Now that we are coming to the end of the year, it’s a great time to sit down and reflect on what you have managed to achieve in the entire year. Regardless of whether you managed to accomplish your goals or not, it’s never too late to make some new year’s resolutions to live a healthier and safer life, especially if you are a senior adult. Having a list of the things you want to achieve during the year can help you stay healthy, focused and safe. If you are a senior adult or a caregiver, here are five healthy New Year’s resolutions you should consider.
Engage in Physical Activity
Staying physically active is highly recommended for senior citizens. If you’re still running marathons, great! But staying active doesn’t mean that you need to engage in strenuous exercise. Doing simple exercises such as Tai Chi, walking, aerobics, and stretching for 10 minutes every day can help you strengthen your bones and muscles, as well as improve posture, balance, and focus. Even if you are ailing from age-related conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease, mild to moderate exercises can help improve these ailments and improve your quality of life.
Acquire New Tech Skills
Although it seems like an unlikely resolution, becoming tech-savvy is one thing that can help older adults stay engaged. Being tech-savvy doesn’t just mean seniors can get on the internet, it also means that the seniors will be able to communicate with their kids and grandkids. This also provides an excellent opportunity for seniors to monitor their health and for family members and caregivers to check in. While some older adults may find some technology intimidating at first, with a little patience they will get comfortable and may start surprising you with video calls on a webcam.
Venture into Volunteer Opportunities
Sometimes, the biggest challenge for seniors is filling the free time they have at their disposal. Taking part in volunteer work can be an excellent way for seniors to give back to society while at the same time, staying engaged. Volunteering connects you with new friends, helps provide a sense of purpose, learn new skills, and even feel happier and healthier. By interacting with like-minded individuals, seniors can increase their self-confidence, improve mental well-being, and achieve a shared goal of helping their neighborhoods.
Revisit the Good Old Days
As one grows older, it becomes challenging for seniors to keep tabs with friends, as well as engage in their favorite hobbies. Taking time to help seniors connect with past friendships and rekindling good memories can help seniors to feel happier and healthier. This can be achieved by organizing a get-together, making a call, sending a message, or even reaching out via social media. If you or your senior have hobbies such as painting, knitting, or playing instruments, make it your goal to relieve these best moments by re-engaging in these activities, you can even introduce these hobbies to the grandkids as a way to get closer.
Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
The dangers of smoking are now well known. Whatever your age, it’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking will help you avoid health complications such as cancer and heart diseases and also help you sleep better, have energy, and breathe easier.
While the occasional beer or glass of wine can have some health benefits, as people age, it’s important to practice moderation. Excessive alcohol intake is associated with depression, increased chances of falling, sleeplessness, and can contribute to other health complications. Therefore, reducing the amount of alcohol you imbibe should be one of your New Year’s resolutions.
No matter your age, it is never too late to pursue a healthy lifestyle, and thus increase the chances of aging gracefully. Engaging in physical activity, becoming tech-savvy, reliving old days, and exploring volunteer opportunities are a few of the things that you should encourage senior adults to include in their list of new year resolutions.