Ask any older person what their biggest regrets are, and the fact they did not look after their bodies when they were younger is sure to feature highly. Our bodies, when younger, are a well-oiled machine. And just like a machine, it will last far longer if we drop oil into it when it is at the top of its game rather than waiting for rust and seizure to creep in.

Exercises are key, and this is not even something that needs to be strenuous and time-consuming. Half an hour to an hour of exercise a day that focuses on encouraging healthy joints, stronger muscles (we’re not talking about bodybuilding here) and tone will have far more effect on someone in their mid-20s than it will on someone approaching 50. Similarly, aerobic exercise and general work on our cardiovascular system will see our heart, lungs and other internal organs remain in peak condition for far longer. We’ve all seen someone desperately running around trying to turn back the clock when it’s too late, and we have all heard about people giving themselves heart attacks whilst out running. The truth is that the earlier we adopt strict discipline with our bodies, the better we will look, feel and operate over time.

Mental stimulation is also key in fighting ageing early on. Keeping the body free of mind altering and recreational substances is now more important than ever, now that the long-term effects of many recreational drugs are known. For those of us who never indulged, proactive mind exercises are just as important. Even spending 10 to 15 minutes a day (why not in your lunch break?) going over crossword or arithmetic puzzles is shown to stimulate key areas of our brain and prevent mental ageing. Yoga and meditation are also excellent ways to clear our mind, give our brains a boost and help in the fight against many of the conditions that are now affecting the older generation.

We do not need to live a fun free lifestyle, but the earlier we get sensible, the longer we will enjoy a youthful life.