It is never too late to pick up a new hobby, learn a new skill or start a new routine. And what better time to begin than in the New Year? If you’re looking for ideas, our associates from UMC at Pitman have put together the top 5 healthy New Year’s resolutions for older adults! The best part? They’re easy to incorporate into anyone’s daily routine.
#1. Keep an optimistic mindset. What many people don’t realize is that happiness is a choice. Choosing happiness and staying positive is a conscious decision one has to make every day, despite what may be happening around them. It’s easier some days than others, but it’s crucial for everyone’s mental and physical health. A positive outlook has been linked to many benefits, like reduced risk for memory loss or a chronic health condition and quicker recovery time from illness or injuries. If you need a little help choosing positivity each day, try making a gratitude list each morning of everything you’re grateful to have in your life. It starts your day off on the right track.
#2. Eat with purpose. Life is too short to eat alone or eat unhealthily. Let’s tackle this predicament one at a time, though, starting with sharing meals. Try to share a meal with a friend or family member whenever possible – bonding over food is a great way to stay connected. Having lunch or dinner with a friend is even easier when you reside in an independent lifestyle community that has a dining room for all residents to frequent. Next, eat food that tastes good and is good for you. UMC at Pitman has culinary-trained chefs on site that can provide nutrient-rich meals three times a day for residents that contain everything you need to stay healthy. If you don’t live in a community setting, meal delivery services like Home Chef can drop off ready-made meals that are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
#3. Learn something new. Did you know that learning a new language or skill like painting can keep dementia at bay? Any activity that involves hand-eye coordination has been linked to improving muscle memory. These types of activities should also be easy enough to incorporate into your daily routine if it is something you are passionate about. If you truly enjoy the new activity, you’re more likely to stick to it.
#4. Connect with family and friends more often. Keeping up with family and making new friends benefits everyone, especially older adults. Seniors who prioritize connecting with others have actually been proven to have stronger cognitive abilities and have a lower risk of developing depression and other chronic health conditions. Now that we live in the digital age keeping in touch is even easier. If you can’t meet in person, meet on Zoom or Facetime each week!
#5. Stay active, even for just 15-30 minutes a day. It’s important to stick to attainable resolutions – especially in the world of physical fitness. Finding something easy to incorporate into your already established daily routine is the key. For example, low-impact yoga can be done in the comfort of your own assisted living apartment and strengthens muscles, improves flexibility, and promotes endurance. Or you can take a brisk walk around the local community. At Pitman, we have designated walking trails that our residents frequent almost daily – depending on weather conditions.
Physical activities for seniors at Pitman
At UMC at Pitman, we’re more than happy to keep our residents accountable for their New Year’s resolutions. If you or a loved one would like to improve their fitness level this year, our dedicated team in Pitman is here to help. We have a variety of exercise classes to accommodate each resident’s mobility, such as group yoga, meditation, and dancing – just to name a few. There is always a trained associate supervising each class and can assist or modify each exercise to ensure every resident’s safety while tackling their new fitness venture.
To find out more about how we’re keeping seniors active in Gloucester County, please call us today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/pitman/
This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/pitman/blog/new-year-new-you/
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