Bad habits that make you look and feel old

Aging is something that everyone faces, and looking and feeling younger is an industry that generates billions of dollars in the U.S. There are some habits that many people have acquired that can make them feel or look older than their years. By making some simple changes and losing these bad habits, you can look and feel younger.

Not getting enough sleep

If you’re a night owl, it can have long-term effects including bags under the eyes and droopy, tired eyelids. It can also contribute to mental fatigue and depression.

Eating processed foods

If you find that you’re eating on the run, or if most of the meals you prepare at home are from a box or can, you’re not doing your health or looks any good. The levels of sodium, fat and cholesterol are heavy, which accelerates the aging process and increases the likelihood of obesity. Avoid processed foods and eat more whole foods to reduce the amount of added sugar and fat in your diet in order to decrease these risks.

You don’t exercise regularly

If you exercise only when you want to lose weight, you may be cheating yourself out of longevity. Regular exercise also helps control high blood pressure, improve mood and keeps us strong and flexible as we age. A good goal is 30 minutes of aerobic activity every day.

Smoking

There is a clear link between smoking and longevity. The earlier you quit, the more years you add to your life. Smoking causes the release of free radicals and smokers have higher risks to develop almost any disease including cancer, heart disease and dementia, just to name a few.

Not drinking enough water

Drinking water is not only good for your metabolism, it could be a key to younger-looking skin. Water helps the skin to retain moisture and helps deliver essential nutrients to the skin. Loss of hydration can cause dryness, tightness, flakiness and wrinkling, which can make you look older.

Drinking to excess

Studies have shown that a moderate amount of alcohol can have heart-healthy benefits, but drinking in excess shortens your life. Excess alcohol has been shown to lead to heart failure and high blood pressure as well as cirrhosis of the liver and weight gain.

Eating sweets

Eating a diet high in sugar adds calories, which we all know adds weight, but it can even cause skin problems, especially acne and wrinkles. Yes, wrinkles. The sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins, which damage nearby protein fibers that keep skin elastic.

Rubbing your eyes

If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer, you can develop tired eyes. But know this: rubbing your eyes breaks down the collagen and elasticity around the area, which produces wrinkles and broken capillaries. For relief from tired or irritated eyes, try brewing two green tea bags and allow them to cool, then place them over your eyes for 10 minutes.

Sleeping with your face in the pillow

If you sleep face down, pressing your face into a pillow can cause trauma to the skin. Over time, this and the aggravation caused by the friction of a cotton pillowcase can create permanent creases in your skin as collagen breaks down. Replace the cotton pillowcases with satin and learn to sleep on your back.