If you told my 40- year-old self that I’d be doing some of the things that have changed my life for the better after 50 and beyond, I would have said “No way.” So today I’ll share 7 unexpected tips that truly changed my life after 50.
It’s interesting how just one change can lead to other changes that keep helping you feel better. Take, for instance, author Barbara Hannah Grufferman. At the age of 50, her first step toward a better life was going for a walk. The next day she did the same thing and continued to walk each day – and she eventually started jogging. Choosing to adopt that one simple habit of running three times a week – rain or shine all year long – became a foundation for her whole new life.
My Story
My story is similar to Barbara’s. For all of my adult life up until my 50s, I was 10 to 30 pounds overweight and was a couch potato. My husband was a jogger and suggested I might want to give it a try. I looked at him in total disbelief. Me? Jog?
Well, the first day I tried jogging, I went exactly one block down the street and then put my hands on my knees as I gasped for breath. Two days later I made it slightly farther. After two months, I was jogging to the end of a trail near our house and two months after that I was regularly jogging two miles and continued jogging until my mid-60s. Now my exercise of choice is a good 60-90 minute walk every other day.
Ann’s Story
Ann Martin’s story is also my own and it’s tip number two. Ann is 69 and is now doing something that reduces her risk of premature death by 20% and her risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease by 30%. And these are whooping numbers in the field of health research!
According to a recent study of 40,000 people cited by Dr. Martha Gulati – who’s a preventive cardiologist at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles – the key to living longer is 2-3 days a week of strength training which is also called resistance training.
The beauty of strength training is that we can do it at home with no need for expensive equipment or workout clothes. Literally, all we need to get started is two soup cans and just a few simple exercises. In addition to reducing our mortality rate by that whooping 20%, it also protects our joints, helps burn more calories by building muscle mass, protects us against injuries and falls and helps control blood sugar and prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
And there’s one very important benefit I experience from strength training that I never noticed with jogging. That benefit is a major mood boost. Research has shown that strength training not only boosts our mood, but it can also reduce anxiety and tamp down symptoms of depression.
We’ve All Experienced This
Tip number three can definitely change how we feel. And we all know it, because we’ve all experienced it. Although this may seem superficial, our hair and our self-confidence are more closely intertwined than we might like to think.
Several years ago Yale University actually decided to study the psychology of bad hair days and found that our self-esteem is highly affected by them. And we all know that our hair has definitely changed after age 50.
Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!
So, what can we do with our hair to look our best so we can feel our best? Most hair stylists and experts agree that since our skin gets paler as we get older, we don’t want to go either too light or too dark with our hair color. We want to have some contrast between our hair color and our skin color but not too much.
And forget that dictum that we should not have long hair after 50. Many stylists feel that longer layers can actually be far more flattering than a chop that is too short, straight across or severe. In fact, most experts also seem to agree that going either too short or too long can age us.
But there is one thing all experts agree on: the condition of our hair can age us far more than any color or style. So if your hair is too dry or your split ends are in dire need of a trim, it’s time to show your strands some TLC ASAP. I’ve discovered a wonderful hair oil I’ve been using that’s done wonders to condition my hair.
We Can Directly Impact Our Genes
Have you ever heard that you can’t do anything about your genes? Well, it’s actually not true. Our genes do influence our health and longevity, and tip #4 is that we can directly impact our genes by what we eat. And there’s even a scientific term for this: nutrigenomics.
It’s a fascinating new field dedicated to understanding how food impacts gene expression. Gene expression is like a dimmer switch that can turn the activity of our genes up or down. We can literally turn on genes that promote health and longevity and turn down genes that contribute to disease.
Getting away from processed food and sugar and eating more nutrient dense food can help the most, but it isn’t easy. I was pretty much a sugar addict most of my life, but my diet change started by focusing on changing what I ate at just one meal: breakfast.
A breakfast that includes protein such as eggs, nuts, seeds, chicken or fish; healthy fat such as coconut oil, nut butter, flaxseeds, avocado; fiber such as berries, avocado, chia or flaxseeds and low glycemic carbohydrates like berries – can set our metabolism into high gear. There’s no other activity that we can do on a daily basis that has more power to change our biology than what we eat.
The Power of Nature
A few days ago, I woke up feeling tense and a little crabby. But the minute I stepped out under the canopy of trees on the beautiful walking trail I love, I literally felt the tension drain from my body. So, immersing ourselves in nature is the fifth tip for feeling fabulous after 50.
A recent Mayo Clinic newsletter pointed to one study which showed that exposure to nature can regulate the sympathetic nervous system in as little as five minutes. And stepping outside on a regular basis may prevent cumulative effects from stress that translates to lower risk for chronic disease, illness and mortality and can help us manage emotions like loneliness and irritability.
But what if you don’t have easy access to nature? Just taking a walk around the block and looking at the trees, listening to the birds and wind and hearing the crackling of leaves under our feet can make a difference. And although it’s not a replacement for a fully immersive outdoor green space, watching a video of a nature scene can also positively impact our health.
Why Are McDonald’s Red and Yellow?
Have you ever wondered why McDonald’s used the colors red and yellow on their fast-food restaurants? Well McDonald’s is one of thousands of corporations that spends millions of dollars on color research. It just so happens that the color red makes people eat more and the color yellow helps them eat faster. So tip number six is to wear colors we love since color definitely impacts how we feel and influences how we think and act.
And a site where you can find colors year around that are perfect for the undertone of your skin is Kettlewell Colours. I had the pleasure of interviewing the founder of this company – Melissa Nicholson – a couple of years ago, so if you’d like to learn more about her company, be sure to check out this video.
The Power of Makeup
And tip number seven relates to my profession as a makeup artist. Over and over again, I’ve seen the smile that crosses a woman’s face when she looks in the mirror after we’ve concluded a makeup consultation.
There are four things we can do with makeup that make the biggest difference in how we look and feel. Since more facial contrast means that we look more attractive to others, filling in our brows and adding blush and lipstick make a huge difference. And what makes the biggest difference of all is covering up discoloration and evening out our skin tone with a tinted moisturizer, concealer or foundation.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What changes have you made that positively impacted your life? Is there a change you’d like to make now? If so, what is it?