This is a universally accepted quote, and while it is right, it only talks about age being a number when it comes to achieving things or developing mentally and socially.
When it comes to physical appearance, age isn’t just a number because everyone starts to look older as their age increases.
It is a natural process, and while many people employ many artificial methods to combat the effects of aging, they are fighting a losing battle.
Accepting that aging is inevitable is important.
However, it is even more important to note that certain lifestyle choices and habits can add years to your appearance.
For the most part, women are more conscious of their appearances than males, and for some, the effects of aging have caused them to worry.
If you have been worried about looking older than your age and have been wondering what procedure could reverse the process, I have good news for you.
You don’t need a plastic surgeon if you stop doing these things…
8 Things That Make A Woman Look Older Than Her Age
1. Exposure to the sun
Growing up, we learned about how the early morning sun could be a source of vitamin D.
However, no one ever mentioned what the afternoon sun was a source of.
But judging by the recent intensity of the heat, we can expect nothing good from overexposure to the sun.
While sunburns are not exactly a thing for people who already have dark skin, the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun can wreak so much havoc on the skin, regardless of skin color.
Overexposure to the sun could cause wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging skin, making you look far older than your age.
To avoid seeing the terrible aftereffects of exposure to the sun, you should use sunscreen any time you plan on spending a long period in the sun.
It is also important to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to prevent sun rays from messing with your eyesight.
Overexposure to the sun is one of the things that make women look older than their age and if the recommendations above are followed, the aging process of the skin will slow down.
2. Stress
We talk so much about how stress can make you fatigued or physically ill, but we don’t talk enough about the sad effects it has on the skin.
In the world we live in, we are engaged in an unending race to cater to our needs and basically live the American Dream.
However, living the American Dream may sometimes come at a steep price…
Looking older than your age.
Stress is a silent ager.
Its effects on the skin are not immediate, but they are lethal and accumulate over the years; until you look at the mirror one day and you can’t recognize yourself because your reflection looks way older than you are.
Chronic stress can cause dull skin, acne breakouts, and hair loss.
For this reason, you need to prioritize taking time off to rest and truly relax.
To do this, you may need to consider stress-relieving activities like Yoga, indulging in hobbies that you love, or simply just resting.
Doing these would work wonders for you.
3. Inadequate sleep
One day, I was listening to a motivational speaker and really, I was enjoying everything he was saying until he said “If you sleep six hours every day, you are wasting your time.”
I immediately stopped listening to him because to me, productivity is not about how many hours you spend on the job.
Rather, it is about how much you can do excellently every day.
People just want to appear to be productive, when they are not actually being productive and that’s a great problem.
I have come to realize that I am more productive when I sleep soundly at night for a minimum of six hours and a maximum of eight hours.
Anything below six hours of sleep, I would operate at 50% efficiency throughout the day.
It looks like Albert Einstein also thinks as I do…
He was said to have slept an average of ten hours every day without counting the naps he took in the afternoon.
You know what they say about great minds, don’t you?
They think alike.
As a woman, if you are not sleeping adequately, it is not so shocking that you are beginning to look older than your age.
They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing.
Lack of quality sleep can cause bags under the eye, sallow skin, and a general appearance of tiredness.
You need to establish a consistent sleep schedule and ensure that your environment is actually suitable for adequate rest.
Sleeping in a noisy environment will not help you, regardless of how long you sleep.
You need long and quality sleep to look even younger than your age.
4. Poor diet
One of the things that make women look older than their age is poor diet.
Like it or not, what you eat plays an important role in how you age.
Many ladies really find it difficult to eat healthy foods.
They prefer eating junk and there is this “life is too short to not eat what you want” mindset that fuels the decision.
The amount of sugar you consume in the food you eat every day, and the fact that you have replaced water with soda may be the reason you have dehydrated skin, dark circles under your eyes, and acne.
Taking diets rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats will give your skin a youthful glow.
If the sentence above sounds too medical, what I mean is that eating fruits and vegetables helps you nourish your skin and slows aging down.
5. Living a sedentary life
A sedentary life is one of the major things that makes a woman look older than her age.
A sedentary lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean staying at home.
It means staying in one place for most of your day.
It implies a lack of regular exercise.
If you work in an office, you most likely live a sedentary lifestyle, except you make time to exercise your body.
With the world gradually turning to remote work more and more, it worsens the situation.
A friend of mine works remotely.
He hasn’t stepped outside his house in a month because he has nothing to do outside.
He just sits surrounded by his screens, coding all day long.
Find enjoyable ways to stay fit, especially if you have a job that keeps you seated for long hours.
Exercise your body.
You could do yoga, dance, hike, jog, walk, or engage in simple calisthenics.
Regardless of how you do it, keeping fit is key to looking your age, or even younger.
6. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
One of the most shocking moments for me was realizing that despite the warning on the cigarette packs, the tobacco industry is still one of the biggest industries in the world.
“Smokers are liable to die young.”
And then, you see a young man drawing on a stick of cigarette with so much pleasure.
I would never be able to understand the pleasure of smoking.
Smoking harms the internal organs and it is a major cause of lung cancer.
Apart from this, it also causes the skin to wrinkle, thereby quickening the process of aging.
Excessive alcohol consumption also affects internal organs like the liver and causes puffiness and redness of the skin.
The puffiness and redness of the skin are one way to identify a long-time drinker.
Kicking these habits is not so easy, but you can do it.
Choosing to either moderate these habits or abstain completely can contribute to a more youthful appearance for you.
7. Neglecting skincare
Many people don’t see the reason for skincare regimens.
Admittedly, there are more men in this category than females, but some females also neglect to take care of their skin.
A consistent skincare regimen that is tailored to your skin type is essential if you want to maintain a youthful appearance.
Things like cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing, and using serums may feel like overkill, but they aren’t.
They are necessary to keep your skin looking radiant.
8. Negative mindset and outlook
I remember hearing about a man who was always frowning.
Soon, his face became fixed in a scowl, and his forehead had wrinkles from frowning too frequently.
There’s a Chinese proverb that says “Every smile makes you a day younger.“
If every smile makes you a day younger, then it is safe to assume that every frown does the exact opposite.
Your negative mindset and outlook on life have an impact on how you look.
If you are such a pessimist and you worry about everything, then you are setting yourself up to look older than you are.
You should try embracing positivity and smiling regularly even when you feel like there is nothing to smile about.
Also finding something to be thankful for could be a great way of improving your looks.
If you feel positive, fulfilled, and purposeful, you will find yourself radiating an inner glow that makes age truly just a number.
Ultimately, you must note that while you can’t turn back the clock of time and stop aging in its tracks, these eight things make women look older than their ages and should be avoided.
Here’s to glowing and looking younger than your age in the not-so-distant future!