As we get older, it seems to become easier and easier to fall into the rut of our established routines. This repetition can also heighten feelings of depression as each day appears to be more and more the same. While steady routines are handy tools, especially for the minds of older adults, it can be rejuvenating to interject new experiences and even new routines into your daily life. Even the tiniest change is better than making no changes at all.

Setting goals and achieving them can bring a sense of purpose for seniors, but it has been shown to be even more beneficial than that. A study conducted in 2019 showed that having purpose leads to a large variety of health benefits and even decreases mortality rates for senior citizens.

What Should You Consider as a Senior in 2023?

In this article, we’ll go over some positive changes to your life that you should consider as a means of improving your health, lifestyle, and overall well-being.

Stimulate Your Mind

One small but important change that you should consider as a senior are brain exercises. Numerous studies have proven that regular brain stimulation helps keep it healthy and sharp. Working out your mind, especially by learning new things, has been shown to prevent cognitive decline and memory loss.

Easy exercises that can give your brain a good workout include brain teasers, crosswords, journaling, playing games, puzzles, and reading. Other effective methods for giving your brain a boost are interacting with others in enjoyable ways, such as having discussions, participating in book clubs, taking a class, and socializing in general.

Playing games, for example, has been shown to boost energy, vitality, and your body’s immune response. Consider joining a group that regularly gets together to play Bridge or Bunco. Invite friends and form your own group to play weekly or every other week to play card games, dominoes, or board games. Favorite classics are always nice, but it may also be beneficial to try some you have never tried before.

Look to learn something new every day. Learning also helps to reduce cognitive decline and can help seniors better deal with depression and issues with a poor self-image. Research a subject or a hobby that interests you or try something entirely new. Hobbies can reduce the risk of developing dementia and other mental health issues.

Reading has been shown to aid in sleeping better, enhancing memory, reducing stress, and sharpening decision-making skills. With all of the life experience you have accumulated, you might even consider becoming a writer of your own. Family and future generations might find your journaling of those experiences to be a valuable look at your life and the times you have lived through. Even writing books, jokes, plays, or poems can be a fun hobby, with the added benefit of fighting depression.

Just Keep Moving

Your brain isn’t the other part of you that benefits from regular exercise. In fact, along with mental health, your physical health is vital and has been shown to add years to the lives of senior citizens. Physical exercise helps to keep your bones and muscles strong, improve blood circulation, increase balance and mobility, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety and depression.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that seniors get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise on a weekly basis. Workouts that include muscle-strengthening routines are also recommended for two or more days every week. While you’re at it, try to get outside and take in some fresh air if possible. Reconnecting with nature is a great way to revitalize and reconnect with the world around you.

But a detailed workout can often be daunting to establish, especially when first starting out. As a senior, you also need to be aware of any limitations that may exist for you in the beginning. Choose a safe form of movement that you truly enjoy, which will help to keep the exercise more manageable and sustainable in the long term. Some movement exercises to consider might be cycling, dancing, pickleball, stretching, swimming, tai chi, walking, water polo, or yoga.

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for the Silver Sneakers program. These programs, which offer free at-home or in-person workout sessions, are a fantastic way of working movement into your routines. They are also a great place to connect and socialize with others while getting the exercise you need.

Dietary Improvements

What you eat can also play a vital role in remaining healthy in your golden years. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends a diet that contains a variety of foods from each of the food groups to help decrease the risk of many health issues – such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and hypertension.

As always, it is a good idea to limit your intake of saturated fats, sodium, and sugar. Even if you are less keen on cutting these out of your diet entirely, simply adding more nutritious foods into your diet is always going to be helpful. One suggested method is to try a new healthy food each week. Many stores add new types of produce and other products all the time, so the possibilities are nearly endless. It is also essential that you remain hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water each and every day.

Particularly for seniors, it is crucial to have a diet that contains sufficient levels of calcium, fiber, potassium, protein, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. Introducing 5 servings of fruits and vegetables into your daily meals will ensure that you acquire these necessary nutrients. Good sources of protein for older adults are those that are lower in fat – such as chicken, salmon, tuna, and turkey. Other foods to consider as your dietary staples are beans, legumes, low-fat milk, nuts, whole grains, and yogurt. Blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate, nuts, and pumpkin seeds are all also foods that are beneficial for brain health.

Remove the Clutter

Another thing to consider is decluttering your home by getting rid of items that you no longer need or use. Decluttering will make your space easier and safer to navigate, with the added benefit of being easier to clean and maintain. Another benefit of removing unnecessary clutter from your home is that it will make it infinitely easier when it does eventually come time to downsize your living arrangements.

The process of decluttering your entire house can be understandably overwhelming. Start small and go through just one room at a time. It might also be a good idea to have a friend or loved one lend you a hand to make this process more manageable.

Cultivate Relationships – Both New and Old

Another vital ingredient in healthier aging is companionship. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that social connections help to improve a sense of belonging and purpose, increase happiness, and reduce stress in the lives of senior citizens. Other studies have proven that older adults who have social connections have a higher chance of living longer than those who do not.

While there are many ways of nurturing existing relationships with friends and family, it has never been easier than it is with current technology. Even something as simple as writing letters or having lunch with a loved one can be beneficial by having something to look forward to. Talking on the phone, texting to say hello, or calling friends for a video chat are also all great ways to stay connected if mobility or logistics make getting out of the house difficult.

Fostering new social connections can also be crucial, especially if you do not have many loved ones who live close by. This is one of the biggest strengths that assisted living and independent living communities offer – the opportunity to meet other seniors who may have similar lifestyles and interests. Try introducing yourself to your neighbors, saying hello to new faces in your community, and sitting with new people at meals.

A few other places that are great for meeting new people are fitness classes, lectures, religious events, and volunteering. While it can be intimidating for many people, including seniors, to attend events and talk to new people, just start slow and ease into activities that you enjoy and start building new connections there. Be confident in just being yourself. Even if you do not feel confident at first, straighten yourself up as much as you can, hold your head high, and look people in the eyes. Consider setting a goal for yourself to talk to at least one new person each day.

Consider becoming a volunteer at a church, hospital, library, museum, or school. You might be able to read for children’s story time or check tickets for a charity event. Seniors who volunteer in their communities have been reported to have a lower rate of mortality and depression, fewer physical limitations, and an overall greater sense of well-being.

Organize Your Records

One of the things that many seniors avoid is the organization of medical and financial paperwork. It isn’t an enjoyable task, but it is important to get it done sooner rather than later. Having these documents in order can be a massive benefit in the case of an emergency or the onset of a sudden illness. Documents that you should consider organizing include advance directives, living wills, and powers of attorney.

Make Future Plans

Similarly to organizing your medical documentation, another plan that you should think about is long-term care. If you haven’t already made your preferences known for your future living arrangements and care, you should do so. Talk to your family and caregivers about whether you would prefer to move into a senior living community or receive care at home. Do some research into what options are available in your area – such as adult day programs, assisted living communities, home care, and independent living.

Work out your budget for this care and understand how these services will be paid for. It is common for seniors to hire an estate-planning attorney, financial planner, or insurance agent to help make these types of decisions, based on their situation. Speak with your caretakers, family, friends, and lawyers when making plans for your future; let your wishes be known. Make sure that those wishes are documented clearly so that whoever is in charge when the time comes will not have to speculate what your preferences are.

Additionally, while it may not be the happiest of topics, it might be good to finalize funeral plans with your loved ones or caretakers as well. It isn’t pleasant to think about, but these are eventualities that are better served by having your input on while you are still able to make such decisions.

Bottom Line: An Attitude of Gratitude

While making the kind of big lifestyle changes outlined in this article can be hard, especially in your golden years, it is worth remembering that the greatest pleasures can sometimes come from the smallest of things. While enjoying a hug from a loved one, the smell of your favorite food, or the sound of music can improve your outlook on life, new experiences can also help foster an attitude of gratitude.

While the tips we discussed here are advantageous to your well-being, being thankful for the things you have can improve your physical and psychological health every bit as much as the things we have listed. Write down something you are grateful for every day and you may be surprised at just how much you have to be thankful for. And always be on the lookout for new experiences, memories, and relationships that you can be grateful for tomorrow.