Staying Young Starts in the Mind, Says Bestselling Author Sven Voelpel In an Interview with beauty.de
When you meet this expert, you can't help but ask yourself: "How old or how young do I actually feel right now?" Because Sven Voelpel, a renowned aging researcher from Bremen, is convinced: Age is a state of mind! The 44-year-old professor must know. With his book "Decide for yourself how old you are," he struck a chord with the times, and his guide became an overnight bestseller in Spiegel. No wonder: Rarely has science known so much about staying young as it does today. Recent research shows that the aging process is only determined by genes to 30 percent. "The other 70 percent can be significantly influenced," explains Voelpel. Even small changes in diet, exercise, or sleep can greatly increase the likelihood of aging healthily. This potential must be utilized because we all can do more than we generally believe. "It's never too late," is therefore the central motto for our individual fountain of youth. "Living life to the fullest" is another secret recipe – and certainly the best anti-aging tip.
Professor Voelpel, the saying "You are only as old as you feel" is confirmed by the latest scientific findings. What does this mean exactly?
I'm happy to explain. The current research results show: Those who think young, are young! Because from psychology, we know that our expectations and thoughts significantly influence our actions. Our lifestyle and attitude towards life have a stronger impact on how healthy and full of life we are than our biology, whether at 30 or 70. Therefore, age alone is not very meaningful.
Could you illustrate this a bit more?
The perceived age can differ significantly from the biological age. Many people are surprisingly fit in old age. They are active, agile, curious, and contribute to staying that way. Being active, staying engaged, and contributing all have an effect that seems to come closer to the fountain of youth than Botox and facelifts. Engaging in activities that bring us joy has been proven to keep us young. It is clearly established: at every stage, a person can develop, reposition themselves, and enrich their personality with additional facets. So: Those who think young, are young! Therefore, I can only urge everyone to eliminate the phrase "I'm too old for that!" and dive into the vibrant life.
In your book, you formulate 10 commandments for a happy old age. One of them is "Curiosity instead of Crossword Puzzles." Can you explain this further?
Certainly! Just ask yourself: When was the last time you did something for the first time? Our brains want to be challenged until old age: gathering new experiences, learning something new, engaging with new topics – this is the best fitness program for our gray matter. Because our brain is like a muscle: if we don't use it, it weakens. But if we continuously challenge it, it performs at its peak. Research shows: our brain forms new synapses even in old age when needed. Crossword puzzles and brain teasers train isolated skills, such as factual knowledge. It's different with complex tasks: they challenge us holistically! So, if you learn a new language or play a musical instrument, you're training comprehensively. Curiosity is a good motivator: visiting an unknown city or volunteering for people from a different culture keeps us sharp, smart, and young.
The possibilities for action are definitely becoming more diverse. What other insights are there for successful digital marketing?
At the same time, we see that in the online world, word-of-mouth marketing is extremely important and influential. "Promoters" or "Influencers" who share positive experiences with a brand or product play a significant role. Additionally, the "content," the convincing media content, is fundamental: helpful service offerings that brands provide to their prospects and consumers. These can be specific makeup tips or tools that help find the right skincare cream.
How can companies, brands, and providers best present themselves on the web?
Digital marketing is based on content. Therefore, brands should first consider what messages they want to convey. To achieve the desired effect, these messages must be credible and relevant to the target audience. The importance of the story behind a beauty or skincare product is exponentially increasing online. It is crucial for brands to tell good stories – more important than ever before. Story and offering should resonate with customers and be appealing to them. A brand that has a clear mission and represents a defined lifestyle can formulate clear messages. The beauty and cosmetics industry has an advantage here because they are familiar with selling their products as an experience or lifestyle offering. However, many brands and product lines are too unfocused, selling a bit of everything. Studies show that specialization wins – and a sharp profile. In our work, we therefore follow the brand identity model. Brand identity and brand story are at the center of every step in developing a digital campaign.
Optimism and "Laugh Lines Instead of Botox": Does a positive attitude help to stay young longer?
Absolutely! The scientific results can be summed up in the following formula: "Those who view age positively age more positively." A life-affirming attitude has been proven to prolong life. As mentioned earlier: our thoughts influence our actions, and our actions create our reality. For example, someone who thinks "I'm still young" reacts differently to challenges than someone who resignedly claims, "I can't do it, I'm too old." We can indeed think ourselves young.
Interesting! Could you elaborate on that a bit more?
Certainly! Important "basic ingredients" are optimism, which strengthens our health. Confidence is also crucial. Because confidence in our abilities significantly determines what is possible for us and what we can achieve. Our inner attitude gives us the opportunity to make the later decades a full, exciting, and in the best sense "vibrant" phase of life. To put it vividly: our inner attitude has a lasting effect, while Botox has a temporary one. From a scientific perspective, it is advisable to structure your life in a way that you find it happy and worthwhile. Do things that bring you joy. This way, you have a good chance of accepting changes, overcoming life crises, and enjoying a feeling of contentment. Choose positive role models for aging, take brave small steps out of your comfort zone, and nurture your social contacts. Invest not only in life insurance but above all in friendships and family ties. They reduce stress and fears, provide joy, and give our lives meaning. All these aspects are essential for a "fulfilling age." Take control of your life – and do everything for laugh lines!
We are naturally interested in the big topic of "Beauty": What tips do you have for readers?
An exciting topic! Because even for "beauty," our self-image influences our very personal beauty, which consists of numerous facets. Smooth skin and flawless bodies are not the only things that count – rather
