What are you doing to your body when you neglect the little things? It is hard enough living as a senior citizen, so why make it worse by not taking care of yourself? The goal of this blog post is to educate readers on the importance of maintaining psychical and mental wellbeing as we age by following some easy steps in our day-to-day lives. Especially the ones who are stuck at home or confined to senior living facilities such as assisted living or memory care, battling through isolation. So if you are an older adult, forgetting to show some self-love lately, read on!
Wellness is a state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort. When we adopt this lifestyle approach that considers all dimensions – physical, emotional, intellectual and social health – it becomes critical to address aging with an eye out for wellness.
Before we talk about different wellness practices, let us discuss why self-care is important especially for the older adults.
Firstly, as we age, our needs and desires change. In order to maintain a good quality of life, it is important that these changes are met with the appropriate adjustments in lifestyle.
Secondly, as we get older, many people will have some type of health condition; even if you do not know what yours is yet. With this being said, taking care of ourselves is not a luxury but a necessity for living a healthy and fulfilling life.
Third, one of the best ways for seniors and retirees to stay connected and have an active lifestyle with others their age or younger is through wellness practices. They can learn new skills, meet other people their age or younger people who are doing similar things like them, and get in shape while having fun with others.
Since every phase of our life is an opportunity to pursue wellness, it is important that we find a way to make the most out of this exciting new chapter. Here are some of the best wellness practices seniors can do at home:
Create a morning routine
Setting up your morning routine will make sure you start the day on a positive note. The first thing to do? Make that bed! Doing so quickly gives you an instant sense of accomplishment and energy, which is just what is needed for starting out your day right. Next, drink some water or tea (you earned it) before doing light exercises in order to get those blood flowing again after being inactive all night long.
Eat healthy and exercise
This is a must in order to maintain or improve your health condition, as well as lose weight if you need it. Start learning about nutrition to maintain or improve your health condition in the long run. Avoid eating too much sugar, refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats and add more fiber, liquids and protein in your diet.
When it comes to exercise, make sure you do at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. It does not have to be anything intense. Try exercising in the form of walking, jogging or stretching. Also, if you are capable of performing your IADL and ADL, that could substitute for light workouts as well!
Start practicing yoga
Yoga can aid balance, flexibility, strength and overall wellness for seniors of all ages. It will also help lessen the effects of arthritis, joint pain as well as help reduce anxiety and stress. There are many easy to follow videos on YouTube to get you started. You can also visit your local library and pick up a book about yoga or meditation.
Bring a pet into your home
A study has shown that having a furry friend in the house can help reduce stress and anxiety levels for seniors. It also helps with loneliness, which is common among senior citizens who live alone. Also, having a pet can keep you active and mobile as they are often very playful and keep you on your toes!
Prepare a nice bath or shower
Even if you do not have the luxury to go out and have a spa-day, you can prepare yourself a nice bath with your favorite essential oils. This can help you reduce stress and muscle pain. It can also be a nice way to relax in the evening before bed.
A shower is another great option if you are at home, it allows for more movement than a bath as well as time to wash your hair. There’s nothing like that fresh feeling after a good old scrub down!
Start journaling
Journaling is one of the best ways to express your feelings and think through problems. The benefits don’t stop there, though! Journaling can also make you a more creative person by inspiring better art or writing; it has been known as “a workout for mental muscles.” It is never too late to start journaling, either – practicing this exercise will lead to healthier physical and emotional outcomes.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is a technique that has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing. People who practice it have reported feeling less anxious, angry, or depressed as well as being more content with the moment they are experiencing. Scientists believe mindfulness can help people live happier lives by making them aware of their mental state in any given situation so that adjustments may be made accordingly; for example if someone notices themselves getting too stressed out during an event where there should not be enough pressure then he/she would know just how much work needs to put into lowering one’s anxiety level before heading back into such circumstances again!
Stay connected to friends and family
Isolation for the elderly can have an adverse effect on their mental health and makes them more vulnerable than they already may be in terms of attracting predators who prey on those feeling lonely and isolated. The best thing we can do is keep our senior citizens connected with others through continued efforts such as building strong relationships that lead to healthy living both physically and emotionally! Connecting with friends and family is a way to keep yourself from feeling lonely, which can help you feel more in control of your life.
Get plenty of rest
Make sure you are getting enough sleep and practicing good sleep hygiene. Try to stay away from any unhealthy habits before going to bed such as consuming caffeine, alcohol, being on your phone or anything that might stimulate you before sleep. Also, avoid doing anything that might stimulate yourself such as watching TV right before going to sleep because this will only wear down the body’s natural ability for relaxation while also making it more difficult for us all around.
Do not hesitate to seek help
It can be difficult to keep your emotions in check when you are feeling down. Seek the help of someone who you can trust and share your thoughts and feelings with them. If things do not get better, talk with a mental health professional specialized for people like yourself until everything starts looking brighter again!
Bottomline, the time of your life is now. It is about living a lifestyle that takes care of every aspect, to put all the pieces together for an even better you in this moment-to-moment experience. To take it up another notch and live as fully as possible right here in these moments, integrating practices into your everyday life that address wellness on each dimension will ensure longevity and with greater health than ever before! This really can be our best year yet: at 80 we will look back fondly not just on what happened but how we lived through it.
