Time isn’t always kind to our bodies and minds, and aging comes with its own obstacles. However, adopting healthy habits early can help you live your best life in your retirement years. Whether you are a senior yourself or you’re looking for ways to help your elderly loved ones feel and live better, read on for Senior Citizens: 6 Healthy Habit Tips to Stay Happy & Well!
1. Get Active
Whether it’s daily walks, light weightlifting, or dance classes, keeping your body in motion is crucial to living a long, happy life. Exercise provides a host of physical benefits, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health concerns. Additionally, physical activity can improve your emotional well-being, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Try some online fitness classes designed for seniors, head out on morning walks, or go swimming – just get active!
2. Prioritize Preventative Health Care
You’ve heard the age-old adage: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Don’t wait for health problems to arise – focus on preventative care to ensure your body is in fighting shape as far as possible. Regularly see your doctor for check-ups and full physicals, ask for health screenings regarding colon cancer and heart problems, and look into vaccinations recommended for seniors.
As a practical example of this approach, consider using the user-friendly Cardi Health app, offering personalized diet plans and health insights, showing that taking preventive steps can be both easy and effective in maintaining your well-being.
3. Eat Well
If you want to live longer and feel better, you need to consider your diet and ensure you’re getting the proper nutrition each and every day. If you need to overhaul your eating habits, start by cutting out processed food – essentially, anything that has been packaged, frozen, or modified. Examples of processed food include frozen “TV dinners”, chips, cookies, and the like. Instead, focus on eating leafy greens and vegetables, lean meats, dairy, and other healthy alternatives. While a diet change can be difficult to start, your body and mind will feel the positive effects within just weeks!
4. Focus on Quality of Life (QOL)
As senior citizens get older, new health conditions often arise – however, as new aches and pains come up, you don’t have to resign to just living with them. There are so many new medicines, tech devices, and services designed to help seniors ease pain, stay sharp, and improve day-to-day life. Here are some examples:
- Audible Devices: If you’re having trouble hearing, there are many audible devices that can ensure you don’t miss a beat. Hearing aids come at a variety of price points, ensuring there’s an option for every budget.
- Wristband for Tremors: Many seniors struggle with essential tremor (ET), which is characterized by rhythmic, involuntary shaking in the hands, head, and voice. Essential tremor wristbands utilize technology to calibrate to the wearer’s specific tremor. The band sends peripheral nerve stimulation directly to the central tremor network, thereby reducing hand tremors.
- Assistive Seating Devices: Seniors living with severe arthritis may find it difficult to rise from a seated position to standing without significant pain. That’s where assistive seating devices come in. This technology can be combined with a love seat, sofa, or armchair, helping manually lift the user into a standing position without causing pain or strain.
It’s clear there are many assistive devices and technologies that aging individuals and their loved ones can use to ensure happy, healthy days. If you’re struggling with an ailment, do a bit of research about technology that may help you improve your day-to-day.
Consider incorporating the Sensa app into your self-care routine, as it offers a range of tools and resources designed to support your mental health journey, providing mindfulness exercises, guided meditation, and expert insights to help you navigate life’s challenges with resilience and well-being.
5. Get Better Rest
Research shows that significant sleep deprivation can lead to the development of health conditions including cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Make sure you’re going to bed on a regular schedule and try to wake up at the same time every morning. If you have trouble going to sleep because of a racing mind, pick up meditation. A few minutes a day can make all the difference, and help you drift off to sleep sooner.
6. Stay Social
Amidst the global pandemic, many of us are staying at home more than ever before. However, failing to seek out personal connection with family and friends can be detrimental to your overall well-being. Reach out to loved ones and nurture relationships. If you can’t meet up in person, check out video chat platforms so you can speak face-to-face.
