The stigma against getting older makes people afraid of the aging process. There are plenty of sources out there that tell you all the negative things that come with age and scare you into thinking that the only thing waiting for you on the other side of 50 is back pain and slower cognitive functioning. What all of these sources forget to tell you is that there are things that get better with age. As long as you live a healthy lifestyle, there are plenty of positives to look forward to as you age.

Factors That Get Better With Age

You Have Clearer Skin

We often associate older people with having wrinkled and sagging skin. As a result, we spend a lot of time and money trying to prevent it from happening to us. But what many people don’t realize is that while our skin may have a few more creases and lines as we get older, it also has fewer pimples than it did when we were younger. As our skin ages, it tends to produce less oil. This decrease in oil production, while being the source of your wrinkles, is also the reason why you don’t have to buy acne cream at the age of 45. 

If you want to have clear skin and be wrinkle-free, a diet change might be exactly what you need. The next time you’re out grocery shopping, stock up on foods that are known to prevent wrinkles, like carrots and salmon. It’s also advisable to start using a retinol cream. This will help to reverse some lines you already have. Either way, just remember to rejoice in the fact that your skin is essentially acne-free.

You Sweat Less

Another change to your skin is that your sweat glands shrink as you get older, especially underneath your arms. This may be because your sweat glands respond less to your surrounding environment than they did when you were younger. This then means you get to spend a little less money on deodorant. 

It’s important to remember, though, that this also means your body isn’t able to cool itself off as easily as it did when you were younger. Make sure that you keep yourself cool by staying in air-conditioned rooms during the summer and drinking lots of water. This way you won’t overheat, and you also won’t feel uncomfortable and sticky from sweat.

Your Brain Is Stronger

While it is unfortunately true that your brain can lose some of its normal functioning during the aging process, it also gains key skills that you didn’t have when you were younger. The more time you’ve spent on this earth, the more experience you have mingling with the world and learning the rules of your society. This means that older people tend to be better at reading social cues than their younger counterparts. While this may seem like a small victory, we use social cues every day to help us navigate our relationships with the surrounding people.

Having the ability to sense when you’re upsetting someone or making them uncomfortable can keep you out of a lot of drama that we tend to see in our younger years. In the same way, being able to know how to make someone smile or what to say to diffuse an already sticky situation is great for building new relationships and strengthening the ones we already have. This means that your new skills will give you stronger, more meaningful relationships as you go through life. 

Improved Memory

Contrary to popular belief, age can also give you a slight improvement in your memory as well. Studies have shown that many older adults have an easier time remembering the names of new people. This may be because older adults are usually more interested in what you’re saying than younger adults. As a result, they pay better attention when one introduces themselves. Our elders also have a larger vocabulary than we do, as we continue to learn new words well into our 60s and 70s. You also gain stronger spatial awareness and inductive reasoning skills. This will then make navigating this world a lot easier than it was 20 or 30 years ago.

It’s also possible that you will experience fewer migraines later in life than you do now. Migraines have a lot of different triggers, such as stress or hormones, that tend not to be as prevalent in older adults. However, if you do see an increase in intensity or the number of migraines you experience, be sure to go see a doctor as this might be a symptom of a medical issue.

It’s important to note that if you want to reap the benefits of your stronger brain, you have to keep it healthy. You can do this by participating in activities that keep your brain engaged. This can be done by learning a new language or instrument, solving puzzles, and playing card games. Even certain breathing exercises have been shown to strengthen your brain’s functioning. Keeping a healthy mind can help ensure that you are able to have a fun life as you get older.

You Have Higher Self-esteem

One of the best benefits of getting older is that you tend to have more confidence in yourself than you did when you were younger. This is because older people are usually a lot more sure of themselves and the value that they bring into this world. As a result, they don’t rely as much on validation from external sources. Older adults also report being happier and having better mental health than younger adults. This may be attributed to the fact that older adults have a more positive view of the world.

While this is true, it’s still completely normal if you’re a little older and you haven’t built your confidence yet. There’s still plenty of time and plenty of ways for you to boost your self-esteem. One of the best ways to do that is to work on the areas that are giving you concern. If you’re concerned about the way your skin looks, develop a new skincare routine that makes you glow. If you’ve noticed a bit of weight gain over the years that you’re not a fan of, join a new weight loss program that encourages you to live a healthier life. You’ll find that simply putting in the effort to improve yourself can work wonders for your self-esteem and can give you confidence later in life.

You Catch Fewer Colds

All those years of living out in the world mean you’ve been exposed to thousands of viruses, bacteria, and illnesses. Each time you’ve gotten sick, your body creates antibodies to fight off the disease. These antibodies stay in your body forever. This means that the next time you come in contact with that specific bacteria or virus, your body will have what it needs to fight it off before you get sick. Basically, you won’t have as many stuffy noses and sore throats as you did when you were younger.

While some changes to your immune system may make you more prone to illnesses, there are certain measures you can take to keep yourself in good health. This includes eating a healthy diet, staying active, and washing your hands regularly. It’s also advisable to get the flu vaccine and any other vaccines recommended by your doctor. You’ll also want to stop smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink. This is because both of these habits are known to weaken your immune system. Following these tips will help keep you safe from illness.

Your Teeth Are Less Sensitive

If you have trouble eating food that is too hot or too cold, then you’re in luck. As you age, your teeth produce more dentin. This then creates another barrier between the nerve of the tooth and the outside world. This gives you the freedom to enjoy some ice cream or a hot cup of coffee in comfort.

Keep in mind that older teeth, while more resistant to extreme temperatures, are usually more worn out than younger teeth. If you want to enjoy the benefit of having less sensitive teeth, you need to make sure that you have great oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and going to the dentist bi-annually. As long as you’re taking care of yourself, your body will reward you by being the best version it can be— with stronger teeth, clearer skin, and a happier mind.

References

https://blog.elevateapp.com/https-blog-elevateapp-com-how-breathing-exercises-can-clear-your-mind-ac5cff30fac6
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004008.htm

Hartshorne, J. K., & Germine, L. T. (2015). When Does Cognitive Functioning Peak? The Asynchronous Rise and Fall of Different Cognitive Abilities Across the Life Span. Psychological Science, 26(4), 433–443. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614567339