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Guest Article by Karen Weeks - elderwellness.net/
Healthy aging can be done in a variety of ways; for many seniors, making wellness a priority means daily exercise, eating balanced meals, and getting enough rest. However, for so many more adults, healthy aging is all in the details. It’s how social and active you are, how you cope with stress, and how much good, quality sleep you get in addition to the big things. These are the actions that will help you keep agility, coordination, balance, strength, and energy well into your post-retirement years.
The important thing to remember is that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Having a comprehensive, well-rounded plan for your personal wellness will allow you to focus on all of your needs at once, meaning you can stay on top of your health and possibly prevent disease and illness.
Keep reading for some wonderful tips on how to ensure healthy aging as a senior.
Find Therapeutic Exercise
Daily exercise is imperative at any age, but for seniors, it’s one of the best ways to prevent injury and disease. Not only that, it also helps boost your energy level and your mental health, meaning you can stay on top of your mood and feel better no matter what life throws at you. A great way to get a physical and mental health workout at the same time is to walk a dog, as it allows you to spend time with a companion, get fresh air and sunshine, and stay social. It’s also a great way to make some extra cash post-retirement if you want.
Stimulate Your Brain
Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as keeping your body in good shape. A great way to do this is to work on puzzles, either the physical jigsaw kind or one that can be downloaded onto a tablet or smartphone. Word games are perfect for stimulating your brain and will help boost your mental agility and memory function.
Rest Well
Sleep is very important when it comes to feeling good and staying healthy; it affects many aspects of our lives, from the ability to cope with stress to our productivity. The amount of sleep you get isn’t the only thing you need to focus on, however; you should be getting good quality rest as well. This means creating a bedtime routine that works for you. You might figure out how to wind down at the end of the day and relax your body and mind, turn off all screens at least an hour beforehand, or read a good book.
Stay Social
Looking for ways to keep an active social life will allow you to spend time with the people you enjoy most while boosting your self-esteem and mobility. In fact, senior communities offer a huge benefit for older adults who are looking for healthy aging activities.
“Living in a place with greater social capital—where there is more trust and more helpful neighbors—you will feel more comfortable walking around to get to places you need to go, which helps you stay mobile,” says epidemiologist Yvonne Michael.
Creating an overall wellness plan is essential for seniors of any age because it will encompass each part of your lifestyle and give it a boost. From staying active to getting good sleep, there are many ways to ensure that you stay disease and illness-free while enjoying life to the fullest. Practicing self-care is also imperative, especially if you suffer from stress or anxiety. Learning to relax can help you get better rest and pull stress and other negative feelings out of your life, leaving you focused on only the positives.