Getting Older Doesn’t Have to Mean Feeling Old. Here’s How to Stay Vibrant

As much as I’d like to say otherwise, we all get older whether we want to or not.

The good news is, reaching middle age can be liberating and fun.

Sure, we have to think more carefully about things like retirement and long-term investments. But middle age also means we may have a bit more disposable income to spend on things like sports cars or travel adventures.

The key to getting the most out of middle age and beyond, however, is staying healthy enough to enjoy it.

Most of us know to get regular checkups at the doctor and a smattering of yearly medical tests. But learning the nuances of taking care of ourselves as we age is a little more difficult because there’s a lot more to remember.

Fortunately, the New York Times put together a list of just about everything people 30 years and older should keep in mind to stay healthy and active well into their senior years.

The Well Midlife Tuneup offers tips on everything from nutrition and exercise to the importance of staying connected with friends and family as we age.

The list also addresses health issues that we assume are a normal part of aging but that could actually be mitigated or avoided altogether by actively managing our health and fitness.

For example, our hearing naturally decreases as we get older, but a midlife hearing test could catch noise-induced hearing loss before it becomes irreversible.

The tuneup tip sheet also reminds us that Medicare doesn’t cover dental procedures, so being mindful of our dental health can save us money on expensive corrective procedures down the road.

For more midlife health and wellness tips, be sure to check out the entire list on the New York Times website.

I recommend bookmarking it for reference and printing out a copy to keep on hand at home.

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She enjoys telling readers about affordable ways to stay healthy, so look her up on Twitter (@lisah) if you’ve got a tip to share.