AARP offers a lot of good advice as we get older. This article provides a list of nine ways you can encourage healthy aging, including meditation!
AARP Bulletin
A Perfect Day of Not Aging
November 2024
by Jeanne Dorin McDowell
As we’ve seen, every individual – indeed, every individual body part – ages at a distinct rate. But there are things you can do that may slow aging or, at the very least, foster healthy aging. Here’s what a day without aging might look like. Who knows – maybe you’ll wake up tomorrow the same age you are today!
6–8 am: Wake up
Waking up between 6 and 8 a.m. is generally in sync with your body’s circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that regulates your sleep and wakefulness. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that you wake up no less than seven (and no more than nine) hours after you went to bed.
7–9 am: Morning walk
Be sure to get some sunlight in the morning, which helps your body produce the vitamin D that may slow the aging process. Make a habit of walking the dog or doing light chores outside first thing in the morning, before the demands of the day trap you in your house, car or office.
9–10 am: Breakfast
Start with a protein smoothie with mixed fruit. A high-protein breakfast is critical for maintaining muscle mass as we age, according to numerous studies. Research shows that getting 25 to 30 grams of protein in the morning is effective in preventing age-related muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia.
Noon: Meditation
Any calming activity, such as yoga or prayer, can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline by activating the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that is diminished in those with cognition difficulties. A study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that just 12 minutes of meditation daily could make a difference.
3 pm: Exercise
Afternoon exercise may reduce the risk of premature death even more than morning or evening workouts, according to a study of more than 90,000 men and women published last year in Nature Communications. Walk briskly for 30 minutes or get some kind of cardio exercise at least five days a week, and use weights on the other two days.
4–6 pm: Socialize
Maintaining social connections is one of the pillars of antiaging, according to several studies. Social isolation in older people can increase the risk for dementia by about 30 percent, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
6 pm: Dinner
Dine on vegetable tacos with brown rice and beans. Eating during an eight- to 12-hour window of the day and fasting for the remaining 12 to 16 hours (including sleep time) has been shown to have numerous advantages associated with longevity and decreased incidence of disease, including cancers. Lean heavily on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes — then close the kitchen until morning.
10–11 pm: Bedtime
A U.K. study found that going to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. may reduce heart disease risk, especially in women. Other research indicates that deep sleep, which occurs from the hours of 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., represents the optimal time for the brain to clear out debris and reorganize itself, reducing one’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Jeanne Dorin McDowell writes about health, wellness culture and social issues for national print and digital publications. She was a correspondent for Time magazine for 20 years.
This article was printed in the November 2024 issue of AARP bulletin, adapted from an article on the AARP website. View the original article, with links to additional useful information at: https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/members-only-access/info-2024/daily-habits-to-slow-aging.html (login required)