5 Tips for Living Happily While Aging
Aging can be difficult, but extremely rewarding. While your body may become achier and frailer than it once was, with aging comes more feelings of ease and serenity as you come to better understand yourself, others, and the world around you. The wisdom of aging is no fable – as you grow older, you come to terms with who you are, ultimately learning to be yourself unabashedly. You spend more time on self-improvement rather than occupying your thoughts with things that cannot be fixed or changed, or silly trifles that would once have bothered you much more.
For the reasons mentioned above as well as countless others, seniors are one of the happiest age groups in the world, as found in numerous studies. However, like all humans, sadness and negativity may strike from time to time. Here are five tips for living happily while aging to cheer you up when you’re down and remind you of the beauty of aging.
A happy senior holding a basket of flowers and laughing
1) Find or Maintain Hobbies
Now that your working years are coming to an end or are over, you might find yourself with a bit too much free time. It is important to stay busy for your brain health as well as happiness. This does not mean continuing to work past retirement or overbooking your schedule; it simply means occupying yourself and your time meaningfully and enjoying that free time, since leisure is just as important.
Hobbies instill a sense of purpose and accomplishment in seniors, and thus dignity. They are also relaxing and mentally stimulating, as they may serve as stress relief or teach you new things. Continuing to learn is integral for brain health. Pick up a book, a puzzle, a paintbrush, dumbbells, and more – keep on learning and having fun while focusing on yourself for these brief periods of time every day, and you will find yourself becoming a happier, more fulfilled person.
2) Spend Time Outdoors
More free time means more time to see the sun. Exercising or merely sitting outside for a few minutes each day can drastically improve your mental wellbeing. Being outdoors lowers the stress hormone, cortisol, and increases serotonin levels, making you a happier and more relaxed person. It equally lowers blood pressure, improves concentration, memory, and vision, boosts energy, induces quicker healing and reduces pain, enhances creativity, and gives you your dose of Vitamin D.
All of this makes spending time outdoors physically and mentally beneficial. These natural advantages will ultimately make you a happier person. Everyone needs some sunshine – just remember to wear your SPF and protect yourself from the sun’s rays!
3) Remain Socially Active
Whether you are introverted or extroverted, a bit of social connection is crucial to being happy. Humans are social beings, so frequent social interaction is necessary for good physical, mental, and emotional health. Social connectedness reduces loneliness (a common feeling among aging adults) due to feelings of belonging, improves self-esteem and dignity, improves cognitive functioning and thus prevents cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, and more.
The happiness cultivated from social connectedness as well as the abovementioned advantages fundamentally induce life longevity. Cultivate friendships, and see your existing friends and family often. Even introverts find themselves much happier after conversing with their loved ones. Everyone needs a true friend to experience the effects of aging alongside them or to remind them of the great things that come with aging.
A senior socializing and laughing with her loved ones
4) Stay Healthy
Proper exercise and nutrition are essential for your happiness and wellbeing. Nurturing your mind and your body increases longevity, but also helps your mood. Physical health is inextricably linked with mental health and thus happiness. Seniors’ immune systems are weaker than their younger counterparts, which might make them feel like they must work twice as hard to remain healthy. However, if you make sure to get some exercise every day – safely, of course, such as walking or water aerobics – and maintain a balanced diet, you will become a happier person overall. After all, you are what you eat!
Our caregivers are always here to aid you in your journey to health and happiness. They can help clients exercise safely and even exercise alongside them, such as walking with them outside. They are also trained to supply clients with healthy meals that can be tailored to meet clients’ specific dietary needs.
5) Smile and Laugh Often!
It is no secret that life can be hard. However, as the saying goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Smiling and laughing can actually improve your physical and mental health. Smiling and laughing relieve physical tension and stress, even if they aren’t genuine, thus elevating your mood. They also lower blood pressure and protect the heart, reduce pain, release endorphins, improve your immune system, and increase your lifespan. Even seeing someone else smile or hearing someone laugh heartily can put a smile on your face! Stay positive, persevere through it all with a smile, and laugh as loud and hard as you can.
A senior smiling widely