Getting out of bed in the morning might prove to be a painful task if you're not exactly aging well. Bones and muscles are more susceptible to damage as you age, so it's imperative that you take better care of yourself as you progress in years. And that's only the half of it. Use these age-friendly tips to help you out.

Skip the heavy makeup and powders every now and then. Although they make us look lovely for the short term, they are contributing to the aging of your skin. Makeup generally hurts the skins ability to hydrate and stay elastic. Give your skin a break and take a few days off a week from more than just a slip of lip gloss.

Keeping your cholesterol under control is important for aging well. A build up of cholesterol can raise your risk of stroke or heart attack. Eating a diet low in animal fats and high in fiber can help keep your cholesterol level under control by increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol and reducing your LDL (bad) cholesterol.

In order to keep your body from aging it is very important that you get the right amount of sleep. For most people, the way they look is largely dependent on how much sleep they get. Having eight hours of sleep every night is ideal but it varies from person to person.

Always try and learn new things as a means to feel young. Learning should happen all throughout your life.

You must get plenty of calcium to aid in the prevention of osteoporosis. Milk, skim milk, yogurt, and low-fat cheeses can be good ways to get calcium. Broccoli contains a large amount of calcium as well as other veggies. And take your calcium supplements. Women need 1500 to 2000 mg after menopause and men after the age of 65.

Strong friendships are great for your emotional health and provide energy and vitality. Age is irrelevant when it comes to forming new friendships. Go out the door, find new people and create friendships to lead far more than just a life worth living.

As the years pass, your home begins to become a place you consider a safe place. When life becomes stressful, you should be able to return to your home and enjoy yourself in a highly personal, comforting environment. Your home is always there waiting to welcome you back.

As you age, watch your sugar intake. Sugars have been been found to be directly linked to the negative effects of aging, including a decreased lifespan! To increase your longevity, take sugar out of your diet and replace it with natural sweeteners. It can add years to your life.

Staying properly hydrated has never been more important to you than now! Aging is hard on the body and providing it with plenty of water will help flush toxins, bring nutrients to cells, hydrate skin and make it easier on every function of your body! Most experts recommend about eight glasses of water each day, so drink up for healthier aging!

Growing older happens to all of us – we just need to know how to do it gracefully! But thanks to tips in articles like these, you can at least be properly informed about aging, so that nothing takes you by surprise.