It’s not hard to slow down the mental and physical signs of ageing. Here are 12 effective tips to try out from internationally acclaimed human behaviourist Dr John Demartini

1. Decide what’s meaningful in your life and focus on it. It could be family, work or a social cause, but if it is something that you love, you will want to jump out of bed every morning and do it. Throughout your day you will feel more vital and enthused as you work on what is meaningful to you.

2. Have goals that you are constantly working towards. Inspiring and meaningful challenges keep people innovative and youthful.

3. Don’t get highly stressed. Less day-to-day volatility equals more resilience in the long run.

4. Count your blessings. The more regrets, the shorter the life. The more you are grateful, the more you receive to be grateful for.

5. Embrace new ideas. Study. Read inspiring stories about people who have done extraordinary things.

6. Eat to live, don’t live to eat. Hedonistic gluttons stuff themselves to fill a void. In the West, there are too many people who are overfed, but under-nourished. Don’t put junk in your body. Stimulants such as sugary drinks make you crash and burn. Instead, drink the universal solvent – water.

7. Do a service for somebody. Feeling that you’re purposeful and useful boosts your brainpower.

8. Move your body. Walk (particularly uphill), swim, dance, do yoga, and make love, even if you are 100 years old.

9. Get into the sun briefly for a vitamin D boost for the bones. You need 15 minutes a day, from the morning and evening sun, more so than the midday sun.

10. Practise yogic-style balanced breathing. Breathe in for seven counts, hold for seven, exhale for seven, hold for seven, and repeat 10 times. Do this three times a day.

11. Get adequate rest. How much is necessary varies from person to person. Some people need longer breaks than others.

12. Have somebody to love, as well as loving yourself. Hugs will prolong life.