Healthy Living Tips and Resources for Seniors
Regardless of age, making healthy lifestyle choices is important for optimizing your quality of life. But as we reach our senior years, living healthy can have a significant impact on our mobility, longevity, and overall happiness. Daily actions like moving your body, eating healthy foods, socializing, stimulating your brain with hobbies, and taking time to relax will enhance your golden years like nothing else! Let’s explore a few simple tips and resources to help you keep your health on track.
Pick Up Yoga
Yoga is great for supporting and improving your strength, flexibility, and balance. These three pillars of fitness are vital to long-term mobility in your senior years. The Johns Hopkins University explains that yoga can also reduce stress and help you develop a better understanding of the connection between your mind and body. In turn, this gives you more control over your thoughts and emotions. Consider attending a guided yoga class at a studio like The Yoga Shala for a safe introduction to the whole-body benefits of yoga!
Make Long-Term Care Decisions Now
The best time to make long-term care decisions is right now. Evaluating your long-term care options before you need care assistance will allow you to make this big decision for yourself. Do it for yourself instead of leaving it up to a family member. And you never know when you or your partner might need long-term care. 24/7 care may be required for a temporary illness or injury. In unexpected situations like this, knowing who to call and where to go will make your life a lot less stressful. Start researching long-term care facilities in your area. Be sure to read detailed facility reports, pricing information, and reviews left by patients and their families.
Become Your Own Health Advocate
Navigating the healthcare industry isn’t easy. Many people feel confused and overwhelmed by their options, especially after receiving different opinions from various sources. Learn how to become your own health advocate. Choose your doctors carefully, organize and store your own health documents, and stay up-to-date on the latest health research regarding your personal conditions or illnesses. Advocating for yourself will ensure you get the best care possible.
Listen to Your Body
Learning to listen to what your body is telling you is one of the best things you can do for your health. After many years of ignoring the body’s signals and pushing through pain, these lines of communication can fade. Fortunately, Mind Body Green recommends several steps you can take to tune into the needs of your brain and body. Slow down, breathe deeply, and pay attention to your feelings. Is your body craving movement? Is your brain craving rest? As you practice this form of self-awareness, it will become easier to identify what you need to do to feel your best!
Keep Learning
Lifelong learning offers several benefits to seniors. Learning improves cognitive health, increases positive emotions, reduces sedentary behaviors, and promotes socialization. Learning new things exercises several parts of your brain. Although the brain is not a muscle, it behaves in a similar way. Stimulating and challenging your brain can improve how well it functions. This will boost your brain’s processing speed, working memory, and executive function skills like reasoning and problem-solving.
Looking for new things to learn? Try picking up an instrument, creative writing, or photography. Test your technical skills with video editing or coding. Work out your brain and body at the same time with yoga, tennis, or pickleball. All of these activities are great for keeping your brain sharp in your senior years!
Be Proactive
Being proactive about your health is essential for enjoying your golden years in good health and happiness. Now is the time to embrace healthy habits, research your long-term care options, and pick up stimulating new hobbies. Your brain and body will thank you!
Olotita offers various health and wellness services to help you live your best life! Check out our website for yoga classes, nutrition education, energy healing, and more!
