5 Mental Health & Wellness Tips for Seniors
1 in 5 adults living in the United States experience mental health illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The reality is that senior wellness begins with good mental health. While it’s completely normal to feel sad or anxious every now and then, for some those lingering feelings can escalate to serious mental health concerns and conditions. That’s why it is important to pay attention to all aspects of senior wellness. If you’re struggling, don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to a professional or contact your physician. Whether you’re feeling a little blue or just want to maintain good senior mental health, try these five tried-and-true mood boosters.
1. Stay Social
Staying socially active as you age offers a variety of great benefits, including improving your senior mental health. One of the easiest ways to improve your state of mind is to become involved with others. Seek out daily events and activities, from volunteering in your community to fitness classes to lunch dates or movie nights. Not only do these activities enrich your life, they also open the doors to meeting new friends. And don’t let physical distance keep you from staying connected to your loved ones. Instead, schedule a weekly video chat or phone call.
Try this today: Meet up with an old or a new friend for coffee.
2. Stay Educated
A challenged brain is a happy brain. If you’re struggling to stay engaged, try giving your memory and cognition a boost. Let technology be your friend in embracing all aspects of senior wellness. Use your smartphone, tablet, or computer to play brain games, or learn a new language. Have you always wanted to take up an instrument or perfect your dance moves? Give yourself a chance to try out a new hobby or delve deeper into your interests. Seek out local lectures or events and keep your brain happy and engaged.
Try this today: Check out The New York Times’ free online puzzles like Wordle, Connections, The Mini, and Strands.
4. Stay Active
Exercise is not just good for your body; it’s also great for your mind. Why? Simple science: Exercise releases chemicals in the brain such as endorphins that increase your energy and improve your mood. Figure out what works well for you so that you stick with it. Go to the gym, join a class that meets regularly, or simply go for a walk around your neighborhood while enjoying the fresh air. As a bonus, you can use this time to walk with or call a friend.
Try this today: Check out this video of five stretches seniors should do every day, which has been viewed by more than two million people.
4. Stay Fueled
No discussion of senior wellness is complete without talking about how you fuel your body. Nobody functions well without consuming all of the nutrients we need to power through the day. The American Society of Nutrition reports that four out of five American adults would be willing to change how they eat if it positively impacted their mental health. The good news is, it does! Try for yourself by eating more fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil and nuts. There’s no need to overhaul your diet in a day. Just try to add in a few more good foods and limit things like sugary treats and processed foods.
Try this today: Before your regular dinner, eat a handful of fresh veggies like peppers, celery, cucumbers, or tomatoes.
5. Stay Asleep Longer!
If you sleep as well as you did when you were younger, congratulate yourself and skip this section. The truth is that many of us struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep as we get older, and it’s hard to feel good when you don’t get a good night’s sleep.
But what you might not realize is that sleep is a hot topic these days — and there are many ways to improve your sleep that you might not be aware of. Amino acids, vitamin D, and melatonin have all been shown to improve sleep quality (talk to your doctor first before taking any new supplements). Exposure to natural light, especially in the morning, has been proven to keep your circadian rhythm on track and improve sleep quality. The point is, don’t just accept that you don’t sleep well. Do a little research, talk to your doctor, and begin formulating a plan to enjoy optimal senior wellness.
Try this today: It’s often our thoughts that keep us up at night. Put the day behind you long before you go to bed by thinking through anything that’s on your mind and planning for tomorrow (make a list if helpful).
Springpoint Choice is Good for Your Mental Health
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