Aging is a natural process and it is out of our control. Having said that, whether you grow old gracefully or not is completely up to you. Don’t wait till you get to your late 30s and try to turn back the clock. You now can, however, slow down the aging process by taking into consideration these seemingly harmless daily habits that may be aging you quicker than desired.
1. Stressing out constantly – Being busy keeps you going. However, stress, worry and anxiety can take a toll on your bodily systems. It can harm the DNA in your cells, which will speed up the aging process. It can also age your brain and disrupt your sleeping habits, also making you age quicker. Remember to relish in your me-time to calm your mind.
2. Drinking from a straw – Yes, sipping from straws may protect your teeth from getting stained, but pursing your lips frequently can promote the development of wrinkly lines; similar to laugh lines and those we see on smokers. It’s not a big issue, but when you’re already prone to laugh lines at a young age, it’s best to avoid using straws when you can.
3. Shunning all fat from your diet – Eliminating fat from your diet is a heart-healthy move, but you shouldn’t cut out unsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts and fish. Its nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, is good for protecting your brain, heart, bones, joins and skin. On the other hand, monounsaturated fats can also lower cholesterol levels.
4. Being out in the sun without sunscreen – Sometimes, we can be too damn lazy to apply sunscreen, but slowly and surely, the harmful rays from the sun will affect our skin, weakening the skin cells and blood vessels. This can cause freckles and ugly sunspots to form, aside from causing the skin to be more susceptible to bruising. Please, use your sunscreen!
5. Wearing contact lenses – When you put in and take out your contact lenses, you tug at the delicate skin around the eyes, which aggravates it and causes inflammation, resulting in wrinkles, crow’s feet and saggy skin. Be extra gentle around your eye area and invest in a good eye cream to be used daily.
6. Looking down onto screens – Our smart devices are an integral part of our lives, but staring down at the screens can encourage more lines to form and the skin to sag around the neck area. This makes you look older than you really are as the skin around the neck area is thinner than that of your face. Try keeping your head at a 90-degree angle.
7. Sleeping on your side or on the stomach – When skin is being stretched, pushed or pulled for hours on end as you sleep on the side or stomach, sleep lines can form, especially on the face, neck and chest. When you’re young, it doesn’t really matter, but as you get older, those lines can turn into permanent wrinkles. Reduce skin creasing with a satin pillowcase.
8. Blasting your music – When you jack up the volume on your earphones or headphones, you’re really damaging your ears and this can lead to the development of hearing loss as you get older. The recommended safety threshold is only up to 101 decibels, so do keep that in mind. Don’t regret it when it’s too late!
