It’s that time of year again. It seems as though everyone is making (or breaking) New Year’s resolutions. There’s just something about the start of a new year that makes everyone crave a fresh start. It’s a great time to start healthy new habits and break any bad ones that might be holding you back. We’ve put together a few great ideas for resolutions that are especially important for seniors.
Make a Healthy Fresh Start
The best resolutions are the ones you can actually stick to! Keep that in mind when you make yours. While “lose weight” might be a great one, you’ll probably find that it works better if you make your goal more specific. These examples are all things that are easy to manage and don’t seem too daunting right from the start. Let’s get inspired!
Make a commitment to your health
We all probably have a few health issues we’ve ignored for a little while. The start of a new year is a perfect time to finally get them taken care of. That means, if you have any lingering health concerns, stop avoiding them. Here’s how to start: make a list of all those appointments you’ve been putting off (like a physical, dentist visit, or eye exam) and finally make them. After your visits, make sure you keep on top of your regular checkups and appointments for the rest of the year.
Move a little more
Many people find it hard to get back into a regular routine after the holidays. It’s understandable since the winter weather can also make us want to spend more time indoors. Of course, the weather also makes it hard for many seniors to get outside every day. However, it’s important to keep your energy levels up with regular exercise.
When the weather is nice, try to get outdoors even just for a short amount of time. Go for a short walk a few times a week or find an indoor activity to get you to move. (There are plenty of wonderful indoor fitness options like yoga, low impact workout videos, stretching or even walking at the mall.) If you make it a priority and keep up with regular exercise, you’ll probably find that you have more energy and just generally feel better.
Smart tip: set a goal you can easily stick to, like exercising for 10 minutes a day. Once you get into the routine, you can increase it if you like.
Learn a new skill
When you learn something new, you keep your brain happy. Your brain likes to be challenged and when you learn a new skill, you force your brain to work in new and different ways. This can do wonders to improve your mood, memory, and motor control (hand eye coordination, balance, etc.) Think about the things that interest you and go from there. Some ideas: learn a new language, take up a new hobby, or take a computer class.
Smart tip: pick an activity that’s brand new – you’ll be more likely to stick to something you get excited about.
Get a better night’s sleep
Getting enough quality sleep is one of the best things you can do for your body, especially for seniors. Unfortunately, many adults aren’t getting enough of it. Many seniors have poor sleep habits, which can lead to all sorts of health problems over time. This year, make a commitment to practice good sleep hygiene. It’s easier than you think – just create a bedtime routine for yourself and stick to it.
Smart tip: try to go to bed at the same time every night, limit exposure to screens (yes, that includes television!) at least an hour before bed, and create a comfortable environment for yourself.
Spend more quality time with loved ones
Maintaining personal relationships is one of the most important things we can do to keep ourselves happy and healthy. As humans, we need to feel connected to others. However, many seniors find that they fall out of touch with old friends and family members, which can leave them feeling isolated.
If you have friends or family you don’t see very often, make an effort to reach out to the important people in your life. If you can’t spend time together in person, a phone call or video chat is a great way to keep in touch. It’s also a great idea to make an effort to meet new people and establish new friendships. When you make an effort to spend time with others, you’ll always feel better for it.
Smart tip: move into a Bria Communities seniors residence. You’ll have a ton of opportunities to improve your health, be more active, learn new things, sleep (well, because you left your stress behind), and be social!
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