You can’t avoid getting older, but science continues to show that you can have an impact on how you age. Taking control of your physical and mental health can improve your quality of life and help you remain independent and active. Follow these tips to promote health and well-being:

1. Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is vital to your physical health. The National Institute on Aging reports that exercise can:

• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Increase your energy levels
• Assist with the management of chronic conditions like heart disease & type 2 diabetes
• Ease feelings of depression and stress
• Help you sleep better

2. Eat a Healthy Diet

As you age, your nutritional requirements change. A well-balanced diet supplies your mind and body with the nutrients needed to thrive. For seniors, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends eating:

• Plenty of fruits and vegetables
• A variety of lean proteins with more fish, peas, and beans
• 3 ounces of whole grains daily
• Three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products daily
• Small amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats

3. Stay Busy With a New Business

Increasingly, seniors are discovering that entrepreneurship doesn’t have an age limit. In fact, people over the age of 55 are starting new businesses at a faster rate than they were 20 years ago. Launching a start-up will keep you active and give your life a new purpose. Celebrating your successes along the way will bolster your self-esteem and contentment. When launching a new company, it’s usually best to create a “doing business as” name, or DBA. A DBA is easy to establish and helps protect your privacy by allowing you to sell products or offer services under a separate name. Also, it offers you a lot more latitude when seeking out a domain name for your website, since you can use a DBA to market your products under a different one.

4. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering gives back to the community and allows you to build relationships with your neighbors. Research also shows that volunteering has physical and mental health benefits. AmeriCorps states that people who regularly volunteer have lower mortality and depression rates than those who don’t.

5. Learn a New Skill

Keeping your mind active is key to reducing your risk of age-related cognitive problems. Learning a new skill is a fun way to stimulate your brain. Small studies have shown that taking up quilting, digital photography, music, theater, dance, or creative writing may have cognitive benefits for seniors.

6. Practice Stress Management

Stress can negatively impact physical and mental health at any age. The Department of Health and Human Services advises that deep breathing and meditation can promote relaxation and relieve stress. Stretching exercises and yoga may also help calm the mind and release tension from the body.

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By Amy Collett of bizwell.org.