6 Bad Habits That Make You Age Faster

Have you ever wished you could control how you age? Whether you age gracefully or not may seem completely genetic, but did you know there are things you can do to avoid aging quickly? While many companies advertise expensive creams and facials, the best and most long-term way to avoid aging is to make lifestyle changes. Curious to find out some lifestyle changes you can make without spending thousands of dollars? Here are 6 bad habits that make you age faster!

1. Yo-yo dieting

Have you ever heard of yo-yo dieting? It’s a popular dieting term for weight cycling, repeatedly losing weight and regaining it. This is often caused by trying extreme diets and exercises for the sake of losing weight as fast as possible. More often than not, if your end goal is to lose weight, instead of improving your overall health and wellbeing, you’re more likely to regain the weight you’ve lost. This is because after implementing extreme diets, once you’ve lost weight, it becomes harder and harder to maintain the willpower and motivation to keep the weight off. Since yo-yo dieting increases your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, the best way to stay young is to exercise and eat well for the sake of your health, not only for your ideal body.

2. Not getting enough quality sleep

How many hours of sleep do you get a night? While it may be hard to get the recommended 7-8 hours, skipping out on sleep leads to serious health complications such as high blood pressure and heart weakness. It can also harm your mental health by making you more irritable and prone to depression. Similarly, did you know that the quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity? According to Cleaveland Clinic’s Dr. Harneet Walia, sleeping in a loud, well-lit environment can lead to the same negative effects as not getting enough sleep. So, if you want to have a young and healthy body for as long as possible, try to prioritize sleep more often.

3. Not taking care of your mental health

When you feel exhausted, do you actually take a break? Many people don’t take care of themselves due to the constant societal pressure to always be working. However, in reality, self-care is one of the most important things in life. It keeps you physically and mentally healthy by giving you some time to relax and recharge. While it isn’t as emphasized as physical health, taking care of your mental health keeps you just as young and refreshed.

4. Not taking care of your skin

Do you have a skincare routine? Between all the skincare ads and YouTube channels, you may feel pressured to invest hundreds of dollars into luxury products. However, there are actually many ways to take care of your skin without constantly buying products that you run out of every few months. For example, switching to a silk pillowcase has been known to help with both your skin and hair because they’re gentler and absorb less of your skin’s moisture. Also, the most important product to keep your skin young and healthy is sunscreen. While it doesn’t treat your skin the way serums and moisturizers do, it protects your skin from harmful UV rays in the long run.

5. Smoking and vaping

Do you or anyone you know think vaping is cool? With the negative effects of smoking, such as lung and heart disease, being well-documented, many people are turning to vaping. However, according to John Hopkins Medicine, vaping is also unsafe. Emerging data suggests links between vaping and chronic lung disease as well as asthma. So, while many think vaping is a safe alternative to smoking, the best way to stay young and healthy is to try to avoid both.

6. Overthinking

How often do you lay in bed and replay various embarrassing moments throughout your life? While we all do that from time to time, overthinking and holding onto regrets can actually make you age faster. You’re more likely to be stressed out and forget to live in the moment if you’re constantly second-guessing everything. If you’d like to read more about the harmful effects of overthinking, feel free to read our other article, 7 Dangerous Effects Of Overthinking. The bottom line is that while overthinking is a normal and human behavior, try to let things go and move on when you can. You’ll likely feel a lot less weighed down and younger.

The essential philosophy for staying young and healthy is leading a balanced life with everything in moderation. So, while it sounds hard, the best way to quit these bad habits is to get support from friends, family, or professionals and to take it one step at a time. Finally, don’t forget to be kind and patient with yourself!

Did you learn anything about how to stay young? Are you planning to try to quit any of these habits? Comment below your thoughts, experiences, or suggestions!

Works Cited

Team, B. (2020, October 15). Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep (And How Much You Really Need a Night). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/happens-body-dont-get-enough-sleep/

Blaha, M. (n.d.). 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping#:~:text=2%3A%20Research%20Suggests%20Vaping%20Is%20Bad%20for%20Your%20Heart%20and%20Lungs&text=It%20causes%20you%20to%20crave,of%20having%20a%20heart%20attack.