These will things make you feel older than you are.
You might have noticed that some middle-aged people feel much more old and tired than their peers do. These are the folks whose very bones seem to ache, and who are wearied by mere existence. The thing is, most of those who feel such exhaustion engage in the same 12 damaging personal habits that are listed below. By changing these habits, they inevitably end up feeling lighter and younger in less time than they might have anticipated.
1. They try to do as much as they did at 25.
Whether they’re trying to convince themselves that they’re just as capable now as they were back then, or they’re carrying a heavy burden of responsibilities, many middle-aged people end up damaging their health by doing too much, too often.
There’s nothing wrong with doing the same things now as we did in our twenties, provided that we pace ourselves and rest frequently. Pushing too hard to prove that we’re still capable can result in us not being able to do much at all for a while. As habits go, taxing ourselves more than our bodies are suited to is a difficult one to break.
2. They are too sedentary.
Did you know that sitting all the time can actually make you feel more tired? According to University Health News, a sedentary lifestyle can exacerbate fatigue by deconditioning the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, while simultaneously causing overall depression.
As such, if you want to have more energy, you need to break this habit and get more active. Aim to get 150 minutes of exercise a week (that’s around 30 minutes a day for five days) of walking, mild weight training, stretching, and/or swimming for optimal energy improvement.
3. They suppress and ignore stress instead of dealing with it.
Many middle-aged people grew up in a time when expressing emotions was considered unacceptable: we were encouraged to keep our emotions to ourselves, or simply ignore them and focus on positivity to get things done. However, this can cause severe long-term damage if it continues.
Peer-reviewed health studies such as this one show that suppressing challenging emotions can actually lead to serious health issues such as cardiovascular events and even cancer. This is why it’s so important to deal with stressful and upsetting emotions instead of suppressing and ignoring them.
4. They don’t get enough sleep or regular rest.
It’s amazing how much better we feel after getting a good night’s sleep. In contrast, not sleeping enough can make us feel exhausted right to the marrow. Unfortunately, many contributing factors in middle age can result in insomnia or interrupted sleep on a regular basis.
Do your best to establish good sleep hygiene practices, and speak to your primary healthcare provider if you suspect that you’re suffering from apnea, hormone-related insomnia, and so on, as they can offer solutions that’ll result in you getting more restful, restorative sleep. Getting into better sleep habits will do wonders for your body and mind.
5. They eat foods that aren’t ideal for their individual bodies.
One person’s medicine is another’s poison, and vice versa. As such, there’s no one-size-fits-all diet that’s ideal for every middle-aged body. One person may thrive on a Mediterranean vegan diet while another is healthiest doing Keto or Primal instead.
This is why it’s so important to consult a nutritionist to determine which diet is best for you, including which inflammatory foods you should eliminate for optimal health. The food you’re eating may seem healthy, but it might actually be doing you more harm than good.
6. They have persistently poor posture.
We tend to slump more as we age, and poor posture can result in us feeling old, tired, and worn on a fundamental level. This is because our spinal alignments influence many aspects of our health, and a hunched posture can affect our strength, pain thresholds, and overall mood.
Get in the habit of stretching out your back on a regular basis, and try to cultivate a straighter posture when sitting or standing. This includes adjusting things like computer screens so you’re not hunched over to look at them.
7. They immerse themselves in all the negativity going on in the world.
There are a lot of awful things going on in the world, and constant exposure to all of that can make anyone feel old and drained. While it’s important to remain informed, it’s just as important to recognize your own health and tolerance thresholds. Don’t scroll news or social media out of habit; learn to consume information mindfully instead.
The adage “think globally, act locally” is an important one to keep in mind. Choose a cause that’s important to you, and focus energy on doing what you can to help, rather than feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed by the enormity of the world’s grief.
8. They remain in situations that drain their energy.
Okay, so this one is more of a choice than a habit. Many middle-aged people who have spent years stuck in awful relationships or jobs they despise feel that they’re too old to start anew. As a result, they stay in those awful circumstances for the sake of convenience.
These are the older folks you’ll see who are utterly checked out—scrolling their phones or watching TV and comfort-eating while their partners insult them, or dragging themselves to jobs that suck their will to live because “it’s just a few more years” of misery until they can retire.
9. They stretch themselves too thinly for other people’s benefit.
Those who have spent years draining themselves for the sake of others’ needs and wants end up feeling horribly depleted and exhausted all the time. Middle age is the perfect time to learn how to prioritize your own needs over others’ demands.
Since we have less energy available to us in middle age, it’s important to be wise about how we’re spending it. Try to adopt the habit of telling others when you aren’t able to do X thing for them, and encourage greater self-sufficiency on their part.
10. They behave as though their best years are behind them.
Countless middle-aged people repeat stories about their “glory days” when they were young and vibrant, going to concerts and parties all the time, full of energy and optimism. Now that they’re older, they feel that their best years have come and gone, and they have little to look forward to anymore.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, midlife is ideal for switching gears and doing what you always wanted to do when you were younger, with greater focus, dedication, and more time to dedicate to your pursuits.
11. They stick to things they know and like instead of trying or learning new things.
Most of us have gotten frustrated with parents or grandparents who refused to try some delicious morsel because it seemed strange to them, and they’d rather have something more familiar instead. Many people fall into ruts as they age, and they choose routine banality instead of being adventurous.
In contrast, those who make a habit of constantly trying new things maintain a sense of curiosity and excitement about the world. They’ll eat different foods, play games, and learn about new subjects to remain informed and engaged.
12. They complain about everything that’s wrong, instead of focusing on what’s going well.
Things start to hurt and break down as we get older, and that can be frustrating. That said, constantly griping about one’s aching back or knees isn’t going to make them feel better: it’ll just make the complainer (and everyone around them) more miserable.
Introduce more collagen, glucosamine, and anti-inflammatories, and get regular exercise that doesn’t cause more inflammation. While doing so, focus on the numerous joys associated with being able to listen to great music, watch sunrises, eat delicious food, and hug those you love.
