Change Up Your Routine

Healthy ways to reinvent yourself and help the aging process

Aging gracefully is as much about feeling good on the inside as feeling good on the outside. It's never too late to make changes to reinvent yourself and maximize your mental and physical well-being.

Self-improvement is at the top of many women's to-do lists, and doing so can take many forms. According to a recent survey, 73 percent of women said they'd reinvented themselves since they turned 40 by improving their health, finding a new passion or changing their career.

Eighty-three percent of survey participants (women, ages 40-plus) think the greatest obstacle to reaching their full potential is what they think of themselves, rather than what others think of them. Follow these tips to become your own best friend and take steps toward creating a happier, healthier you.

Give proper attention to your diet.

A common form of reinvention is improving your eating habits. A balanced diet that promotes a healthy digestive system is an important step in creating a healthier you. Starting each day with a nutritious breakfast is one easy change. Fill your menu with nutrition you can see and wholesome ingredients.

Take time to understand yourself.

Digging deep to understand your true passions may help reveal a new, more fulfilling path in life, whether it be in the form of new hobbies or even a new career. If you're not sure where to start, begin by making a running list of situations which capture your attention, such as news articles or engaging conversations. Over time, look for patterns to emerge. Topics or themes rising to the top could signal a special interest you may have overlooked in the past.

Nurture valuable relationships.

Knowing (and loving) yourself comes first, but having a strong support system is also important for overall well-being. While it's important for women to surround themselves with people who will boost them up, that boost doesn't always have to come from another woman. When they need a good laugh, 59 percent of women in the survey said they turn to their significant other. Investing time to strengthen your personal connections improves not only the health of those relationships, but the effects of those relationships on your physical health, as well.

While charting a new path may seem daunting, focusing on your physical and mental health as you work to introduce change into your life can smooth the way to reinventing a better and brighter you.