What makes the “golden years” golden? Is it perfect physical and cognitive health? Unlimited financial resources? Actually, what makes the golden years golden is you, determined to live life to the fullest despite whatever age-related challenges you may face as a senior adult.
Let’s look at some ways this can be accomplished.
Maintain Your Health
Maintaining physical health means you have more energy to enjoy a wider range of activities throughout your life.
Exercise.
Exercise is an important component and aids in maintaining strength and endurance. The combination of regular resistance and cardiovascular training is recommended for people of all ages to live life to the fullest.
Experts recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity. Five days a week, 30 minutes per session would work, or you could break that up into two or three 10-15 minute sessions per day. Don’t forget to incorporate strength training and balance exercises. Separate each strength training session by at least one day’s rest to reduce the risk of injury.
If you are physically unable to achieve these levels, you can still work on your physical fitness. People with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and asthma can benefit from less strenuous exercises designed to meet their needs.
Diet.
Your body needs to consume a healthy diet to function effectively and feel energized. A healthy diet should consist of lean meats, fish, poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like brown rice, and low-fat dairy milk to drink.
Exercise and proper diet are also key to weight control, which should result in improved mobility that makes pursuing your interests and activities easier.
(Note: Consult your physician before starting an exercise routine or significantly changing your diet.)
Take your medications as prescribed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips on practicing medication safety at home.
It’s easy to put off a medication or even skip a dose, but the timing of taking them and under what circumstance they should be taken (with food, for example) can significantly alter their effects.
Stay in touch with your physician.
Your doctor is a critical partner in your health. Maintaining regular contact with him or her keeps both of you better informed. You will want to talk about any changes you are experiencing in your health, including challenges in obtaining a sufficient amount of restful sleep.
A sleep disorder can cause depression, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and weight gain in senior adults. So it’s important to speak with your physician if you suspect you may have sleep issues.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions about your health in general, and follow their recommendations.
Stay Social
Human beings are social creatures. Regular social interactions benefit us emotionally and physically, as we all thrive on relationships and can suffer an unhealthy withdrawal when we become isolated.
Whether face-to-face or via social media, you’ll want to stay connected to family and friends in order to live life to the fullest. Having people you can turn to for encouragement, understanding, or just to lend a listening ear makes your life richer.
Also, seek out new friends. Whether that’s a neighbor you meet out during a walk, or someone you just met in the building where you live. Make it a goal to interact with at least one person each day.
Explore
You are never too old to learn or experience new things.
You can pick up a former hobby or find a new one to pursue. What are your interests? You can bet that there is a group of people in your community or online who have the same interests.
Take an online class, or just spend time in nature at a local park. Challenge your brain with new and varied activities like studying a new subject you’ve never explored or picking up a new skill — art, playing an instrument, or developing new computer skills.
If you have the means, take that trip you’ve always talked about, buy the car you’ve always wanted, or even move to that special destination you’ve always dreamed of.
Hold on and Let Go
Now is your time. Learn to cope with changes and focus on the positives in your life. Hold onto those things that help maintain you physically, emotionally and cognitively, but let go of those that keep you from living your life to the fullest. After all, you are the one who determines how golden these years will be!
Embrace your golden years — find more tips and tricks on Bethesda’s Health & Wellness blog.
