Not maintaining your balance. As we age, we lose our balance, which can spell falls and fractures. (Each year, more than 1.6 million older Americans land in the emergency room because of fall-related injuries, according to the National Institute on Aging.) "Balance goes unnoticed until it's gone," says Lorraine Maita, a New Jersey-based internist and author of Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier. But you don't have to lose it. To avoid being off-balance before your time, "try sports that require agility, like tennis," she says. Stability balls, yoga, and dance are also good bets.
Not wearing sunglasses. You must protect your eyes from UV radiation. Spending long hours exposed to these rays without adequate protection can raise the risk of cataracts (a clouding of the eye lens that can blur vision), snow blindness (a temporary burn to the cornea), and skin cancer around the eyelids, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you're around snow, water, or sand, know that these elements reflect UV rays, which can amplify the amount reaching your eyes and skin. The fix: Wear sunglasses outside, even on cloudy days, advises the EPA. Make sure the label says they block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. And if your new shades make you look good, too? Well, that's just a bonus.
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