Now that you have reached your silver years, and new chapter of your life has begun – hopefully, one that is imbued with health, happiness, and day-long zeal. While it is true that aging can bring about numerous health concerns and perhaps some difficulties in your day-to-day routine, it’s important to note that there’s nothing you can’t achieve, not a lifestyle you can’t lead, if you stick to several habits that make healthy aging a breeze.
Provided that you are sticking to your doctor’s appointments and that you’re monitoring your health regularly, and that you have optimized your living environment to accommodate your needs now that you are a senior, it’s time to consider other crucial lifestyle habits. Here’s how you can thrive as a senior.
It’s okay to require assistance
Before we dive into the things you can do on a daily basis yourself to elevate your quality of life, let’s first address a sensitive topic that tends to prevent seniors from living their best life – at-home care. As a senior, you might find yourself unable to perform all of the daily tasks and chores that you once managed with ease, and the most important thing to remember is that this is completely normal. That said, this doesn’t mean that you should try to persevere all on your own.
It’s okay to seek professional assistance when you need it, and even though you might feel a bit reluctant to allow a stranger in your life and into your home, just think of how they can help you achieve your goals and lead a healthier life. Whether you have developed an age-related condition or if you simply have less energy to perform your daily duties, be sure to reach out to someone that can help elevate your day-to-day quality of life.
Adhere to a healthy dose of exercise
Photo by Vlad Sargu on Unsplash
Many seniors make a common mistake of leading overly sedentary lives when they reach their silver years. In reality, this is just the right time of your life to pick up a new sport or try out a whole range of physical activities that will keep you feeling young and vibrant, strengthen your bones and muscles, and affect your emotional and mental well-being in a positive way. Now that you have more free time than before, you want to sign yourself up for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that fit your preference and needs.
Of course, you shouldn’t over-train yourself even if you’re feeling energized and strong, instead, be sure to stick to some lively and low-impact exercise routines that will gradually strengthen your body and mind as time goes by. Consider jogging, swimming, and spending more time in the great outdoors, but be sure to try some resistance training at the gym as well, as building lean muscle mass is probably the healthiest change you can make.
Banish the fear of illness
As the years go by, anxiety and fear can slowly creep up on you, and you might find yourself becoming more and more afraid of what the future has in store. This is completely normal, so don’t worry, but keep in mind that you mustn’t let the fear of illness rule over your day-to-day life. Fear in itself can drastically diminish your quality of life, so you need to banish negative thoughts as quickly as you can.
You can only achieve this by visiting your doctor regularly, and by having a comprehensive health insurance policy. You can search for thorough health insurance comparison online that will help you compare numerous options and find a health plan that fits your needs and your current physical condition. With proper health insurance, you can rest assured that all of your medical needs will be covered, which will allow you to banish all stress and anxiety, and focus on building health and happiness.
Retain your health through proper nutrition
You’ve probably heard by now that healthy nutrition is one of the fundamental elements of a healthy lifestyle, and while you might feel inclined to indulge in some not-so-healthy foods in order to “live a little” now that you’re older, you should still stick to a healthy diet plan over the long run. The goal here is to feel as healthy and vibrant as you can by eating wholesome foods and avoiding junk food, so that you can retain your physical and mental well-being as much as possible.
Imbue your days with love and laughter
Photo by Abi Howard on Unsplash
And finally, it’s important now more than ever before not to isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Now that you have more time on your hands, you can finally devote your time and attention to family and friends, you can find new social hobbies, and you can even commit yourself to volunteering and support worthy causes in your community. You can even take up travel with your significant other or your friends, which is a great way to build relationships and introduce a healthy dose of adventure into your life.
Wrapping up
The silver years are an exciting time that bring change and opportunity to your life. Follow these tips, and you will have no problem taking charge of your physical and emotional health, and thrive as a senior citizen.
BIO:
Sophia Smith is a health, lifestyle and eco-friendly blogger, a graphic designer and food enthusiast. She is also very passionate about yoga and mindful living. Sophia writes mostly about lifestyle-related topics in her blogs and articles. She has contributed to a number of publications including Sivana Spirit, BonVita Style, Eco Warrior Princess, Cause Artist, Mother Earth Living, Yoga Trade and Carousel.
You can find out more about her writing by following her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophia_bri
