Afraid of getting old? What to do

Every year we celebrate birthdays, which is a special moment in everyone's life. It feels wonderful to blow candles, cut cake and be showered with birthday wishes.

These are indeed times of joy and celebration, but at the same time, we often find ourselves mourning the youth we've left behind. This is even part of the reason why women find it hard to admit how old they really are because it's not exciting to know that your appearance is changing.

However, it's actually normal not to want to grow old. If you fight the thought, you can overcome the fear of getting older. These tips could be just what you need:

Accept that everyone ages

The fear of growing old can actually make you obsessive. You will want to get a hold of every anti-ageing cream, and 'miracle' serum and maybe even find yourself in a midlife crisis.

To avoid ageing in a chaotic way, you can accept that everyone grows old and it's not a big deal. Once you stop running away from this fact, you will feel more settled and confident in who you are.

Celebrate the present

Ruminating on the past can set you up for depression and obsessing over the future can make you miss out on life completely.

• Returning to work after maternity leave
• Teach your children good values at an early age
• Keeping your children busy over the holidays
• Safely include your children in the kitchen with these tips

So, what you can also do is learn techniques that help you focus on the present. This will encourage more gratitude and positivity in your life.

Make your life count

It's possible that your fear of growing old is tied to feelings of inadequacy. It could be that you're not really afraid of ageing itself but the realization that you won't accomplish anything meaningful in life.

This is a sign you need to think about how you can feel more fulfilled and how you can positively impact someone's life. Could it be choosing to spend more time with your kids, writing a book or starting your own charity? Whatever it is, make it happen.

Start living a healthier life

Most people fear growing old because of the health problems that come with age. It's honestly a scary thought to think of your health slowly breaking down.

While some health issues are inevitable at some point, you can still do your best right now to prevent many of them. Changes like limiting low-quality foods and being more active can make a huge impact on how you age.

Also, managing stress levels early is crucial for a healthier and happier life. These are things you can start right now to get rid of your fears.

Prioritize relationships

Prioritizing your loved ones instead of material things is a way to age happily and gracefully. Many of us are more focused on things like money and forget to connect more with the people we love.

Make it a priority to call and visit your loved ones whenever you can, and make the most out of those moments. That way you will focus more on sharing your life with others rather than living an isolated life as you age.