These Lifestyle Habits Can Age You Faster
Aging is part of life and how fast we age is mostly determined by genetics. However there’s biological aging and premature aging and our diet, lifestyle, and bad beauty and grooming habits can play a role in accelerating hair loss, speeding up graying, and causing the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Ahead 15 ways you could be speeding up the aging process and making you look older and less attractive than you are.
1. Having a Negative Mindset
There’s power in positive thinking and studies show people who are happier, more present, and regularly practice gratitude live longer. A negative mindset and excessive worrying can cause stress, anxiety, and depression which releases extra cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body triggering the aging process.
2. Nature Deficient Disorder
In today’s fast-paced world, we spend too much time staring at computer screens and doom scrolling on our phones which increases stress and anxiety. Pollution, a lack of work/life balance and not spending enough time outdoors in nature have led to a rise in nature deficiency disorder. Going for a long walk in nature or on the beach lowers blood pressure, increases vitamin D levels, makes you sleep better and boosts endorphins—the happy hormone that improves your mood and overall sense of health and well-being.
3. Falling for Wellness Myths
There are many “woo-woo” gurus out there spreading all kinds of myths and recommending alternative treatments and remedies to boost your physical and mental health. Beware of things like fasting, detox diets, saunas, and drinking too much lemon water or apple cider vinegar as these can rob you of vital nutrients, put you at risk of UV damage, and make your body acidic all of which trigger an inflammatory response in the body that can accelerate skin aging and cause more serious health issues and disease.
4. Over Exercising
It’s important to exercise regularly as a sedentary lifestyle can cause weight gain, increased stress and throw your hormones out of balance all of which can speed up aging. If you overdo the exercise or don’t give your body enough rest and recovery time this can lead to fat and muscle loss making your skin thin and sunken which instantly ages your appearance.
5. Leading a Toxic Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle equals a healthy mind and body. If you smoke, drink too much alcohol, or consume a diet of fatty, sugary, or processed food and deli meat (which is linked to cancer) your body produces free radicals (toxins). This triggers an inflammatory response speeding up aging, and putting you at risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
6. Not Being Mindful
If you race around and never take the time to relax and be present you can miss your life and end up a stressed-out mess. Neuroscience research suggests adopting mindfulness and meditation practices calms you, increases endorphins, boosts your immune system and mental focus, and can even ward off cardiac disease. Adopting a positive mindset through meditation can also help reduce depression and relieve chronic pain.
7. Eating the Wrong Foods
Eat a well-balanced diet that focuses on fruit, vegetables, fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, and sardines which are full of omega-3), and healthy fats (avocado, nuts, coconut oil) to maintain your weight and give your body and skin the nutrients and vitamins it needs for optimum health. It’s better to eat a healthy home-cooked meal rather than living off a diet of junk foods or processed meals as these can increase your risk of inflammation, heart disease, and even cancer.
8. Poor Sleep Habits
If you have poor quality or inadequate sleep this can cause hormone imbalances and impact your mental and physical sleep. Sleep is when our bodies and skin repair themselves so implement a consistent bedtime routine to get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Take a long bath, limit your screen time at night, and play a sleep track or white noise if sleep is an issue.
9. Taking Certain Medications
Certain medications, particularly for hypertension, depression, and chemotherapy, can contribute to hair loss and skin aging. Always read the medication warning labels as some like steroid creams can interfere with your hormones, disrupt normal hair growth cycles, cause your skin to thin and lead to organ damage increasing your risk of disease.
10. Speeding Up Hair Loss and Graying
Our hair naturally thins and goes gray due to genetic aging but lifestyle factors can also cause you to shed faster and your hair to lose its melanin (the pigment that determines our hair color) turning it a silvery-gray shade. Stress, a poor diet, sleep deprivation, over washing your hair, using products not designed for your hair type, excessive heat styling, and exposing your locks to the sun or harsh chemical treatments can all contribute to premature balding.
11. Wearing Outdated Trends
It might sound superficial but appearances count and if you embrace fashion that doesn’t suit your body shape, cling to outdated trends, or wear clothes that are worn, stained, or ill-fitting you can look older than you are. Some common offenders are low-rise jeans, distressed denim, baggy loose-fitting clothes, scuffed shoes,and wearing colors that are too harsh for your skin tone.
12. Makeup Mistakes
Makeup has the power to enhance your natural beauty but if you get it wrong it can do the opposite and age you fast. Heavy cakey foundations and powder settle into fine lines and wrinkles, matte lipsticks and the wrong shade for your skin can show up lines around the mouth and make your teeth look yellow, and piling on the eyeshadow or eyeliner can make your eyes look smaller and exaggerate a droopy brow.
13. Prematurely Aging Your Skin
The skin is the largest organ in the body and to maintain its health and radiance and fight signs of aging it’s important to drink 2.7 liters of water a day (women) and 3.5 liters (men). To keep it youthful eat nutrient-rich foods, avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, and adopt a daily skincare routine. Look to clean skincare products enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and firming, hydrating, skin-boosting ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides. And, always apply SPF 30 every day to protect against sun damage which is one of the biggest causes of premature skin aging.
14. Lack of Affection and Intimacy
According to therapists we need four hugs a day to survive, eight for maintenance, and 12 for personal growth. Physical touch releases oxytocin and serotonin, which reduces feelings of anxiety and depression and promotes relaxation, and healthy relationships. Research shows people who experience more intimacy and harmony in their relationships are happier and have better mental health.
15. A Lack of Body Awareness
Bad posture can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain, decreased flexibility, and restricted circulation and blood flow. Slouching or sitting for hours, especially with your legs crossed, can also affect your digestion and lead to acid reflux and even arthritis. Exercise regularly and do gentle stretching to boost your circulation, improve joint mobility and ward off aging and arthritis.