Getting older is one of the cycles of life, and something we need to accept. It’s perfectly natural watching your body mature and in some ways even degrade. The more we can take care of ourselves and anticipate these changes, the better prepared we will be once they come. 

To help you, here are some of the most common signs of aging, what they mean, and what you can do about it.

Forgetfulness

Our brains age the same as the rest of our body does. As such, we can find ourselves feeling forgetful as the years go by. In some cases, this may develop into a much more serious memory-related condition. If so, you may require professional care. 

Sometimes we may not know the difference between simple age-related forgetfulness and the early signs of something like dementia. Therefore, it’s important to schedule regular checkups with your doctor and ask them any questions that might help you determine whether it’s something more serious.

Remember, forgetfulness can happen at any age. So, don’t automatically rush to conclusions that you have dementia if you forget where your keys are once in a while.

Skin Loses Elasticity

Our skin is one of the biggest telltale signs of our age. As we get older skin starts to lose its elasticity and as such we start to get wrinkles. This is because as the skin gets older our body stops producing as much oil which naturally makes our skin more supple and smooth. 

It’s important that you moisturize your skin as much as possible, and always wear sunblock even on cloudy days. Wrinkles here and there are inevitable, but if you hydrate and protect your skin from the sun as much as possible you’ll find the signs of aging are much less evident.

Hard Hearing

Although you might have thought blasting your Walkman in your teenage years was innocent fun, the truth is that it probably took its toll on your hearing. If you find yourself having trouble hearing over the age of 60, don’t be surprised. Usually, for most people hearing issues happen in large crowded spaces where it’s hard to discern one sound from another. Just as you should protect your skin from the sun with sunblock, you should also protect your ears with ear plugs in loud spaces.  You’ll find you’ll preserve your hearing much more as the years go by.

Sleep Issues

It may seem backward, but as you get older it actually becomes harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. A consistent sleep schedule is an essential part of keeping your memory sharp, and your immune system strong. 

Try to avoid looking at screens too soon before bedtime, and don’t eat large meals right before bed. The more you can promote healthy sleep, the less you’ll find that age-related sleep issues flare up as you get older.