Most of us take care of our bodies, or at least we try to. We think about what we’re eating and try to get some exercise, even when we’re busy. To an extent, this is because we want to stay fit and healthy; you might even be trying to maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds. But, part of our motivation is also a fear of getting older.
We all know that we’re aging, and we hope that we’ll live to a ripe old age. But, we don’t want to think about what this might mean. We want to be old, but we don’t want to look or feel old. We want our bodies to stay fit and healthy. We don’t want to gain weight or start to struggle with our joints. We worry about how we will age, and we’re keen to limit the effects.
You might also have given some thought to how advanced age might affect your mind. Many people practice puzzles and learn languages in an attempt to reduce the mental signs of aging. But, what about your senses? You might have just assumed that as you age, your senses of sight and hearing would start to deteriorate, and there’s nothing that you can do about it. But, there is.
Get Them Checked
If you wear glasses or use a hearing aid, you might already have regular checkups to make sure everything is as it should be. But, even if your sight and hearing seem to be fine, it’s worth getting them checked, just in case. If you do need help, and you aren’t getting it, you might be pushing your senses too hard, which means they will deteriorate much sooner. learn more about hearing aids and some of the other assistance that you might be able to get for your other senses.
Give them a Break
Your senses, like the rest of you, need a break. Have you ever had a headache after staying up reading late, or watching a lot of TVs? Usually, this is because your eyes are tired, and they need a rest. Your ears might also start to ache after a long time in a loud environment. Rest them. The best way to rest any of your senses is by getting a good night’s sleep and taking time to relax in a quiet room.
Challenge Them
But, resting isn’t enough. Your senses also need the challenge to keep working at their best, and even to improve. Challenge your sense of hearing by actively listening. When you are outdoors, take the time to listen. Try to pick out different sounds and identify everything that you can hear. While you are there, you can challenge your smell in the same way. Take a deep breath and ask yourself what you can smell. You can also spend time trying to identify the different scents in things like perfume and wine.
Push your sight by trying to see farther, and looking at things both up close and far away, trying to pick out different colors and tones. For touch, feel things. Touch different textures, and think about how they feel, instead of just brushing past them without thought.
Your sense of taste is perhaps the most fun to exercise. Eat different flavors and meals, try more extreme flavors that you might usually avoid, and challenge yourself to pick out all of the various ingredients in a meal.
