How to Make the Most of Your “Golden Years”

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, as a senior adult, determining to live life to the fullest despite whatever age-related challenges you may face.

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 is an important component. Maintaining good health for people of all ages provides more strength and endurance. The combination of regular resistance and cardiovascular training should always be part of your day.

You should pursue 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity level exercise. 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. Couple that with 2-3 days of strength training per week with 8-10 exercises per session. Separate each strength training session by at least one day’s rest.

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 has some alarming statistics when it comes to prescribed medications. These medications are not taken as prescribed 50 percent of the time.

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 her or him keeps both of you better informed. Talk about any changes 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. 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 her or his recommendations.

Stay Social

Human beings are social creatures. Even introverts need to connect with others to live a full life. As the COVID-19 vaccine program continues its rollout, it may eventually become possible for fully vaccinated people to interact more closely. This is good for 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. Having people you can turn to for encouragement, understanding, or just to listen to what happened to you today 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 an old hobby you dropped, or find a new one to pursue. What are your interests? You can bet that there is a group of people available through the Internet you can contact that have the same interests.

Take an online class about another culture, 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 talked about for years, buy the car you’ve always wanted, or even move to that special destination you’ve dreamed about.

Hold on and Let Go

Now is your golden time. Learn to cope with changes and focus on what you have. Hold onto those things that help maintain you physically, emotionally, and cognitively, but let yourself enjoy your life to the fullest. After all, you are the one who creates your golden years!

Make the most of your golden years! Visit our blogs to make sure you are capturing every moment.