In a recent study of nearly 400 adults over age 65, researchers found a significant connection between wellbeing and physical, mental, and social health.
Wellbeing is closely tied to quality of life, which has been known to decline with age. With the tips we are providing in this guide, you can break out of the mold and live a happier, healthier life as you age.
Read on to learn strategies for boosting your wellbeing as an older adult. Plus, find out how assisted living in Nacogdoches, TX can support your journey to a better quality of life.
Start the Day Right
A positive, healthy day starts when you get out of bed. Moving your body and eating a healthy breakfast can set you off on the right foot.
Move Your Body
The best way to start your day is by moving your body. You can do something as simple as stretching in bed or start a gentle morning yoga routine. The important part is warming up your muscles and bones for the day.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Food is fuel, which is why eating a healthy breakfast can give you the energy to start your day right. Choosing the right foods for the first meal of the day can also benefit brain health, help control blood sugar, and promote weight loss.
Registered dieticians recommend including whole grains, protein, and fiber in a healthy breakfast. That could mean a bowl of oatmeal with yogurt and fruit, a classic egg scramble with toast, or a simple banana and peanut butter smoothie.
Maintain a Daily Routine
Getting up, eating your meals, participating in activities, and going to bed at the same time each day can offer some much-needed structure to your day. Also, make sure to get plenty of exercise, nutritious meals, and socialization.
Get Plenty of Physical Activity
Physical activity is good for your physical and mental health. It can strengthen your bones, lower stress levels, and provide countless other benefits for your brain and body.
Experts recommend getting physical activity at least three days per week. Consider incorporating water aerobics, yoga, or even just walking. Remember that something is always better than nothing when it comes to exercise for older adults.
Eat a Healthy Diet
It’s not just important to eat a healthy breakfast. Incorporating nutritious foods in every meal and snack of the day can help you replenish nutrients your body naturally loses as you age.
Focus on whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats and seafood, and plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. Beans, peas, nuts, and seeds are also excellent additions to a healthy daily diet.
Connect With Friends and Family
Socializing can combat loneliness and isolation, which can increase seniors’ risk of mental health symptoms and even cognitive decline. That’s why you should aim to connect with your loved ones every day. If you can’t meet them in person, FaceTime and other video chat technologies can bridge the gap.
Living in an assisted living community can help you connect with your peers. It’s easy to take care of your social health at care facilities in Nacogdoches because you have a network of neighbors available to talk and laugh with.
Stimulate Your Brain
As an older adult, you may have more time on your hands than you know what to do with. However, you must keep your body and brain stimulated to avoid age-related memory decline and brain cell loss. Here’s how to do just that.
Read a Good Book
Reading is an easy way to improve brain function. It is particularly helpful for aging adults, as reading can combat age-related memory problems and cognitive decline.
Take Up a Creative Hobby
Getting creative is another excellent strategy for combating age-related brain changes. Creative tasks are stimulating, enhance feelings of positivity, and can even reduce stress.
Some fun creative hobbies to consider include painting, sculpting, scrapbooking, or knitting. Writing prose or poetry is another stimulating activity that can also help keep your vocabulary and communication skills sharp.
Care for Your Mental and Physical Health
Your physical and mental health are intimately linked to quality of life. Improve yours with regular wellness appointments and screenings, caring for your mental health, and getting a good night’s rest.
Attend Regular Well Visits and Screenings
Wellness exams and screenings are crucial for maintaining your physical health. Attending these appointments regularly can help your doctor catch health conditions early and prescribe preventive strategies for optimal health.
Experts recommend that people over 65 get screened for blood pressure annually, breast cancer every two years, diabetes and cervical cancer every three years, and cholesterol and colorectal cancer every five years.
Talk to Your Doctor About Mental Health Symptoms
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Exercising, eating right, staying social, and taking up a hobby can all help you stay mentally fit. Practicing mindfulness can also help, especially with stress and anxiety.
Unfortunately, anxiety and depression symptoms are still common among even the most active senior adults. Always talk to your doctor about any mental health symptoms you are experiencing.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Older adults require seven to nine hours of sleep. Getting plenty of rest can help you feel less irritable, maintain a sharp memory, combat symptoms of depression, and reduce your risk of falls.
If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep as an older adult, you are not alone. Some tips that may help include creating a sleep schedule, avoiding late afternoon naps and caffeinated beverages, and limiting screen time before bed.
Enhance Your Wellbeing at Meadowview Place Assisted Living in Nacogdoches, TX
Enhancing your wellbeing as a senior is simple when you follow these tips. Start your day off right with movement and a nutritious meal, and end your day with a good night’s sleep to improve your quality of life.
Are you searching for Nacogdoches, TX senior living communities? Meadowview Place offers pet-friendly respite care and assisted living in Nacogdoches, TX. We customize every resident’s stay based on your unique needs, with a focus on promoting senior community wellbeing.
Contact Meadview Place today to learn more about our assisted living amenities and schedule a tour.
