Have you ever looked at a man and thought, “wow, they look old!”? The reason you might have said that is because of their bad habits. Here are ten of the most common bad habits that make you look older than you are:
Being Sedentary.
Sitting for long periods isn’t good for your health, and it can also make you look older. When you’re inactive, your muscles start to atrophy, leading to a more aged appearance. Being sedentary is a bad habit that many of us have, but we need to make a conscious effort to break it if we want to look younger.
If you want to stay looking young, you need to exercise. It’s as simple as that. When you work out, you’re keeping your muscles toned and firm, which prevents them from atrophying.
And don’t worry – you don’t need to go to the gym every day or spend hours on the treadmill. A brisk walk for 30 minutes a few times a week is more than enough to keep you looking young and healthy [1].
Of course, the more active you are, the better. So try to find a physical activity that you enjoy and stick with it.
Building muscles will also help keep you looking young. When you’re building muscle, the fibers begin to expand and grow bigger over time. This increases your metabolism, so it will also help burn off fat while keeping your muscles toned at the same time. And let’s face it – who doesn’t want a six-pack?
Having a Bad posture.
You might not know it, but bad posture is one of the top bad habits that make you look older. If you’re constantly hunched over your desk or computer, this can lead to a rounder and more slumped appearance. And when you slouch, it puts pressure on your neck muscles, which leads to wrinkles in that area as well.
Sitting up and walking up straight are two of the simplest ways to look younger and more confident. It might take a little bit of practice to get it right, but it will become second nature once you do.
Bad posture can make you look older and less confident. It also puts a lot of stress on your spine, leading to health problems down the road. To maintain good posture, keep your shoulders back and your core engaged. If you find yourself slouching, consciously correct your posture until it becomes a habit.
If your posture is too poor to correct, invest in a Back Brace or Seat Cushion.
Eating Too Much Junk Food.
Processed foods, fried foods, sugary snacks… all of these things negatively affect your health and appearance. Not only are they bad for you, but they can also make you look older.
Junk food causes inflammation in the body, which leads to a bloated and sluggish appearance. And over time, all of that processed sugar will cause wrinkles and age spots.
Overeating junk food is one of the worst things you can do for your health – not to mention your looks. If you want to look young, stick to whole foods like vegetables, proteins, and fats. These are all good for you and won’t negatively affect your appearance. Try to avoid sugar as much as possible, and cut out processed foods to maintain a healthy diet.
Being Stressed Out All the Time.
Stress is another bad habit that can make you look older. When you’re constantly stressed, it shows on your face in the form of wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes.
Stress also has adverse effects on your health, so it’s crucial to find ways to manage it. Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises greatly reduce stress. If you can’t seem to get rid of your stressors, talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you deal with them head-on.
The best way to stay looking young is by keeping yourself calm and relaxed. Stress will only age you prematurely – so learn how to manage it and keep yourself healthy.
Smoking Cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking is one of the worst habits imaginable – not just because it’s dangerous, but because it makes you look older.
Cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals and toxins that will attack your skin from the inside out. Not only does this cause wrinkles and premature aging, but also yellowing teeth and fingers – not a good look for anyone!
If you want to keep yourself looking young, cutting back on cigarettes is one of the best things you can do. If quitting seems too complicated or unrealistic at first, try switching over to electronic cigarettes as an intermediate step. This way, you’ll still get your nicotine fix while protecting yourself against all those nasty chemicals in regular cigs.
Don’t let smoking destroy your appearance – cut back as much as possible so that you can stay and continue looking great well into your golden years.
Drinking Alcohol.
Too much alcohol can also harm your appearance. Heavy drinking leads to dehydration, which causes the skin to lose its elasticity, another of the top ten bad habits that make you look older. When you have poor posture, it can lead to a hunched back and wrinkles in your neck.
Drinking alcohol also leads to poor sleep, which will show on your face as dark circles and puffiness.
Limiting your alcohol intake is vital if you want to stay looking young. Stick to one or two drinks per night, and make sure to drink plenty of water in between alcoholic beverages.
Sleeping Late/Not Enough Sleep.
Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining a good appearance. When you don’t get enough shut-eye, it shows on your face in the form of bags under your eyes, dark circles, and a pale complexion.
Lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain because when you’re tired, you tend to reach for unhealthy snacks instead of meats and vegetables.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin cannot repair itself, and it becomes dried out and wrinkled. Not only that, but lack of sleep also causes dark circles under the eyes – another one of the top ten bad habits that make you look older.
Not getting enough sleep will leave you looking worn down and exhausted all the time! So if you want to keep yourself looking young, try getting at least eight hours per night for best results. This will help keep your skin looking healthy and radiant, and it will also help you maintain a healthy weight.
If this is difficult for some reason (for example, because of family obligations), take a nap during the day so that you’re still getting eight hours every 24 hours. That way, you can avoid the adverse effects of too little sleep.
Sleeping late has the same effect as not getting enough sleep – you’ll look older than your actual age! So make sure to get up at a reasonable hour every morning, even if it means waking up early on weekends or days off. This way, you’ll be able to balance out all those weekend parties and still wake up looking fresh-faced in time for work Monday morning.
Too Much Sun Exposure Without Protection.
Getting too much sun is another of the top ten bad habits that make you look older.
Over-exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer and other serious health problems, so it’s essential to use sunscreen every time you go out in the sun – even if it’s just for a few minutes!
Not only will this protect your skin against signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots, but it’ll also prevent potential long-term damage such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
If possible, try wearing sunglasses when you’re outside on sunny days. This will help keep harmful UV rays from reaching your eyes and causing damage there later down the road.
Try not to get excessively tanned by using self-tanning lotions instead of going out in the sun. These products can help protect your skin from damage and dark spots while still providing that summer glow you might be craving!
Not Using Moisturizer.
It’s essential to moisturize your skin because it helps keep your complexion looking vibrant and youthful. When you don’t moisturize, the top layer of your skin becomes dried out – leading to wrinkles and fine lines, which make you look much older than you really are!
This is especially true for men with dry skin. Those who have oily skin can get away with using moisturizer less frequently, but it’s still important to use it if you want to maintain a youthful appearance.
Keeping your skin moisturized is especially important during times of extreme weather, such as the winter months when the cold air can be very drying to sensitive types of skin. Those with dryer skin should regularly use good quality lotion to keep their complexion looking vibrant and healthy!
There are many different types of moisturizers available, so find one that works best for your skin type and your budget.
Not only that, but dry skin is also more prone to irritation and other problems like eczema or dermatitis – so it’s best not to skip this critical step in any skincare routine. Try using a thick cream at least twice per day (once before bed and once after showering) for the best results. You’ll notice an improvement almost immediately as soon as you add this simple step to your daily routine.
In dry areas, you can install humidifiers in your bedroom and office to increase the moisture in the air. This will help with dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
Wearing clothes that make you look like an old man.
Wearing clothes that are too baggy or unflattering is one of the most common bad habits that make you look older. Oversized sweaters, shapeless pants, and other frumpy garments can make you look much older than you are—so it’s important to choose your wardrobe carefully!
If you’re unsure what styles work best for you, take a few minutes to browse through fashion magazines or this blog to get some ideas.
Many different style options are available these days, so there’s no need to stick with the same old clothes year after year. You might even be surprised at how good you’ll start looking once you start dressing in a more youthful way!
The clothes that you wear can also contribute to how your age is perceived.
It’s also important not to dress too young for your age. Men in their 40s and 50s should avoid wearing clothes that are too tight or too flashy – as these will make you look like you’re trying too hard to look younger.
Instead, opt for a more mature style that still reflects your sense of personal style and fashion preferences – but doesn’t make you look like a kid trying to hang out with the big boys.
Not only that, but it’s important not to wear too large or baggy clothes. This will only make you look larger and older than you are.
Wearing the wrong colors can also age you prematurely – so make sure to avoid wearing clothes that are too bright or flashy. Instead, go for earth tones and other darker shades of color that will help to flatter your complexion.
Conclusion.
As you can see, men do many different things that cause them to look older. However, by avoiding these bad habits and making a few small changes in your daily routine, it’s easy to avoid looking much older than you really are!
What are some bad habits that you need to break to look younger? Let us know in the comments below!
Lenny Terra is the founder & editor-in-chief. He’s a life coach, software engineer, freelance writer, and has a diploma in Modern Applied Psychology. Lenny has a passion for great living & beautiful design. He is married and is the father of two beautiful girls. His life’s mission is to help people improve their lives, become happier and more productive. This blog is his contribution to that goal and to the empowerment of his readers. Lenny and his family live in Texas with their two dogs.