Mental health plays a significant part in your quality of life and overall health. Allocating time to care for yourself is essential in maintaining good mental health and is often part of a treatment and therapy regimen.
Self-care strategies consist of taking time to do things that improve your mental and physical health and help you live well. Not only do these strategies feel good, but they also have a huge impact and can help you better manage stress, increase your energy level, and decrease your risk of illness.
To help boost mental wellness in seniors, we’re exploring some of the top self-care strategies you can implement into your daily routine.
How to Boost Mental Wellness in Seniors
Several strategies can help boost senior mental health and improve overall well-being:
Adopt a physical fitness routine.
Exercise has been shown to help people sleep better, decrease the risk of chronic conditions, and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. When you’re active, your body releases endorphins that boost your mood and energy, calm your mind, and reduce tension and anxiety, among other benefits.
Even just 30 minutes of physical activity a day can have a large impact on your general outlook. Some great exercises to boost senior mental health include walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, and practicing yoga.
Get enough sleep.
Not getting the appropriate amount of sleep has been shown to decrease positive emotions and increase negative responses to stressors, meaning you may feel more irritable, distressed, or anxious. The amount of sleep you’re getting and the timing of your sleep can impact mental health.
Most people 65 years old and older need 7-8 hours of sleep a night to feel alert and rested. To help get a quality night of sleep, stick to a consistent sleep schedule, sleep in a darkened room, and reduce blue light exposure from electronic devices before bedtime.
Maintain a healthy diet.
A healthy, balanced diet can help improve your energy and focus and help prevent mood disorders, such as depression, from worsening. The foods you put into your body also fuel your brain, having an impact on the function and structure of your brain and your mood. To support brain health, limit refined sugars, which are harmful to the brain and promote stress, inflammation, and worsening of depression symptoms, and follow a healthy diet.
A healthy and balanced diet includes lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables. Remember to drink plenty of water and pay attention to how caffeine and alcoholic beverages impact your mood.
Keep up with social connections.
Staying social is a key part of maintaining emotional and mental health. Older adults without regular socialization opportunities generally become reclusive and inactive, which negatively impacts mental and physical health.
Healthy social connections can help people navigate depression, anxiety, and stress and contribute to overall well-being. Older adults who have a social network can share their thoughts and concerns with others, generally sleep better, and are less likely to experience symptoms of stress.
To maintain your social connections, set aside time on a regular basis for lunch or dinner with friends and stay in regular contact with them via phone. To make new social connections, attend a community event or hobby group where you can meet friendly people with similar interests.
Continue to pursue your hobbies.
Hobbies help reduce stress, boost your mood, and offer an enjoyable activity to look forward to. Hobbies also can contribute to feelings of accomplishment, well-being, and quality of life.
Retirement is a great time to pursue your hobbies and pick up new ones or learn a new skill. The activities will help you stay engaged, relax, and destress. No matter what you enjoy doing, whether it’s reading, golfing, gardening, painting, or photography, setting aside time for this activity is important for helping to navigate challenging times.
How Can Independent Living Support Senior Mental Health?
Independent senior living communities provide a variety of activities and amenities to please everyone and many wellness resources that can help boost physical, emotional, and mental health.
Many communities offer a full calendar of engaging activities and events, such as social clubs, discussion groups, happy hours, wellness opportunities, and more, where residents can meet people with shared interests. The low-maintenance lifestyle independent living communities provide enables residents to pursue fulfilling activities that bring them joy.
Learn more about how communities support health and wellness and how to find one that’s right for you by getting our free independent living readiness bundle.
