You can be happier and healthier as you grow older by embracing positive ageing.

Positive ageing is a practice which encourages maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit, active and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you grow older.

Maintaining a positive attitude about ageing enables you to take better control of your future and be happy with your current stage in life.

What is Positive Ageing?

Human brains have the amazing ability to rewire. They can be reprogrammed to grow stronger, rather than weaker, as we get older. This concept, which scientists call neuroplasticity, developed when research showed that many aspects of the brain remain changeable even into adulthood.

Can we really reprogram our brains to be happy about ageing? A growing body of research says that we can push back the decline of our cognitive abilities by building our social connections, engaging in physical exercise and making our brains work harder.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has studied positive ageing extensively. They found that the difficulties commonly faced by older Australians (and likely older people in general) include maintaining health and fitness, keeping up with social networks and activities, dealing with feelings of sadness and loss, worry over financial security, decreased mobility and an increasing reliance on others.

Their primary finding? That people who learn to deal with these issues in a positive way live longer and healthier lives, and enjoy a better quality of life as they grow older.

How to Live a Longer, Healthier Life

APS identified eight ways to age positively, including maintaining a positive attitude, staying connected, working to keep your brain active, managing stress, volunteering or seeking part-time employment, engaging in physical activity, having regular medical checkups and eating a healthy diet.

Many of these are issues which I discuss in Retiring Solo, a book which I wrote as I prepared to enter my 60s as a single woman. I was excited about the future and its possibilities, but knew that I needed a plan to ensure my independence in the years ahead. My efforts produced both a book and a plan for positive ageing.

The greatest challenge of growing older is maintaining good health. Our ability to be healthy, get healthy and stay healthy impacts our ability to remain socially, physically and mentally engaged with the world around us. There’s no question about that.

The way that you feel about yourself and ageing, in general, will affect your life view and your desire to engage in social and physical activities. The more control you have, the more likely you are to see ageing in a positive perspective. The more engaged you are, the more likely you are to remain in good mental and physical health.

Exercise Your Mind and Body

Keeping your mind active can be as simple as reading a book, learning a new hobby or doing a puzzle. Dealing with stress can be difficult for all of us. Stress can produce emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms, impair the immune system and diminish the quality of life.

Staying active – through social or physical activities, or by volunteering or working part-time – can help keep day-to-day stress in perspective.

Exercise is a great way to maintain health, fight depression and stress, and reduce the risk of disease. Strength training helps maintain healthy bones and joints, while also improving balance and mobility.

Physical activity can also provide social interaction, particularly if you join an activity program or gym, or link up with groups of other active adults. Eating well and maintaining healthy habits (e.g., exercising, not smoking, keeping alcohol in check) will help ward off illness, improve your energy level and make it easier to carry out your daily routine.

Growing Older is a Gift

There are some real rewards as we grow older. We generally grow more contented with life and our bonds with others become deeper and more satisfying. We look for more meaningful relationships and are less impulsive in creating new contacts.

We place a greater value on time and become better advisors to others. We place greater emphasis on quality, versus quantity, and look for ways to leave a lasting legacy behind.

Living a full and happy life requires planning and a positive, proactive approach that looks for ways to stay active, alert and engaged as we grow older. Positive ageing is a goal and a lifestyle that each of us should work to embrace.

How have you embraced getting older? Do you practice positive ageing? Are there health issues or other challenges that you have had to overcome to remain socially and physically engaged? Do you have a support circle of women who believe in positive ageing? How did you find it? Please share your thoughts and insights below!

I wish someone schooled me on wigs earlier in life because they are truly everything. No, I’m not talking about the cheap ones you get at your local party store every Halloween. I’m not just referring to wigs in and of themselves either. I love everything about wig culture—from the classic Bonner Brother hair shows to the innumerable amount of trusted reviewers on YouTube to the beautiful (and beyond talented) Black people who have made it perhaps the most exciting and enduring sector of the haircare industry. The only thing that would make my love for wigs even bigger is having more Black-owned wig brands to choose from.

The number of products made for and by us is growing by the year and the Black woman’s spending power increases at the same speed, too. And since it’s Juneteenth and I have the day off…my credit card is about to go to work instead. If you’re going to indulge in retail therapy today—or any other day, TBH—add any of these Black-owned wig brands to your list. I see nothing but flawless hair days in your future.

Mayvenn.

Mayvenn

I have two Mayvenn wigs in my possession and can confirm they’re the most realistic-looking units I’ve ever owned.

Heat Free Hair.

Heat Free Hair

Whether you want clip-ins, ready-to-wear ponytails or wigs, this brand has some of the best textured hair options out there.

XOXO Virgin Hair.

XOXO Virgin Hair

In 2014, this brand became the first to exclusively offer Vietnamese hair free of synthetic fillers and chemicals.

Wig Dealer.

Wig Dealer

You’ll need a lot of willpower to avoid buying more than one wig from this wide-ranging selection of textures, colors and wig types.

Toni Daley.

Toni Daley

This underrated site is a must-see for wigs that mimic a fresh blowout and voluminous strands.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

If you don’t know Tayla Parx‘s name yet, you know her work. The ultra-talented singer-songwriter played Little Inez in the 2007 musical movie Hairspray, had reoccurring roles in Gilmore Girls and True Jackson, VP and wrote or co-wrote hit songs for Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande (such as “Thank U, Next”) and even BTS. We told you she was talented. Now, she’s sticking her toe into beauty. What can’t she do?

Parx is one of Bed Head by TIGI’s brand ambassadors featured in the recent Your Vibe Our Tribe Campaign. The campaign celebrates some of the world’s most renowned, diverse creatives across multiple industries to empower individuals to be their authentic selves. Parx, who identifies as sexually fluid, is speaking out about LGBTQ+ Pride and embracing her individuality. Her new hit single, “Dance Alone,” embodies the emotion of wanting to dance with a special someone.

“Pride to me means having the confidence to be me unapologetically. There’s a special power in loving yourself for all that you are and it’s easier said than done. That’s to be expected, you know the best and worst parts of yourself better than anyone,” says Parx. “I use my fashion and music to express inclusivity and to lead by example in my everyday living. I love being my authentic self and allow others to do the same without judgment. I believe everybody has a message that at least one person needs to hear. If we supported more people by encouraging their expression of self we would have a lot more innovative ideas see the light of day.”

Source: Instagram

Part of becoming her authentic self is shedding her colorful weaves and embracing her natural texture. “The biggest reason I wanted to wear my hair natural now was because I wanted the freedom,” Parx tells STYLECASTER. “It gave me even more confidence to be fearless and more natural than ever. It was a transition to wearing less makeup and living that truth and now my lifestyle, hairstyles and everything in between have been transforming, as well.”

Parx uses Tigi Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Cream ($21.99 at Ulta), Tigi Bed Head Calma Sutra Cleansing Conditioner ($21.99 at Ulta) and Tigi Bed Head Headrush ($9.99 at Ulta) to get her curls on point.

“The freedom of wearing my natural hair means solidifying that love I have for myself whether I’m natural or made up,” she continues. “We all have insecurities, and the power that lies behind stripping yourself down to the most natural state of you is beautiful.”

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

How have you managed with food shopping and cooking during lockdown? Have you resorted to churning out the same old comfort food, or have you been slightly more adventurous?

Many like the idea of emerging from lockdown with different cooking habits. Bread baking and better use of leftovers are just part of the story.

With more time on our hands, many of us have also relished the chance to spend more time cooking and try out recipes that we’ve never previously had the time or patience for.

But, inevitably, thinking what to cook night after night can still become tedious, and while restaurants are gradually re-opening in some countries, you may still feel wary about eating out.

Cuisine from Around the World

We have several friends who have introduced a ‘travel round the world’ night, dedicating one dinner a week to food from another country – from tagine to tagliatelle and paella to poppadoms – which we think is a great idea.

While non-essential travel and holidays have been off the menu, we’ve tried to recreate some of our holiday memories through food, reliving favourite trips by cooking meals that remind us of particular places.

It’s not quite as good as the real thing, but conjuring up memories of vineyards and olive groves, vibrant markets, al fresco picnics, and mouth-watering dinners easily comes to a close second.

Our food nostalgia has taken us as far afield as Italy, the UK, and Australia, with some meals more elaborate than others. What makes them most effective is evoking as many of the five senses as possible.

For example, for us, a simple home-made pesto brings back dreamy views over the pastel-coloured buildings of Italy’s Ligurian coast, the smell of sea air, and the sound of gently lapping waves.

Cook from Fresh

Unfortunately, a microwave lasagne won’t bring back memories of a holiday in Italy, nor will a takeaway Indian evoke the spice-packed fragrances of Indian street food.

Do cook from fresh, substituting ingredients if you find that some are tricky to source. Planting your own herb garden is a great way to ensure that your favourite herbs are steps away when you need them.

For most of us, holiday scents take us straight back to a happy place. Who isn’t consumed by nostalgic beach memories when presented with a platter of calamari? Or by recollections of childhood Christmases at the scent of roasted chestnuts?

As smells are known to trigger memories, cooking your meal from scratch can evoke your own holiday memories before the food even reaches the table.

Use Authentic Tableware

Presenting the food on authentic dishes is a great way to transport you to your favourite place. Rummage in your cupboards for serving dishes and platters that reflect the location you’re replicating, making use of ceramic dishes, pottery, and colourful tea glasses.

Pairing Drinks

Did you discover a favourite wine while on holiday? If so, check to see if you can buy it – or the next best equivalent – locally to enjoy with your meal.

Start your evening with the drink that reminds you most of your holiday. For us, the mere sight of an Aperol spritz with a bowl of olives is enough to bring back summertime in Italy, and a glass of chilled manzanilla with some freshly toasted almonds, or a cloudy pastis, will take us back to Spain or France in a flash. The perfect prelude to any evening!

Memories and Photos

While you sip your aperitivo or round off your meal with a coffee or sweet dessert wine, make those memories even more vivid by flicking through your holiday photos on your iPad.

We love using this time to look back over photos of our own holidays and of our group walking trips, re-living memorable hikes, and remembering people we’ve met along the way.

Have you been more adventurous with your cooking during lockdown? Let us know of any dishes that remind you of past holidays! Are you thinking ahead to holidays in 2021? Please join the conversation in the comments section below!

Bethenny Frankel’s Camo Jumpsuit and Cardigan on Instastories

Bethenny Frankel 2020 Instagram Fashion

While Bethenny Frankel is probably my fave Real Housewife of all time (watch out thou, Leah McSweeney is rapidly picking up momentum) TBH I don’t often see her Instagram stories through because there are SO many dashes. So many. It’s like a full time job to watch them all even if I do love what I see and hear. Thankfully BBH Staff Writer Faryn, who has far more patience than me, spotted Bethenny’s super comfy camo jumpsuit, cardigan and sandals on her stories and found the deets for us. And I think I just might need the jumpsuit, because even though the print was made to blend in it totally stands out, just like Bethenny.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here To Shop Her Skinnygirl French Terry Camo Jumpsuit

Click Here To Shop Her Skinnygirl Mouj Waterfall Cardigan

Click Here To Shop Her Louis Vuitton Monogram Slides on eBay

Photo Credit: @bethennyfrankel

Originally posted at: Bethenny Frankel’s Camo Jumpsuit