What will help you have a younger outlook?

psychologies DOSSIER With you in mind

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Optimism

Boosting optimism is one of the most powerful ways to pro-age your mindset - we get a wellbeing boost when we view life through a lens of 'things will work out okay'. But life's challenges can have a drip-drip effect, undermining even a naturally positive mindset. Pessimism narrows your focus - and your life in the process - if it means your default response is to run through the potential problems of new possibilities. By contrast, an optimistic mindset puts you in the right place to stay open to people, ideas and options, all of which help keep you younger for longer.

There's more to optimism than plastering on a smile in the face of adversity, however it's more about increasing your tolerance for uncertainty than thinking positive. But consciously strengthening your 'optimism muscle' can help redress a negativity bias, as well as boosting mood. The 'three Ws' exercise is a structured way to regularly focus on the things that went well, savouring the mini triumphs and successes that are so crucial for building confidence but can easily be overshadowed by doubt. At the end of the day, take some time to ask, 'What went well today? What am I pleased about? What part did I play in making that happen?'

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Flexibility