Do you wish that you were better able to meet the physical demands of your day? Then set aside negative notions.

A recent study of older adults with knee pain revealed that overly pessimistic people were less able to complete certain tasks, such as walking or climbing stairs, compared to other people. On the other hand, an optimistic attitude may be the motivation you need to try new tasks.

RealAge Benefit: A physical activity program that builds stamina, strength, and flexibility can make your RealAge as much as 8.1 years younger.

Better with Age

Do you frown at the thought of getting older? A more positive attitude toward aging may help you live a longer life.

In a 23-year study, people who recorded the most positive attitudes about getting older appeared to live the longest. For example, people who agreed with such statements as "I am as happy now as I was when I was younger" or "As I get older, things get better" tended to outlive their less optimistic peers.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

I Think I Can

Does the post-holiday letdown have you battling negative feelings? Try putting yourself in a better frame of mind with positive self-talk.

Repeating uplifting and context-appropriate messages to yourself may help you reframe events so that they have a more positive outlook. When negative feelings start to weigh you down, find a positive phrase or word that makes you feel good and repeat it to yourself often.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger

All in the Family

Do the holidays have you overloaded with in-law obligations? Making the most of these interactions may help your marriage.

Research has revealed that your relationship with your partner's family may indeed matter when it comes to marital success. By nurturing your relationship with your spouse's family members, you'll not only increase your circle of social support, but also strengthen the bonds between you and your special someone.

RealAge Benefit: Long-term, loving relationships can make your RealAge as much as 6.5 years younger

A Great Generation

Are current or past events weighing heavily on your heart? Sharing stories could help heal both old hurts and new.

Taking time this weekend to listen to the stories of elderly friends or relatives who have lived through similarly trying times can help inform, inspire, nurture, or heal both parties. Stories from the past not only help put events into perspective, but they also help communicate meaning and reinforce feelings of connectedness between generations.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

Happy to Hear It

If you're searching for good health, look on the bright side.

A recent report suggests that optimists tend to experience smaller increases in stress compared to pessimists. Researchers speculate that optimistic people may find it easier to develop social networks, and supportive social ties can help prevent or alleviate stress and anxiety.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger

Think About It

Could you boost your immunity with your own brainpower? Researchers say maybe so.

A study involving mindfulness meditation revealed that the practice boosted immune system function in participants. Mindfulness meditation is the practice of becoming deeply aware of the present moment through meditation. The stress-reduction qualities of this practice may be the source of its immune-boosting powers.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

For a quick start to mindfulness meditation, sit quietly for 10 to 20 minutes, clearing all thoughts from your head. Breathe deeply and evenly. Focus your eyes softly on an object or close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Note any thoughts or sensations as they occur, but then return to your original focus. Mindfulness meditation also has been called moment-to-moment non-judgmental attention.

Editor's note: I might have been accused of being a space-out had I suggested this when it first crossed my mind years ago. Well, maybe I was.

Community Counts

Starting a community watch program might help make your neighborhood not only safer but also healthier.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that when people feel good about their neighborhood, they are more likely to exercise. Feelings of community may increase perceptions of comfort and safety, making outdoor exercise more appealing.

RealAge Benefit: Having a good social support system of family and friends can make your RealAge up to 3.5 years younger.

If you live in an urban area, consider starting a community garden where you and your neighbors can pursue more active pastimes. If you live in a suburban environment, increase feelings of safety by organizing group walks in the mornings, evenings, or weekends. Or, designate a certain evening of the week as community walk night, so that the streets are filled with other walkers on their own routes. Inviting your neighbors to sign up and train with you for a charity walk or run is another great way to inspire feelings of community.

Goal Digger

One of the keys to a long and loving relationship may lie in the way you support your mate's goals.

A recent study found a correlation between the degree of support couples demonstrated toward each person's individual goals and the success of their bond. People who perceived a high level of support for their personal goals were more likely to be satisfied with the quality of their relationship, compared to people who felt little support.

RealAge Benefit: Long-term, loving relationships can make your RealAge as much as 6.5 years younger.

Teamwork Works

Have you reached an impasse with a friend or family member? If so, cooperation may be the key to a feel-good ending.

Studies show that social cooperation is not merely a survival instinct. Research indicates that our brains associate social cooperation with rewarding experiences. In one study, participants who cooperated in a game experienced increased activity in their brains' reward regions, even when cooperating was not the best strategy for winning the game.

RealAge Benefit: Having a good social support system of family and friends can make your RealAge up to 3.5 years younger.