How to avoid aging? Essay

I believe aging well is determined by three factors Physical Health, Outlook on Life, and Connections. Based on how I live my life now, I do not believe that I would age very well. In order for me to aging well, I need to work on my physical health, while still maintaining a positive outlook on life and connections.
In order to improve the success of my aging, I need to improve my physical heath. According to an article sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (7 Steps to Aging Well, 2007), several steps to aging well are to control blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, exercise, stop smoking, and not drinking to much. Right now, my physical health is lacking and is detracting from my potential of aging well. Although I do not drink or smoke, I am overweight, and, as a result of a bad diet, my blood pressure and cholesterol are higher than normal. Being overweight, with high blood pressure and cholesterol can lead to more serious health risks, and in the long run, death. In order to fix this, I have started to exercise more frequently, and have incorporated more fruits, and vegetables into my diet.
While many people may believe that the key to aging well is in maintain physical health, the truth is that it is not the only factor in determining whether or not people age well. Aging well is also based on our outlooks on life, and the connections we make. Our outlooks on life are based on our mental health, our beliefs that we can accomplish things, if we feel valued by our friends and family, and even spirituality. I believe that my outlook on life is very positive. I know my self-worth and I feel that, at this point in my life, I also have a very healthy mental state. My healthy mental state may be connected to my strong spirituality. I am very involved in my church and have always followed the Christian faith. As such, I have come to use prayer as a form on stress relief. I have also made a lot of strong connections throughout my life. I have a strong support system from my friends and family. I think a lot of students may struggle with this aspect of aging well because, when coming to UF or any college, many students start out not knowing anyone. As such, these students lack a support system. Without that support system, other aspects of aging well start to be effected. Once we lose our support system, then we begin to question our value to the community and our mental health starts to deteriorate. Once are mental health starts to deteriorate, so can our physical health. Because I am very involved around campus, I have been able to make many close friends and have been able to building strong connections.
Works Cited
"7 Steps to Aging Well." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2007. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.