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5 habits to keep now for healthier golden years

Discover five habits linked with healthy aging, from staying connected to protecting your skin and keeping your body moving

Gabin Vallet / Unsplash

The habits that help you feel better today may also support your well-being years from now. And they don’t have to involve a dramatic lifestyle overhaul. Making time for friends, applying sunscreen, choosing water more often and keeping up with everyday movement are all manageable routines that may pay off over time.

In its look at habits your future self may appreciate, The Healthy points to small choices that can support different aspects of health as you age. Some are easy to overlook because they’re so familiar: calling a friend, flossing before bed or taking a short jog. Others are simple reminders to be more intentional about how you care for your body.

Of course, no single habit can guarantee a longer life, and research linking a behavior with better health doesn’t necessarily prove that it directly causes that outcome. The benefits may also depend on a person’s health, circumstances and ability to maintain the habit. Still, the routines The Healthy highlights offer practical places to start. Especially when they’re approached as sustainable parts of everyday life rather than quick fixes.

The aim isn’t to follow every recommendation perfectly. It’s to find small changes that fit your life and are realistic enough to keep doing. That could mean putting a regular catch-up with a friend on your calendar, keeping sunscreen near the door or adding a few minutes of movement to your day.

Here are five habits that may help you invest in your future health today.

1. Make time for friends and social connection

A busy schedule can make it easy to let social plans slide, but keeping in touch with other people may be more than a........

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