A research letter in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine (JAMA) found that older people who felt three or more years younger than their actual age had a lower death rate, compared with those who felt their age, or those who felt more than one year older than their actual age. Researchers from the University College London say that feeling younger may inspire a sense of resilience that keeps people young. Don’t worry if you’re not feeling especially bouncy, counsels Dr. Siegel, the faculty editor of Positive Psychology, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. He has the following suggestions for helping us reach a younger state of mind: (1) Challenge yourself to try new things, learn new ideas, and develop new skills. Realize that most human abilities follow a “use it or lose it” pattern; so motivate yourself to stay active in all realms of our lives. (2) Bring your attention repeatedly to the present moment, through formal mindfulness meditation or informal mindfulness practice. It can help you to appreciate this moment, rather than becoming lost in regrets about the past or imagining future deterioration. (3) Develop a sense of meaning in life. Focus on something larger than yourself, whether that’s connecting with people close to you, or helping improve the lives of others. Commit yourself to a hobby you love, such as gardening, attending the theater, dancing, or reading. “When our focus is just on our own immediate pleasure or pain, we’re much more likely to have difficulty with the aging process,” says Dr. Siegel. Welcome the New Year and celebrate 2015 by doing more exercise and fun activities with your family, get involved in your community, and stay in touch with your friends! You may get a little older, but don’t feel older. Stay young at heart... Live long and well:-)
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:27:07 +0000