{"id":893485,"date":"2026-06-26T05:58:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T05:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/893485\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T05:58:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T05:58:13","slug":"doctor-says-people-who-stay-healthy-as-they-get-older-avoid-getting-too-comfortable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/893485\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Says People Who Stay Healthy As They Get Older Avoid Getting Too Comfortable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thinking about aging can feel really overwhelming and uncomfortable. Luckily, there are some simple habits you can develop now, like staying physically active and sleeping well<\/a>, that will continue to benefit you for years to come.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another thing that\u2019s important to staying healthy as you age that isn\u2019t quite so obvious. A geriatrician, or doctor who specifically treats older patients, named Dr. Steph<\/a> shared the one thing she\u2019s found to be most effective in helping her patients live long, healthy lives in a TikTok video.<\/p>\n

The key to remaining healthy in old age is gently stepping out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

Dr. Steph explained<\/a> that all of her patients who are the healthiest now, despite being older, spent their entire lives avoiding something that most people are constantly trying to find more of. None of them got too comfortable, which made it easier for them to adjust to whatever life threw at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo there\u2019s this concept called hormesis, which is your body\u2019s adaptive response to moderate stress,\u201d she shared. \u201cMeaning you want to challenge your body enough to push your body to adapt, but not so strongly that it causes some harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Steph said that finding this balance between not making your life too easy and also not trying to accomplish the impossible \u201cbuilds your biological capacity and increases your resilience.\u201d It gives you the tools that you need to keep living a strong life, but also doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re taking on more than you can handle.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Research Says Most People Suddenly Start Aging Faster At These 2 Specific Ages<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

She thinks this idea can be applied to what you do both physically and cognitively.<\/p>\n

Our bodies and minds are obviously very closely connected, and staying healthy is about so much more than just working out and eating well. Dr. Steph said that trying to not get comfortable is part of physical and mental health as well.<\/p>\n

\"older Marcus Aurelius | Pexels<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if you want to age well in your body, you always want to try new movements, new exercises, new ways of moving your body and challenging your body,\u201d she said. This is actually more simple than it sounds. It means changing up your exercise routine every now and then, even if you\u2019ve gotten used to one thing. For example, someone who runs almost every day might want to give yoga a try.<\/p>\n

As for keeping your brain healthy and strong, the options are a bit more diverse. \u201cIf you think about this in the cognitive realm, you can learn a new skill,\u201d Dr. Steph said. \u201cYou can pick up a new craft. You can even hang around new people and have new conversations about ideas you\u2019ve never talked about before.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: As A Doctor, I Trusted These 5 ‘Healthy’ Habits For Years Until I Realized They Were Aging Me Faster Than Time<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone has heard about the importance of getting out of your comfort zone before, but this perspective is a little different.<\/p>\n

We often tend to think about our comfort zone in terms of what we do socially. Leaving your comfort zone could mean talking to someone new or joining a new club. This gives people the opportunity to learn and grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although we don\u2019t often think of exercising as part of our comfort zone, it\u2019s true when you\u2019ve found a routine that works really well for you and you stick to it without any variation. No exercise is actually bad exercise, but it\u2019s good to not do the same thing every time you go to the gym to work out different muscle groups<\/a> and get a more holistic experience.<\/p>\n

\"older SHVETS production | Pexels<\/p>\n

Hobbies and the things we do in our free time are similar. Participating in activities you enjoy just to have fun keeps your brain functioning well and makes you happier<\/a>. You experience these benefits even more when you\u2019re involved in different kinds of hobbies because they\u2019ll make your brain work in different ways.<\/p>\n

We all value feeling as comfortable as possible for a reason. Change is hard, and it feels nice to just stick with the things we\u2019re used to. That\u2019s no way to build resiliency, though, and it could seriously hold you back when you get older even if it seems fine now.<\/p>\n

RELATED: People On The Verge Of Real Happiness Tend To Have These 8 Uncomfortable Feelings First<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.<\/p>\n

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