You see it all over the place: women who look older than they are and women who look younger than they are.
A woman’s skin is the first thing people notice about her.
It’s also the first thing to change as she ages.
In fact, some of the changes are unavoidable.
But there are things you can do to slow down the process and keep your skin looking younger and healthier for longer.
What habits can help you age gracefully?
What are the habits of women who age gracefully?
16 Habits of Women Who Age Gracefully
1. They Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the most important habits of women who age gracefully.
This can be hard, especially when you’re busy with work, family, and other commitments.
As a wife and working mom of two children under 4, I don’t usually get enough sleep and I’m tired throughout the day.
But I know sleeping is essential for good health, and it’s the best time for your body to repair and rejuvenate.
Good sleep also boosts the immune system and helps you fight diseases.
Sleep impacts memory as well.
If you want to age gracefully, listen to your body and sleep when you can.
2. They Stay Physically Active
Do you want to age gracefully?
Do you want to look and feel better than ever?
Then get moving!
Research has shown that staying physically active is one of the best ways to slow the aging process, and it can do wonders for your mood and overall health.
Exercise is something that many people (including me) don’t prioritize, but we should.
I used to walk for at least 40 minutes every morning before but now, I’ve gone back to my old ways.
This article is a reawakening for me.
I loved the way I felt when I exercised then.
I felt lighter and my mood improved.
There’s no denying the fact that exercise is key to living healthy and aging gracefully.
You may not have the resources to employ private trainers or the time to go to the gym but doing at least 30 minutes of brisk walking every day can get your heart pumping.
So if you want to be like these women who age gracefully—or just live a long life full of happiness, make sure you’re staying physically active!
3. They Eat Right
We cannot deny the strong relationship that exists between what we eat and how we look.
Women who age gracefully eat right!
You can’t constantly feed your body with junk food and expect to look youthful.
I don’t mean that you should eat only fruits and vegetables but that you need to start thinking about how your diet impacts your skin health and overall vitality.
Good nutrition is important for preventing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease that can lead to premature death.
In addition, eating well helps you maintain a healthy weight which helps reduce joint pain as you age.
Eat a balanced diet and eat whatever your heart desires but do it in moderation.
Excess of everything is bad.
4. They Have Hobbies They Enjoy
Women who age gracefully surely have hobbies they enjoy.
You likely already know that hobbies can be a great way to relieve stress, but they also have some unexpected benefits.
For example, a study showed that ”participants who devoted two or more hours a day to hobbies were 21 percent less likely to die early.”
The reasons for this are twofold: firstly, some hobbies involve physical activity (such as walking or knitting), which has been shown to improve health and longevity.
Secondly, hobbies give you something productive to do with your time when you’re not working or spending time with family.
And if you’re doing something enjoyable during that time, it means less time spent worrying about the things in life over which you have no control.
Hobbies can be anything from reading books to making art or video games; whatever appeals most strongly will depend on your personality type.
They don’t need to be expensive either.
Many people enjoy walking through parks or exploring nature trails near home instead of joining pricey activities.
5. They Have Healthy Relationships With Family and Friends
Women you know who age gracefully have healthy relationships with family and friends.
They build bonds that last a lifetime, so they feel connected to their communities.
They spend time with people who make them feel good about themselves, which helps them stay grounded and happy.
There’s a reason your mom calls you often.
It really does make a difference in how she feels about herself and how she ages.
My mother-in-law in Africa calls us (in Europe) at least once a week to see and speak with her grandchildren.
My mom calls me at least twice a week.
She also sends chats.
As a young woman, I have a few friends I speak with regularly.
In fact, I have a friend I speak with almost every day.
If I don’t hear from her within 12 hours, she knows I’ll call everyone who lives close to her.
Healthy and supportive relationships will help you age gracefully.
They’ll give you support when you need it most.
6. They Don’t Smoke or Drink Too Much Alcohol
It’s not just the obvious health risks that come with smoking and drinking too much alcohol, but there are other factors at play here, too.
Smoking ages you because it causes wrinkles to develop on your skin faster.
This is because smoking destroys collagen in your skin and reduces its elasticity, meaning wrinkles form more easily (and stay around for longer).
Drinking too much alcohol can also cause liver disease, weight gain, depression, and even cancer – all things you definitely want to avoid if you’re trying to age gracefully!
7. They Have An Attitude of Gratitude And Optimism in Life
An attitude of gratitude and optimism is one that can be cultivated and has been shown to have a positive impact on your health and well-being.
Gratitude helps you appreciate what you have in your life, making it easier to be happier with what you have.
And in turn, this happiness can lead to better sleep and lower blood pressure.
8. They Know Their Worth
Knowing your worth means you don’t settle for less than what you deserve.
It means that you are not afraid to say no, stand up for yourself and demand respect from those around you.
When others try to take advantage of you, or mistreat you in some way, knowing your worth will allow you to walk away without worrying about what other people think or say about it.
You have no time for toxic people in your life who make life harder than it needs to be.
This is how to age gracefully.
9. They Take Care of Their Outward Appearance
Women who age gracefully know they have to put a little work into their appearance if they want to look good.
They aren’t afraid of makeup or trying new things with their hair and makeup routine.
They dress nicely but do not let fashion trends rule their style choices or go against what feels comfortable for their body type or age group.
They also don’t wear clothes that make them feel old.
Take care of their skin, hair, nails, teeth, and body in general.
10. They Keep Their Mind Active by Learning New Things
Women who age gracefully make an effort to stay mentally active by reading books and learning new things that challenge their minds.
Learning new things keeps your mind sharp and your brain active and stimulated.
It also improves memory, which is an important part of aging well.
The more you challenge your brain, the younger it will keep you.
11. They Stay Positive
“A positive attitude is not going to make your wrinkles disappear, but your wrinkles will disappear if you have a positive attitude.”
The people who say that are right.
If you want to look older than you are, then you need to be negative and complain about everything.
If you want to look younger, however, it’s important that you learn how to stay positive.
Positive thinking is key to happiness, health, and success.
Women who age gracefully are typically positive, happy, and optimistic people.
They believe that life is full of possibilities, and they don’t let a bad day get them down.
They don’t dwell on their problems or stress over things they can’t change.
Instead, they focus on what they can do to make themselves happy.
12. They’re Authentic, Even When It Isn’t Easy
What does it mean to be authentic?
It means being yourself, no matter what.
It’s about expressing your true feelings and opinions—not covering up your true self because you’re afraid of what other people will think of you.
Authenticity is important because being yourself allows others to see who you really are, which can help them better understand who they are as well.
People admire authenticity because it shows confidence in who you are, even if it isn’t easy at times.
You can’t age gracefully if all your energy is concentrated on hiding your true self.
13. They Forgive Themselves
Forgiveness can be a radical act of self-love and self-care.
Forgiveness is the key that opens the door to true compassion for ourselves and others.
It is an act of love in which we release our grasp on the past and allows us to live more fully in the moment.
There are times when forgiving yourself seems impossible especially if you have done bad things and hurt your loved ones.
But there’s no way you can age gracefully if you wallow in self-hatred.
The good news is that forgiveness can come gradually with time and practice.
14. They Forgive Others and Are Not Bitter
Forgiveness is a choice we make to set aside hurt and anger.
It is not forgetting, reconciliation, or letting someone off the hook.
Forgiveness is not condoning bad behavior; it’s simply letting go of negative feelings so you can move on with your life in peace.
Forgiveness is a gift that you give yourself.
Once you forgive someone else, you will experience more joy and happiness than if you hadn’t forgiven them at all.
You need peace and joy to age gracefully.
15. They Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
“Don’t sweat the small stuff,” one of the most well-known quotes of all time, could very well be the motto of women who age gracefully.
When you’re young and single, it’s easy to worry about what other people think.
If a date doesn’t like your hair or isn’t impressed by your outfit, if someone gives you a bad review at work or school—it can all bring you down.
However, these things are relatively insignificant in the long run.
They don’t matter in 10 years when we look back on our lives and think about whether or not we’re happy with how we’ve lived them.
If you want to age gracefully, choose your battles wisely.
Don’t let everything and anyone get a reaction from you.
16. They Know How to Relax
If a woman lives a stressful life, she will look stressed out and age poorly (especially if she’s never learned how to handle stress).
Women who have healthy stress-relief habits take care of themselves, rest when necessary, and regroup when things get hectic.
It helps them keep their skin looking youthful and their hair shiny.
It also helps them avoid health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression or anxiety disorders later in life.
One of the best ways to deal with stress is to find a relaxing activity.
Some women prefer getting lost in a good book or watching their favorite TV show, while others like exercise classes or even swimming.
The trick is to find something you enjoy doing so much that it completely takes your mind off of whatever has been bothering you.
Try going for walks through nature and breathing deeply—the fresh air will do wonders for your mood.
They say “age is nothing but a number.”
It’s true!
You can look and feel younger than your years by living a healthy lifestyle, staying active, and taking good care of yourself.