The younger you are, the more careless you tend to be. And that’s how it’s supposed to be. But passing time inevitably makes you take care of yourself, your mental wellbeing, and your background more. From reflecting on people you spend time with to adding some little rituals to your lifestyle, like drinking more water or putting on face cream daily, there are many ways to self-improve.
So when one Redditor posed a question to older women on the “Ask Women” subreddit, “What are some underrated ways to take care of ourselves now to make things easier when we get older?” it delivered some incredible advice. So take your notes out, below are some of the most useful pieces of advice to start with today to make time and age stand on your side.
#1
Keep making friends and fostering friendships. My former boss (retired now, in her 60s) has a group of girlfriends. They vacation together, go golfing, shopping, dining etc. I commended her on this and she explained that her husband is a lot older than her and she was aware that he would likely pass away before her,and she didn't want to be alone. Most of her friends are married but they have prioritized their friendship for decades.
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194points
“The experience of aging can feel very different for men and women,” Dr. Lise Deguire, a clinical psychologist and author of the award-winning book “Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor,” told Bored Panda.
“Women still are highly valued for their looks and appearance, both by society and in women's own self-appraisals. Often, young women gain social status just by being pretty. So aging, which gradually involves loss of youthful beauty, gray hairs, and stretch marks, can feel like more of a loss to a woman,” Lise explained. “Men, in contrast, are typically more highly valued for their earning power and status. Men may miss their youthful looks, but generally this loss does not affect their social status the way it can for women.”
#2
You know who thinks you look great? You, ten years from now. Embrace and enjoy the body you have right here, right now. Focus on all the things it can do, and all the parts that work well and don’t hurt. This body you’re maybe way too critical of now will likely be a body you’ll think of fondly in the future so you may as well treat it fondly now.
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171points
#3
I’m 48 and my biggest thing right now is getting rid of stuff. We have so much cr*p and I don’t want my kids to get stuck cleaning it all out at some point, hopefully in the very far future. It’s a normal amount of stuff, but my dad had barely any “stuff” and it still took weeks to go through.
163points
#4
Wear earplugs in loud areas. Have earplugs handy for unexpected loud situations. If you find yourself in a loud situation with no earplugs then do your best to get away. There are even earplugs designed to allow some sound through so you can still hear important things.
I have better hearing than a lot of people around my age. It's awesome. Conversations will be a lot less frustrating for you in the future if you plug your ears.
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151points
When asked about common misconceptions about women getting old, Lise said that surprisingly, aging can be a relief. “I find that many of my older female clients eventually enjoy some hidden benefits to aging. Women past menopause often feel liberated from societal pressures to act or look a certain way to attract men. Women who have held back on their opinions, for fear of seeming less attractive, sometimes now feel freer to state what they actually think.” The clinical psychologist also added that “a lot of women also enjoy not having to dress to attract men, and enjoy wearing what they truly feel like wearing.”
#5
Preventative care. Go to the gyno, doctor, and dentist regularly. Get those Pap smears, mammograms, cleanings, etc. If you can get a skin cancer check every couple of years - do it.
Sunscreen! And stay out of the sun.
Take care of your skin. Can’t tell you how many posts I see from people who say they never took care of their skin and now at 50 are looking for a magic potion.
Same with your teeth.
Wear shoes that aren’t ruining your feet, knees, and back.
If you need medication and can afford it - take it. It’s easy to let things go, but your arteries, organs, brain, etc. will thank you.
Regular drinking is bad for your health and appearance. If you aren’t a regular drinker - don’t start. If you are, cut back.
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148points
#6
Nuture your old friendships. The older you get, the more precious it becomes to have friends who knew you in different stages of your life.
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143points
#7
Not just exercise, but build your physical balance. This will be a literal life saver as you age.
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126points
There are many ways to approach aging gracefully, so women can feel stronger, better and happier as time passes. Lise’s advice is to invest in your health, relationships, and well-being instead of your appearance. “Aging is unavoidable and fighting it is a losing battle. Instead, focus on staying active, calling friends, and giving back to others. With your age, you have probably learned wisdom and compassion, which are ultimately more valuable than a perfect figure,” she explained and added that it’s better to “focus on how much you can give back to others instead of how many wrinkles you have, and you will probably feel much more satisfied in life.”
#8
Don't wait to make memories. Do it now. Go out with that friend. Go away for that weekend. Go to that concert. Watch that play. Call that friend. Hug your mum, dad, children, dog, cat, whatever.
Do it now. Don't regret what you have done because you might regret what you haven't.
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118points
#10
Keep going out atleast once a week even if it’s to sit at the coffee shop by yourself.
It sounds simple right??? But for a ton of us it’s really scary. Some of us hate the thought of others looking at us and judging us. Starting in 2019 I quit going out and would be afraid of people simply focusing on my nose, my scars, my makeup etc instead of my eyes.
Well I’m now just starting to go out. It’s really hard but I’m getting the hang of it. I should have kept going out and having fun often, instead of hiding away because I got too used to it and then afraid to go out. I’m only 28 !!!!!!
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116points
#11
Edit your life. A couple years ago, after being upset when two different friends posted yet another unsettling untrue thing on Facebook regarding vaccines, and social justice, I realized I just don’t want to be a fact checker for my friends. I also quit Facebook. I used to challenge myself to have friends who didn’t share all my political and social views but the last six years have made that challenge way too challenging, the divide cannot be bridged. Also edit old beliefs, like spiritual or religious beliefs that cause unwarranted guilt or fear or encourage narrow mindedness. Edit your possessions so you don’t have to spend so much time on stuff and so your loved ones don’t have so much stuff to deal with after you’re no longer able to manage, or are dead. Edit your money habits so that you have more stashed away and so things like on line shopping or giving money to adult kids doesn’t put a strain on your future by draining your current budget. Edit your wardrobe to keep only things you can comfortably wear and that you find appealing. While doing so let go of judging others appearances, you’ll be surprised by how much energy it frees up and how much more accepting you’ll be of your own appearance.
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113points
#12
If you don’t have the energy to do a full workout, do the bare minimum to get your blood moving, whether it’s walking or doing a quick squat-push up-sit up cycle
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105points
#13
Look around your house. Especially if you are a home owner. I have a ten year plan to make my home handicap friendly before I retire. I want even floors, friendly to wheelchairs. Showers without a lip to trip over. My water heater is in the spider dungeon, I plan to move it upstairs. The siding needs repaired and the roof replaced before I am on a fixed income. Correct the drains so I don't have to blow them out every 6 months, put in sprinklers so I don't have to move hoses. And the big one, wish list more than to do list, get solar panels.
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101points
#14
Learn absolutely everything you can about perimenopause and menopause. We don't talk about it enough or adequately share lived experience. It all starts far earlier than most women realize and hot flashes are the very least of it. We are woefully unprepared for this process.
Also have your own money and save diligently, even if you think you can't afford to.
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97points
#15
I’m a nurse in aged care. Don’t smoke, eat healthily, don’t lead a sedentary lifestyle, nurture healthy family relationships and for crying out loud have a will and make your wishes legally binding if/when you can’t advocate for yourself. If we are lucky to grow old and have mistreated our bodies or have estranged/step families, it is a f*cking nightmare for those looking after you if you didn’t have your sh*t together when you had your faculties.
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89points
#16
Keeping a clean and organized space makes me feel so much calmer. I never understood what my mom meant by this when I was a teen but I get it now.
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82points
#17
Live intentionally. Lots of people shuffle through the daily stressful things almost on automatic. Reduce time wandering in tv shows and increase time asking questions and figuring out your needs - meditating, eating better, creating a budget instead of just guesstimating month to month. Deciding about your own personal ethics and values, establishing boundaries, and working on your mental health are all incredibly important. Challenge your beliefs and assumptions that you picked up from your parents.
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77points
#18
Flossing -isn't underrated but I didn't realize receding gums were a thing until my dentist told me they do testing on your gums after a certain age. And that can cause all kinds of problems. Take care of your teeth!
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73points
#19
Don't believe everything you see or hear. The longer I live, the more I recognize the hyperbole and promises all over tv, radio and internet as just noise to tune out. Reserve judgment and avoid hysteria. It helps your mental health immensely to screen out noise and test assumptions rather than jumping on bandwagons.
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73points
#20
Take care of your joints, and work on your mobility and balance. It doesn't need to be a special workout, but doing yoga regularly, being barefoot as much as possible (to combat bunions and improve proprioception), and doing some gentle exercise like walking or swimming.
Falling and breaking a bone can be fatal when you get older.
71points