DIY Healthy Aging

Well, this week’s article came barreling through during a guided meditation. I love it when the words simply appear in my head, and I just need to capture them with the keyboard!

Healthy aging is the assignment I’ve been given for 2025, and this is the second installation of a series that has yet to reveal itself in entirety. Read on if you’re interested in wellness rooted in embodiment, empowerment, and spirituality and are willing to make a concerted effort on a consistent basis.

DIY healthy aging is what’s on the agenda for today. What do I mean by this? Don’t rely exclusively on the medical system for all your needs. Most doctors specialize in a tiny sliver of the the human being and often miss the complexity and interdependence of all our parts.

In addition to your checkups and whatnot, I highly encourage exploring the wide variety of holistic healing, self-care tools available.

(I’d also advise some serious discernment in this area too. Any yahoo can call himself a psychic, medium, guru, or healer. Listen to your gut if you don’t have a recommendation from a trusted source.)

You already know that you need nutrients, water, air, sunlight, movement, purpose, and connection to thrive. I’m guessing we all can make some upgrades in at least one of these departments. Rather than freaking out about all the things you’re not doing 100% right, just choose one thing you’d like to add to your days. Three conscious breaths, a vegetable with dinner, 10 minutes outdoors at lunch. One thing. Then build on that every month.

There’s no shortage of information available about the basics so I won’t reinvent the wheel here. I’m pretty sure you already know all this stuff and maybe just need a nudge to get going with your upgrades. Consider yourself gently, but firmly, nudged.

What I’m offering below is a synthesis of what I’ve learned over the course of my journey. Working in the healing arts for 21 years and with my own health issues has taught me a lot. Not having kids or a crazy work schedule has allowed me lots of time to absorb lots of fascinating information, much of which has found its way into my daily routine. There are several remedies that I believe can help everyone, no matter what ails you.

1. Nervous system regulation. My first post delved into the why you need this and why it’s your job to do the work cuz nobody else can. I rather thought today’s post was going to get into the how-to aspect of NS regulation, but apparently that’s for another day.

2. Heal your gut. We Americans have the most dreadful diets. Combined with the insane amount of chemicals in our food and how freely scripts for antibiotics are written, well, most of us have room for improvement when it comes to the biome.

3. Support your mitochondria. These are the power plants of our cells. Modern day lifestyle does not do our mitochondria any favors. When our cells don’t have the energy they need to function optimally, all systems suffer. Good Energy, by Casey Means is full of helpful information about providing our cells with the best chance of functioning optimally.

4. Fill your life-force tank. There are lots of ways to do this. Reiki, tai chi, qi gong, kundalini yoga, time in nature, time with friends, laughter, creative expression, and so much more. This might be the easiest place to start because small deposits every day accumulate and contribute to overall wellness.

5. Feel your emotions. Bonus points for finding a healthy way to express them, such as journaling or shadow boxing.

6. Harmonize circadian rhythms. This is new to me- not in the knowing, but the doing. I don’t yet have much to say (shocker!) except I know it’s imperative.

Voila; there you have a solid recipe for healthy aging. This is the foundation, but you might like add to add some spice. If you’re new to DIY holistic healing, you might be best served by seeking a professional to guide you. If you’re rusty, here’s another nudge to get you motivated.

· Aromatherapy. Not just good smells, essential oils are potent medicine that affect your biochemistry.

· Flower essences. Vibrational healing for all sorts of emotional concerns. Check out Green Hope Farm’s products but don’t go crazy and buy everything all at once! (Not that I’d know anything about that 😉)

· Herbs, such as teas, tinctures, and salves. Nature’s medicine in its complete form. I think we can all benefit from having more of this in our medicine cabinets.

· Reflexology. Fascinating stuff! You can stimulate and harmonize organs and glands through the feet. That reminds me that I’m due to apply some diluted cinnamon oil to my adrenal points.

· Homeopathy. More medicine from nature. You’ll find remedies for topical and internal use at your health food store for a wide array of issues, including pain and insomnia.

· Visualization. Holy moly, is the body-mind connection ever potent! Drop into a feeling state by embodying the emotions and sensations you desire while visualizing and… KABOOM! Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain is a classic resource.

· Prayer. You needn’t belong to an organized religion to ask for support and guidance. Try asking to accept your current circumstances and be willing to go in the direction your soul wishes you to go.

· Bodywork. I’m a huge proponent of Swedish massage. Day after day, I see clients’ tension melt away as they drop into a state of deep relaxation. There are countless varieties of massage and bodywork, though, and they all have different benefits. I stand strongly by my professional opinion that whatever technique is employed, IT SHOULD NOT HURT. Don’t be afraid to ask the practitioner in advance if they can provide a treatment without pain.

Do some research, perhaps starting with whatever appeals to you the most. When I do an online search for something like essentials oil for xyz, I scroll right past the NIH, WebMD, Healthline, etc. and seek out a website of someone who specializes in aromatherapy. I have no interest in the limited view of researchers who don’t eat, breathe, and live in the world of plant medicine.

Which brings me to another topic that doesn’t quite fit here, but is important nonetheless. If you have a health condition, learn everything you can about it, what will affect it positively and negatively, and what you absolutely must avoid. I’m always amused by the disclaimer of “ask your doctor” that precedes everything from meditation to herbal cteas to pranayama to any type of movement. Be the expert when it comes to your wellness. Don’t rely on someone who spends 10 minutes with you annually to know if ginseng or vinyasana is for you. Do they even know how these things affect your physiology or psychology? Doubtful.

What I’m really going on about here, is that we all need to be involved in steering our healthcare in the direction we want to go, in ways that align with our values and goals. The norm here in America is to give our power away to medical professionals who often don’t see the big picture. It doesn’t seem to be working well for most people. There is a different route if you don’t mind rocking the boat and doing the work.

Please don’t read this article as a to-do list. Think of it more like a menu. What do you see here that you’d like to try? Pick one thing and commit to doing it for a month. Then reevaluate. Is it helping? Do you need more time to tell? Does it need to be tweaked or scheduled at a different time of day? Are you ready to add something else for another month-long experiment?

When it comes to lifestyle changes, because that’s what I’m talking about here (there are no quick fixes when it comes to wellness), slow and steady wins the race. In order for a shift to be sustainable, it needs to be doable and hopefully pleasurable or provide pleasurable results. It helps to choose goals you can actually achieve and get dopamine hits for checking off the boxes rather than failing repeatedly.

I’m currently working on the circadian rhythms, which is why you’ll find me bundled up on the porch each morning at sunup, and healing my gut, which is why my fridge is overflowing with vegetables. These are lifelong pursuits, so I’m forever looking for modifications to make my efforts less effortful and more rewarding. Hence the thick fleece, too-large pants that I can pull on over my regular pants to keep me warm and the twice monthly produce delivery. These are small investments that work for me now.

What about YOU?

What area are you going to invest your attention and energy in to start? I’d love to hear! I can probably provide resources about any of these strategies if you want to know more. Just ask!