John B.

There are a lot of myths about getting older; most of us know the stereotypical little old man or a little old lady who can barely see or hear. Myths aside, there are more elderly people living exciting, interesting lives than at any other time in history. These tips will help you stay focused on the important things in life.

Having close relationships as you age is important. Participating in community activities has been shown to increase lifespan. Seek the company of people you can relate to and who can make you laugh.

Exercise a little bit more each day. As you get older, you need to work out more often to maintain the same muscle tone and flexibility. Try to do a half hour walk, five days a week. Try adding in strength exercises about two times a week. This keeps your body in shape and assists in keeping other aging issues at bay.

Every night you need to strive to get as much sleep as you need. The average adult needs eight solid hours of sleep to feel refreshed. Depression and heart-related problems have been connected to people not getting enough sleep every night.

As your age increases, your home is thought of a safe haven. Make your space your own; it will make it more comforting to come home to after a bad day. Your home is always there waiting to welcome you back.

Make sure you give your eyes attention as you age. The quality of your eyesight will deteriorate as you age, but if you see an eye doctor regularly, you might avoid any diseases and keep your eyes working the best they can.

Keep only the positive people in your life. There have been studies conducted that have found if you laugh a lot and spend much of your time smiling, you will have fewer wrinkles, and you will look younger. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to laugh and smile. Don't hang around those who stress you out or cause you to feel depressed.

Your life expectancy can be shortened if you eat too much sugar. Sugar cuts down your lifespan, and it is one of the direct causes of aging. Refined sugar should be avoided as much as possible, including foods that contain high fructose corn syrup, basically just another unhealthy sugar. Research has shown that sugar significantly shortens the lifespan of all animals.

This can be an era for self-reflection and you can enjoy the wonders of life even more. If you take control of your life and diet, the next fifty years could be great.