Skip to main content

Ayurvedic Tips for Aging in our sunset years🌛

Gray hair and wrinkles can be a testimony of wisdom. But in a stressful world we often get caught up in equating our worth with productivity that could weigh on us post-retirement. Everyone, at every stage of life is a gift to the world.  That said, aging does bring preventable and costly health challenges that we need to face squarely, from heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, arthritis, dry skin, falling hair, cognitive decline, stroke and cancer. There is also the possibility of depletion, loneliness and ageism. So, how can we look after ourselves better to ensure we are physically and mentally stronger as we age? Ayurveda is a holistic mind-body science which supports people through a comprehensive approach to live a healthier life right into their sunset years. It emphasizes that  aging  ( Jara ) is a natural process just like the seasons. It does acknowledge natural degenerative changes but recommends prevention, building resilience and an anti-aging regimen through its br
Post a Comment

How To Improve The Quality Of Your Life ?

Do you wish you could be alive like this every day?

Instead, do you find your body and mind drooping at sunrise as well as sunset?

Are you feeling desultory and uninspired?

Is the rat race taking a toll on your life?

If you said yes to any of these questions, you might want to consider changing or tweaking some aspects of your life. Before you burn and crash, learn how to improve the quality of your life.

In 2013, British business group Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Switzerland as the country where quality of life is best, followed by Australia and Norway. The EIU’s ‘Quality of Life index’, (now re-named ‘Where-to-be-born index’), analyzes data from 80 countries. This data takes into account life expectancy, material well-being, community life, climate, political freedom, gender equality and job security.

What constitutes a good life for you? Wealth, health, education, designation, qualification, relationships, perhaps? No doubt these parameters are all relevant for a good life. However, there is something to be said about how you live the life you already have.

After all, as Abraham Lincoln once said,  “And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

With that in mind, take a look at some of these ideas to help improve the quality of your life.

How can you improve the quality of your life?

1. Go back to your ‘roots’

Do you take time out to appreciate the world around you? Taking a step back and going back to your roots can be an immensely refreshing and rewarding experience.

You could walk on a beach bare-feet, trek up a hill, bathe in the ocean, go cycling through trails, or, simply, go birding in your neighborhood park. The change in perspective and focus will take your personal quality of life index up a few notches!

2. Take time out for a hobby or sport

Work-life balance is a myth for some as work life tends to consume all available waking hours. Consciously, dig yourself out of this black hole. Fight for a better life by taking time out for yourself! What can you do? Try these ideas.

  • Attend a class. You could learn a new language.  Mandarin and Spanish are popular languages spoken the world over and are very useful these days.
  • Learn a new skill. Pottery classes are gaining in popularity – they help you focus and are, yet, very relaxing.
  • Instead of surfing the internet, engage in a sport. You can kill two birds with one stone by playing with your kids!

3. Spend time with the old and young

Indian scriptures suggest that you spend at least 10 minutes every day with the old and the young. Why? Children are naturally gifted with an infectious energy and ideas that can rub off on you. You nurture your playful and innocent side that keeps your body and mind youthful. With the elderly you can gain knowledge. Both are essential to lead a good life.

4. De-clutter to make life better

  • Lead a simpler life.
  • Reduce the number of assets/possessions you own and use; value space over materialism. When you make space in your physical life, you will feel freer mentally.
  • Economize on the time you devote to electronic gadgets. For instance, check your WhatsApp messages twice a day. At other times, switch off your Wi-Fi.

5. Travel and unravel

To fully appreciate the diversity around you, you must travel. You gain fresh understanding of different cultures and practices. It gives you ideas and the confidence to try new things in your life.

With a wider and more informed vision, you can create, participate, undertake and join in novel activities and experiences. It will help you live a more enriched life!

6. Meditate to appreciate

Now that you have gone outside and gotten some fresh air, how about delving within and finding your inner sun?! Meditation can awaken your inner spirit and help you live with awareness and knowledge.

The sense of composure, peace and acceptance of life you experience takes you to a different level. This helps you lead a healthier and more wholehearted life.

Useful tips to improve the quality of your life

  • Include prayer and music in your life; they will nourish your emotions.
  • Undertake seva or service – helping others will make you feel happy and at peace.
  • Don’t compare yourself with others. Your only competition is with yourself – the question to ask in life is ‘Have I become better than I was yesterday?’
  • Commit to a cause – family, career, society, and environment. You gain a sense of direction and interest in life.
  • Don’t take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive!

– Elbert Hubbard, American writer

7. Value the gift of the present

The mind feels weighed down when you don’t pay attention to the present, choosing to dwell on either the past or the future. There is so much to do now that you don’t need any more baggage unrelated to the present.

Again, meditation can help you stay in the present. Your focus, then, will be on enjoying and appreciating the present. It will help sustain you through difficult moments, and invigorate you during the good ones.

8. Health is wealth

This cannot be over-emphasized. A balanced mind and a fit body can make a world of difference to the quality of your life. So,

  • Incorporate exercise, yoga asanas, pranayamas or breathing exercises and meditation in your schedule.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Get adequate rest and sleep.

9. Disrupt your own patterns

Do something new and different to break out of your mold. You could join a salsa class, sing karaoke, tutor a poor child, or, visit an old age home.   Whatever breaks the monotony of the daily rut will help you move past saturation towards novelty and adventure. These are key attributes of a good life!

The heart always longs for the old, the mind for the new. Life is a combination of both.

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

So, ensure you strike the optimal balance between the heart and mind. And, include adequate portions of all of life’s ingredients. This is the secret recipe that will improve the quality of your life!

https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/lifestyle/success/how-to-improve-the-quality-of-life

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

11 Calming Herbs to keep your Mind Balanced 💆

          Life is hard. Every day it seems like a new challenge appears to test your patience. You may not realize that chronic stress can also lead to long-term health complications. Living in a constant state of fight-or-flight tells your body to produce too much cortisol which can lead to weight gain, diabetes, mood swings, fatigue, and many other conditions. ( 1 ) While it’s important to take steps to manage stress, certain calming herbs can help strengthen your body’s stress response. Adaptogens are some of the best calming herbs because studies show they might make your body and mind more resilient to external stress. Keep in mind that adaptogens don’t work like prescription drugs for anxiety in that they kick in instantly. Instead, they need a few weeks to build up in your system before you notice the effects. When you need something in a pinch, however, other herbs and  essential oils  – like lavender oil – can ease symptoms almost instantly. 1.  LEMON BALM Lemon balm , also kn
Post a Comment
Read more

Natural Home Remedies For Minor Burns 🔥

Natural Home remedies for Burns The use of natural remedies given below can be highly effective in managing such minor burns. These remedies are aimed at promoting healing of the damaged skin tissues and minimizing pain. Raw Potato Raw potato can be used to treat minor skin burns. It possesses soothing properties, which help in providing relief from the burning sensation caused by burns. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and reduces redness and inflammation of the skin. It can also reduce the chances of having blisters. Research has proved the beneficial effect of raw potato in the management of minor burns. The histological examination of the burnt area and clinical studies made on the comparable burn wounds treated with either peel of boiled potato affixed to gauze bandages or just gauze dressings showed that the patients treated with raw potato had a faster rate of recovery from the symptoms. It was found that the usage of the potato peel dressing eliminated or reduced desi
Post a Comment
Read more

Spring Detox Smoothie

When spring arrives, I can't help but think about cleaning up my eating habits. After all, spring detox is a thing (along with spring cleaning, which technically is a detox for your home). That's why I’m sharing with you a smoothie packed with nutrients your body will love. Drink it in the morning and you'll give your body a much-needed boost of energy to get you through the day. Ingredient Breakdown: Why Each One Matters  Before I get to the actual recipe, I'd like to shine the spotlight on each individual ingredient used in this smoothie. You'll quickly see why this is a great spring detox smoothie worth drinking. Green Tea Not only is  green tea tasty to drink on its own, but it's also full of health benefits. It's high in antioxidants and contains a large amount of catechins, polyphenolic compounds that are thought to exert numerous protective effects, especially for your heart. Green tea is great for your cardiovascular system and
Post a Comment
Read more