A Guide to Building a Healthy Lifestyle & Positive Outlook in Midlife

Blogs08 Mar 2024

Choosing a healthy lifestyle right now is a gift for our future selves. Embracing this change is helpful at all stages of life, but especially during midlife. Our 40s and 50s are all about reassessing our habits, making positive changes, and preventing or delaying health issues. In this article, we’ll take you through what it means to have a healthy lifestyle and a healthy outlook, and how these affect longevity and overall well-being in your midlife. So, let’s get started!

Importance of Healthy Lifestyle and Longevity

Being healthy and adopting a healthy lifestyle has long been associated with more vitality, even in the face of ageing. However, an American study gave us a substantial number for this notion. This study saw the impact of healthy habits on life expectancies in the US for 50-year-olds and found that those women who added 5 healthy habits into their daily routines lived 15 years longer! Similarly, they found that men who adopted healthier ways lived 12 years longer than those who did not. This means that adopting a healthy active lifestyle may contribute significantly to longevity.

What is a Healthy Lifestyle, exactly?

Defining a healthy lifestyle is akin to creating a personalised roadmap for well-being. It encompasses a holistic approach, focusing on physical, mental, and emotional health. Some of the main factors that make a healthy life are listed below. You can also consider these as helpful healthy lifestyle tips.

Balanced Diet:

Following a wholesome and nourishing diet that focuses on protein, fibre and other essential nutrients is very important to improve health and age gracefully. Many foods have important nutrients, vitamins and minerals that can help delay many age-related disorders hence, you must give a lot of thought to what you eat!

Regular physical activity:

Being fit is key to a healthy life. Walking, running or playing a sport for at least 30 minutes a day may have a wide range of benefits for the body. That’s why healthcare professionals commonly prescribe regular movement to support health. So, if you are someone who might have a sedentary job or are working from home, any type of movement in a day is recommended. However, do not overexert and only do exercises which you feel your body can manage.

Take Vitamin D from the sun:

Basking in the sunlight is very important for getting Vitamin D. Take a brisk walk every day for 20 minutes to soak in some sunlight and feel refreshed.

Maintain a healthy body weight:

Obesity may have negative effects on the heart. Unnatural weight gain might also affect bone health, muscles and sleep. This is why it is important to support weight through healthy eating and regular exercise. We understand that some underlying causes may also lead you to gain weight. However, effective treatment and strategies can help you navigate these issues better.

Sleeping well:

A healthy person requires 7- 9 hours of good sleep daily to function well. Getting ample sleep may help fight obesity and boost cognitive function too. We know that stress and other factors cause people in their 50s to get poor sleep. However, through sleep-inducing foods, teas and habits, you can realign your body clock and conquer your sleep schedule!

Healthy Outlook

Your mind is just as important as your body. Practising healthy lifestyle habits for your body while overlooking your mind will not do you any good. The mind needs the same amount of care and attention especially in midlife, when it is plagued by social and psychological issues. A healthy outlook is about cultivating a positive mindset. The midlife transition can bring its share of challenges, and embracing change, staying optimistic, and finding joy in the small pleasures of life becomes paramount. A positive mindset not only enhances our mental well-being but also has a profound impact on our overall health. Some steps you can take to have a healthy outlook or a positive mindset:

• Stay connected to friends and family through technology and visits.
• Mingle with like-minded people at local events.
• Pick up a new hobby to open your mind to newer worlds.
• Give back to your community by volunteering.
• Maintain a positive and hopeful attitude in the face of problems.
• Learn stress management techniques to keep your mind calm and sharp.
• Stay in touch with your emotions through journaling, therapy and more!
• Revive your curiosity by learning something new regularly.
• Practise gratitude for all that you have

Does a Healthy Lifestyle Make a Difference?

The resounding answer is yes. Adopting healthy lifestyle changes in midlife might make a major impact on the quality of our lives. It’s not just about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle such as fighting the onset of lifestyle disorders, it’s about embracing age and flourishing year after year. From increased energy levels to better cognitive function, a healthful lifestyle positively influences every part of our existence. It helps us tackle the challenges that midlife brings with resilience and vigour, ensuring that these years are not endured, but rather enjoyed.