Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Most people don’t appreciate their youth until it is gone. Your childhood and adolescence are jam-packed with wonderful memories and life-changing experiences. Endless summers hanging out with friends, family vacations and youthful romances. These are the best years of your life, but they go flashing past in a dazzling blur, and before you know it, you find yourself in middle age, longing for a time gone by.
By now, you have a full-time job with a stable income, your very own house, and a horde of kids running around your ankles. You have everything you always wanted, so then why are you so nostalgic for the past? Back then, you had no money to do all the things you wanted to do and were completely dependent on your parents. You had no idea who you were and were constantly battling with low self-esteem, peer pressure, and academic struggles. What was so good about that?
What you are longing for is no doubt the feeling of freedom, and the knowledge that your life is only just starting. Back then, you could have become anything you wanted, and the whole world lay at your feet. When you get older, you fall into a career and acquire a host of social, professional, financial, and familial commitments. On top of that, your body begins to rebel and you find yourself feeling tired and achy all the time. You no longer have the time, the energy, or the freedom to do whatever you want to do.
So how can you recapture this feeling of youth? You could spend thousands of pounds on expensive beauty products, hair loss treatment, and the latest fashion trends, but you will only be kidding yourself. Feeling young is not about how you look or what you wear; it’s about feeling energetic and free. And it is entirely possible for you to rediscover this feeling, no matter what stage of your life you are in. To help you along your journey back through time, here are three things you can do to feel young again
Start exercising
Nothing makes you feel younger than getting in shape. This doesn’t mean you have to start running marathons or lifting enormous weights every single day, but a few short sessions of physical activity each week can be hugely beneficial. An exercise regime will make you feel stronger and fitter, and help you stave off the physical side effects of growing old. And it has proven benefits for your mental wellbeing too. Regular physical activity has been shown to make you feel less stressed, more confident, and significantly happier. All aspects of your life will benefit as a result. If you’re unsure where to start, do some research to find a sport that works for you and don’t be afraid to experiment. Perhaps you will prefer the simple approach, by strapping on some trainers and going for a morning run. Or maybe cycling and swimming are more up your street. If you have a competitive nature, consider joining a tennis or volleyball team. The choices are endless.
Spend time with young people
We’ve all been in the situation where a young person has said something you don’t understand, and it makes you feel like an old dinosaur. The world is changing so fast, and each new generation has its own culture and trends that can seem far beyond your understanding. Words like “meme” and “TikTok,” are just gibberish to you, and you can noticeably see your children’s eyes glaze over when you start talking about how things were back in your day. But despite the age gap and cultural differences, spending time with young people can make you feel younger. You will gain a new perspective on the world and learn about things you never knew before. It doesn’t matter whether you hang out with your kids, or join a club full of younger adults: you will benefit from the experience.
Have new experiences
A large part of the excitement of being young is that the world is completely new and fresh to you. Each day brings new experiences, and adventure is always waiting around the next corner. But by the time you hit your forties you feel like you’ve seen it all before. You start to lose that enthusiasm for life and fall into a comfortable routine. But Planet Earth is an enormous place, and no one could possibly see even 1% of it in their lifetime. There are always new adventures to be had; you might just need to look a bit harder to find them. Try to escape your comfort zone every day, whether by cooking a new dish, exploring an unfamiliar part of town, taking up a hobby, or travelling to a foreign country.
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