This Is Your Ultimate Guide To Aging, Whether You're 20 Or 70

Lindsay Holmes
(Photo: filadendron via Getty Images)
(Photo: filadendron via Getty Images)

We know that everyone’s life experiences are vastly different. Your trajectory ― including what’s in your bank account, how your relationships unfold or the state of your well-being ― is never going to be the same as your best friend’s or your co-worker’s or even your mom’s.

But there’s one universal thread in all of this: We’re all getting older as we navigate these things.

That’s why we’re launching Aging In America, an ongoing project on HuffPost Life that tackles the one thing we all having in common ― aging ― from every angle of our lives. We’ll offer expert-backed guidance on everything from your health to your finances to your sex life to family planning and more.

Research shows how you feel about growing older can affect how you age. One study found that a positive attitude about aging can reduce your risk of dementia later on. Another study discovered that your outlook on aging can directly affect how you deal with stress on a daily basis. In other words, the more you embrace aging, the better off you’ll be.

Think of this series as a giant guide to help you do that, no matter how old you are. We’ve got advice from people in their 60s on what they want those in their 20s to know about sex. We have guides on how to take care of your skin at every age and what medical tests you should schedule in each decade of your life. We have information on what you should know about fertility from a young age and commentary on why it’s awesome to be an older parent. There are also stories about easy ways to save for your retirement and how you can realistically manage those awful student loans as you enter new phases of your life.

Our ultimate goal? To demystify aging and confront the stereotypes that make it all seem a little scary. Because here’s the truth: Getting older is inevitable, but loathing it is optional. We’re here to navigate it ― happily ― instead, whether you’re 20 or 70.

Take a look through the topics here to see what we’ve got for you so far and stay tuned for more. And do you have a question about aging you want answered? Send it over to us by emailing wellness@huffpost.com. We’ll look into it. Happy aging!

Also on HuffPost

Try the "chocolate meditation" technique. This allows you to fully savor the sweet treat. <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindfulness-in-frantic-world/201109/the-chocolate-meditation" target="_hplink">Instructions here</a>.
Try the "chocolate meditation" technique. This allows you to fully savor the sweet treat. Instructions here.
Write your worries down <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/stress-sleep-insomnia_n_2019418.html" target="_blank">in a journal</a>.
Write your worries down in a journal.
Peel an orange. Studies show <a href="http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/scent-citrus-shown-reduce-stress#ixzz2NeCzO1Uz" target="_blank">the smell of citrus</a> can help reduce stress.
Peel an orange. Studies show the smell of citrus can help reduce stress.
Read a book for <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html" target="_hplink">six minutes</a>.
Read a book for six minutes.
Eat an avocado. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in the superfood can <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/advice/reduce-stress-foods" target="_hplink">lower blood pressure</a>.
Eat an avocado. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in the superfood can lower blood pressure.
Take a walk in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904199404576538260326965724?mod=djemLifeStyle_h&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424053111904199404576538260326965724.html%3Fmod%3DdjemLifeStyle_h" target="_hplink">green space</a>.
Hang out with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/28/best-friend-stress-levels_n_981080.html" target="_hplink">your BFF</a>.
Hang out with your BFF.
Spend a few minutes<a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever" target="_hplink"> focusing on your breath</a>.
Spend a few minutes focusing on your breath.
Take a <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/031429_power_naps_energy.html" target="_hplink">power nap</a>.
Take a power nap.
Bring your dog to work. Research suggests having Fido in the office can <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/30/149684409/take-your-dog-to-the-office-and-stress-less" target="_hplink">lower stress levels throughout the day</a>.
Listen to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15327344" target="_hplink">Mozart</a>.
Listen to Mozart.
Try some aromatherapy. One 2009 study found it's an <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19571632" target="_hplink">effective stress-relief technique</a>, especially for high school students.
Try some aromatherapy. One 2009 study found it's an effective stress-relief technique, especially for high school students.
Let out a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21804338" target="_hplink">laugh</a>.
Let out a laugh.
Get a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/25/massage-stress-swedish-cortisol-white-blood-cells-oxytocin_n_2160329.html" target="_hplink">massage</a>.
Get a massage.
Give someone a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740822" target="_hplink">big hug</a>.
Give someone a big hug.
Belt it out at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">karaoke</a>...
Belt it out at karaoke...
...Or sing in your <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/choir-singing-anxiety-_n_3147861.html" target="_hplink">church choir</a>.
...Or sing in your church choir.
Do a small <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">project or craft</a>.
Do a small project or craft.
Take up knitting. Research shows the activity <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">puts your brain in a state of flow</a> similar to the one achieved through meditation.
Speaking of which, try a little <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/mindfulness-meditation-cortisol-stress-levels_n_2965197.html" target="_hplink">mindfulness meditation</a>.
Speaking of which, try a little mindfulness meditation.
Have <a href="http://greatist.com/happiness/how-does-sex-reduce-stress" target="_hplink">sex</a>.
Have sex.
Unsubscribe from all of those <a href="http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2014/10/01/what-email-does-to-your-brain/" target="_hplink">promotional emails</a>.
Unsubscribe from all of those promotional emails.
Kiss a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/hugging-health-valentines-day_n_2545226.html" target="_hplink">loved one</a>.
Kiss a loved one.
Call <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/12/stress.mother.voice.call/" target="_hplink">your mom</a>.
Call your mom.
Do a <a href="http://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/musclerelaxation.cfm" target="_hplink">progressive muscle relaxation</a> exercise.
Do a progressive muscle relaxation exercise.
Take an <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/taking-e-mail-vacations-can-reduce-stress-study-says/" target="_hplink">email vacation</a>. (Bonus: It also makes you more productive.)
Take an email vacation. (Bonus: It also makes you more productive.)
<a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/12/2/117.short" target="_hplink">Forgive</a> someone.
Forgive someone.
Think about something you're <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/02/06/how-successful-people-stay-calm/" target="_hplink">grateful for</a>.
Think about something you're grateful for.
Exercise. Research shows it helps boost the <a href="http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/exercise-stress.aspx" target="_hplink">body's ability to handle stress</a>.
Exercise. Research shows it helps boost the body's ability to handle stress.
Be mindful of how you deal with frustration <a href="http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/6-surprising-stress-fixes?page=2" target="_hplink">during an argument</a>.
Be mindful of how you deal with frustration during an argument.
Drink <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/media/library/tea" target="_hplink">black tea</a>.
Drink black tea.
Power down that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/relieve-stress-everyday_n_5627837.html" target="_hplink">smartphone</a> for a few minutes.
Power down that smartphone for a few minutes.
Walk the walk. Research shows if you carry yourself like a happy person, <a href="http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/10/walk-like-a-happy-person-be-a-happier-person.html?utm_source=cheetah&utm_medium=email&om_rid=AAEMg8&om_mid=_BUR-73B89GTJzJ" target="_hplink">you'll feel happier, too</a>.
Drink some <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/vitamin-c-stress-buster" target="_hplink">orange juice</a>.
Drink some orange juice.
Chew <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19268676" target="_hplink">gum</a>.
Chew gum.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.