Maintaining a Healthy Body and Mind
The aging body and mind come with many changes. You might move with more restrictions or need a few extra minutes to complete a mental task. While there’s no way to stop the aging progression, there are steps you can take to maintain a healthy body and mind and make growing older a bit more enjoyable.
Keeping your body healthy
We all know how important it is to take care of your body, especially as you age. The healthier your body is, the less you risk developing severe health concerns.
Find movement that you enjoy
As you get older, you may find that the workouts you enjoyed in your younger years don’t serve you the way they once did, and that’s okay. Physical activity isn’t about hitting a certain amount of reps or lifting a specific weight. Instead, focus on finding ways to move your body that you enjoy. You can walk around your neighborhood, dance with friends, or take a leisurely bike ride through a local park.
If you want to try something new or more vigorous, consider joining a group workout class at a local gym led by a certified instructor. Taking group fitness classes is an excellent way to learn a new skill in a safe environment with guidance from a trained professional. Popular workout classes for seniors include yoga, pilates, or cardio boxing. Always be sure to get the okay from your doctor before starting a new workout.
Cook more meals at home
The food you consume is essential for fueling your body. You want to ensure that you’re eating enough nutrients to keep your body functioning correctly. One of the easiest ways to get nutrients is to eat fresh foods instead of processed meals, which means cooking more at home.
You don’t have to cook everything you eat from scratch but try incorporating fresh produce and lean meats into your diet. You’ll have more transparency around what you’re putting into your body when you cook meals yourself, and you can feel more confident in your diet.
If you’re not comfortable in the kitchen, consider signing up for a cooking class. Or talk to a loved one whose cooking you enjoy and ask for some pointers. You can also purchase a cookbook, check a cooking magazine, or browse the internet for cooking tutorials.
Visit your doctor more often
One of the best defenses to many health concerns is finding them early before they affect your body significantly. And the easiest way to find a health concern is to visit your doctor regularly. Talk to your doctor about how you should come in, and if there are any specialists, you should consider visiting. Make appointments and follow-up appointments right away, and stick to them. Appointments include visits to the dentist and eye doctor to ensure an overall clean bill of health.
Keeping your mind healthy
Mental and emotional well-being is easy to overlook when it comes to aging, but it’s vital to living an overall healthy life.
Continue learning new things
You’re never too old to learn something new; learning new skills is a great way to challenge your mind and keep it sharp. You can learn a new language through a mobile application, sign up for a class at a nearby community college on a subject that’s of interest to you, or visit your local library to borrow nonfiction books about a historical event or scientific concept you’d like to know more about. Make a list of all the things you’ve always wanted to try and start chipping away at it.
Socialize with friends and strangers
Humans are social creatures, which means we need socialization to stimulate us. Try to set time aside each week to do something with friends or family. You can invite someone over for a meal, have a date night with a spouse, or go for a walk with a neighbor.
If you don’t have loved ones nearby, there are plenty of ways to safely socialize and meet new people. You can join a book club or workout class and interact with other people in the environment. Or you can volunteer for an onsite project that involves project work with others.
Invest in your mental health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic health concern. People with chronic health issues are at a significantly higher risk for developing depression, a mental health disorder often misdiagnosed or overlooked in older adults.
Depression is more than feeling sad. It’s a feeling of hopelessness, anxiety, or guilt that persists for weeks. It can also cause fatigue, decreased energy, overeating, appetite loss, insomnia, irritability, or restlessness. If you’re experiencing any signs of depression, talk to your doctor about treatment options. You don’t have to live with feelings of helplessness or guilt, and investing in your mental health is vital to your quality of life.
Working with Visiting Angels
If you’re an older adult dedicated to maintaining a healthy body and mind but need assistance caring for yourself, the team at Visiting Angels would love to join you on your journey. Our professional caregivers help seniors with daily tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparations, medication reminders, personal grooming, transportation, and more.
Our Mobile office serves those in Mobile and the surrounding communities. If you’d like to learn more about our at-home care services, send us a message or call 251. 345. 4100.