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. If you have more free time on your hands because you've retired, use this time to your advantage. Volunteer at a favorite charity or institution. Learn a new hobby, or pick up an old one. Adopt a dog or a cat. Enjoy your grandchildren. Join a local senior citizens' center. Take that trip to the Bahamas that you always dreamed about. Go to concerts and plays. Enroll in an adult education class. Take yoga lessons. Exercise your mind and your body, and feel as if the years are falling away.

Don't overeat! Overeating is one of the most common factors in shortening your life span. You don't want to starve yourself, but you should be conscious of the amount of calories you're taking in each day. Check with your doctor and find out the amount of calories you should be taking in based on your age, gender, and body type, and try to stick to that number.

Write your life story down. It doesn't have to be a major novel, but create some account of your life so that your children or grandchildren can get to know all of the things you've seen and gone through during your life. No children? Do it for relatives or friends.

Just because you are aging doesn't mean you should just sit back and take it easy. To maintain good health, you need to continue to be as active as you possibly can. Sure, you may not be able to go out and race in a marathon, but you still can incorporate some activity into you daily activities. It is suggested that you include at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Maybe you could take a 15-minute walk twice a day. Dust off that old bike and take a ride around the neighborhood.

Spend time with people from many different generations. This can be with your family, your friend's families or even at a school assembly. There are many different kinds of events that will allow you to interact with these many generations that you can learn many new and exciting things from.

Having a purpose in life is a great way to never feel old. If you are feeling old and out of touch or afraid that you will as you get older, then follow the ideas here from this article to keep your mind young and your body will follow suit.