Readers had a great threadjack a while ago about how to age well, so we thought we’d condense some of their best tips. (We’ve expanded on some, too — although this definitely isn’t an exhaustive list!)

Readers, at what age did you get serious about aging well? For those of you on the younger side, what things do you try to do to help you age well, and for those of you who are older, what tips and tricks do you think have worked? (Does anyone have any regrets about anything beyond basics like sun and/or cigarette exposure?)

{related: how to feel comfortable in your own skin}

See your doctor regularly. MedlinePlus.gov has handy lists of recommended screenings for women age 18–39 and 40–64. One important fact you should know is that colorectal cancer is becoming a lot more common among millennials and Gen-Xers. Also, if you have a family history, you should talk to your doctor about screening before the usual age of 45.

One reader shared that her older relatives have found cognitive benefits from addressing their hearing and vision issues. In fact, middle-age hearing loss is a major risk factor for dementia, which I just learned while writing this post… (And hearing aids are now over the counter!)

(A related random tip from me, for bifocal wearers: They actually make multifocal contact lenses!)

{related: serums, sunscreen, and retinoids}

Get Botox — if you decide it’s right for you, that is! (Coincidentally, November 16 was apparently is “Botox Cosmetic Day.”) A few readers recommended Botox as part of aging well — and personally, I don’t subscribe to the idea that “aging gracefully” means to simply let nature do its thing. What do you think, readers? (But then, technically, Botox does come from nature…) Botox’s effects last about three to six months.

Over the last several years, “preventative Botox” for people in their 20s and 30s has become a thing — but earlier this year, when the NYT talked to dermatologists and plastic surgeons about it, the article concluded that, sadly, a lot of the evidence that it slows aging is solely anecdotal.

{related: how to go gray . . . intentionally}

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My simple tip for people who have trouble keeping up with a strength training habit is to bite the bullet and hire a personal trainer. I find it hard to motivate myself to strength train at home, so I’ve committed to working out with a trainer twice a week.

{related: here’s how we’re dealing with our graying hair}

Be mindful of what you eat: Readers suggested eating fish and fresh produce, and limiting alcohol, sugar, and cured meats. Experts’ recommendations for eating well as you age include nuts, plant protein, avocados, blueberries, and plenty of fruits and vegetables in general — as well as limited processed foods (read more at EatingWell & The Washington Post).

Educate yourself on aging: One reader recommended Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart — Until You’re 80 and Beyond [affiliate link], which advises how to “improve memory, cognition, mood, and more.”

Two well-reviewed books about menopause that I bought recently (in preparation for perimenopause, whenever that decides to make an appearance…) are The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter and What Fresh Hell Is This?: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna [affiliate links].

{related: a 2012 discussion on whether older women can have long hair (we should definitely revisit!)}

Readers, do tell! What are your tips on how to age well?

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / piotr_marcinski.