Getting older is a joy, and studies seem to support the notion that older people are generally happier than their younger counterparts. Still, it’s just a fact that growing older often brings new challenges that must be proactively managed. As we age, our physical and mental capabilities tend to naturally decline. Taking steps to address these issues head-on is vital for living a happy, independent, and fulfilling life.
Happily, many of the activities that can help improve a person’s well-being as they age are usually pretty fun/interesting/rewarding, and even small amounts of effort can reap benefits. In this post, we’ll run through some of the most effective ways that seniors can nudge their mental and physical well-being in the right direction.
Daily Walking
Movement is key to living well at any age. It’s especially important as a person ages, when the body naturally begins to slow down. You don’t necessarily need to spend an hour in the gym every day to keep your body in its best shape. Even a daily walk can have an impact. Not only does it help to maintain a healthy body weight, strengthen your muscles, and lower your risk of a wide range of health conditions, but it can also improve your mood. In other words: a lot of good can come from setting some time aside to go for a walk, and especially if you do so with friends/family.
Yoga
Did you know that more than 20% of people aged 60 and over routinely practice yoga? Once you understand the benefits, it’ll be easy to understand why. Yoga offers a tremendous amount of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Throw in the fact that it’s relatively easy to do — no specialist equipment required — and often free, and making it part of your routine becomes a no-brainer. Yoga will help to improve balance, reduce joint pain, boost flexibility, keep stress levels down, and improve your sleep. That’s a whole lotta good that can come from an activity that only requires forty-five minutes or so.
Don’t have the confidence to attend an in-person class? Follow along with a YouTube class until you get the hang of things.
Learn a New Skill
Many older people shy away from learning new skills. And that shouldn’t be too surprising; most people of all ages avoid learning new skills. We tend to try a bunch of things in our youth, and then forget that learning new things is even a possibility.
Well, it is, and it’s especially recommended for older people. You have the time and space to learn, and there are a bunch of skills that are particularly recommended for people in retirement. Maybe you’ll learn how to paint, how to cook, or learn a second language. It doesn’t really matter what it is, so long as you enjoy it. Through the process, you’ll be keeping your brain active and getting the satisfaction that comes from pushing yourself.
Play Puzzle Games
Looking for a way to have fun, lower stress levels, and give yourself a mental workout? Then puzzle games are exactly what you need. Games like crosswords, solitaire, chess, and Sudoku offer a wide range of benefits that extend far beyond entertainment. Make playing these puzzles part of your daily routine, and you’ll boost your short-term memory, enhance your problem-solving capabilities, and improve cognitive ability, as well as many other benefits. All of these games are available to play for free online, too, so all you’ll need is an iPad, smartphone, or laptop, and you’ll have an endless supply of games waiting to be enjoyed.
Stay Connected
It’s easy to overcomplicate wellness. In many instances, simply taking care of the basics can go a long, long way to ensuring that your mental and physical health is as strong as can be. By the basics, we mean getting enough sleep and eating healthy, balanced meals.
We also mean staying connected to friends and family. This one is often overlooked because it has a less obvious impact than sleep and diet, but it can be just as important. Studies have shown that staying connected to others can improve mood and self-worth, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Staying social can be a little more challenging as a senior, but there are strategies to increase the amount of time you spend with others. For friends and family, simply sticking to a socializing schedule (rather than waiting for opportunities to arrive) is recommended. You can also socialize with others outside of your initial circle by joining groups and taking classes (for example, a yoga class).
Get Outdoors
We might have included ‘get outdoors’ under the umbrella of ‘go for a walk,’ but we felt it was so important that it needed its own heading. Research is increasingly demonstrating how beneficial spending time in natural spaces can be for one’s overall well-being, especially as we age.
Visiting the outdoors can help to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower the risk of early death, boost mental performance, and boost mood. That’s a lot of benefits that can come from what is essentially an enjoyable and peaceful activity.
Note that you don’t need to go into the wilderness to get the benefits of nature. Even spending time in a nearby state park will do the trick!
Volunteer Your Time
Finally, consider volunteering your time. This strategy is often overlooked, but it can make a world of difference to your experience of life. Not only does it provide an opportunity to connect with others (which, as we mentioned above, is important for overall well-being), but it can also provide a sense of purpose.
There’s no shortage of volunteering opportunities that you can get involved in. Some older adults help mentor young children, while others deliver food or pick up trash in the local community. Think about what you’re interested in, get in touch with a local charity, and see if you can help out — your body and mind, and the community, will thank you.