The new year is a time for turning over a new leaf and adopting healthy habits that help us live a better life.
Sometimes seniors can be set in their ways and feel that if they’ve made it this far, why change now? Not only is it never too late to learn healthier habits, but New Year’s resolutions for seniors that promote positive changes can make even more dramatic differences for our senior loved ones, helping them maintain a higher quality of life for a longer time.
Here are some New Year’s resolutions for seniors:
Re-examine your eating habits
Food is the fuel we count on to get us through the day. What we eat can help us feel more energized and less lethargic, it can minimize the effects of health issues we experience, especially as we age and, of course, it can help us maintain a healthy weight and body composition. Ask your doctor or dietician what you can do to improve your eating habits in 2024.
Get more exercise – and have fun doing it
Staying physically active is important for building and maintaining muscle mass, keeping our joints moving like they’re supposed to, and keeping our hearts strong and healthy. But exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. You’ll more likely to keep going if you find a physical activity you’ll look forward to doing. Join a yoga group, find a workout buddy to accompany you on walks or trips to the gym, or join a pickleball league. The options are endless!
Challenge yourself to learn something new
Sometimes it’s intimidating to get out of your comfort zone. But if you take no risks, you’ll receive no rewards. Trying new hobbies not only gives us a chance to find out new things about ourselves (perhaps we’ll find out we’re good at something we didn’t know we had a natural talent for), but gives us a chance to break out of our old routines and make new friends. Learning new things makes us more well-rounded people and helps us connect with others. Senior centers, public libraries and other community organizations offer a variety of senior friendly classes.
Commit to getting your rest
Instead of resolving to do more things in the new year, maybe you ought to give some thought to doing less! If you’re a busy person who likes to burn the candle at both ends — or just a night owl who loves to stay up late reading or watching movies on television — you might not be getting enough rest to maintain maximum health. Sleep is important for seniors, as it gives their bodies and minds a chance to heal. So in addition to establishing a bedtime routine, make sure to address any problems you have with insomnia or other sleep interrupting conditions with your physician. Don’t think of getting extra sleep as sacrificing time you could be awake, but as maximizing your energy and productivity during waking hours.
Never stop trying to make new friends
Humans crave connections. Isolating ourselves is a recipe for loneliness and depression. So, circulate with people you have things in common with whenever possible, introduce yourself to new social circles, and participate in group activities.
Keep setting goals for yourself
It’s important to never stop dreaming of the future. Make plans, set goals, and pursue your ambitions to give yourself a sense of purpose and keep your mind active. It could be to master a new language, learn how to paint, write your family history or anything else that’s important to you. It’s always important to have a project to work on and exploring these New Year’s resolutions for seniors is a great start.
Get organized
Clearing out the clutter is something that’s helpful for people of all ages (but is an especially beneficial New Year’s resolution for seniors), as for many it clears a burden from our minds at the same time. But our golden years are typically a time when we’re thinking about downsizing and simplifying our lives, so it’s even more impactful for seniors to get rid of the things they don’t need.
Count your blessings
One of the best things we can do to maintain our happiness and perspective on life is to set time aside to think about all the good things that are going on in our lives. Take some time to think about your family, your accomplishments and other good fortunes you’ve enjoyed in your life. Start a gratitude journal or discuss with a loved one. Some say the key to life isn’t about getting what you want as much as it is about wanting what you have.
No matter which resolution you select from this list – or if you choose something else entirely – use it as a way to give yourself some motivation for starting the next year off right.
Get more tips for kicking off 2024 on Bethesda’s health & wellness blog.
