As much wisdom as we’ve gained through the years, it is always helpful, and healthy, to be reminded of the wise choices to be made every single day. I’m very pleased to welcome guest author Kelsey Simpson, who is going to do just that.
It’s important to make yourself a priority, but unfortunately, as we get older we forget to take care of ourselves the way that we should because of the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As we pay more attention to thinking about retirement and downsizing, caring for aging parents and grandparents, and our overall finances, we often forget to think about our own health and happiness.
Not paying attention to our happiness and health can have a direct negative impact on our lives over time. In fact, an expert from an in-home senior care service said that as we age, it’s important to put our own happiness and health above most things. She added that with age, happiness and health will have an effect on one’s longevity and overall quality of life. However, some people don’t know where to start to focus on their happiness and health at this point in their lives.
Not to worry, this post will briefly detail 3 simple ways that you can keep yourself a priority as you age.
Health and Happiness: Keeping Yourself a Priority as You Age
Keeping yourself a priority as you age is essential in living a good life; here are some ways to do just that.
1 | Get Active for At Least 30 Minutes a Day
As you get older, it’s essential to stay as active as possible. Staying active will benefit you in a variety of ways, such as:
- Keeping your joints healthy
- Toning your muscles
- Avoiding weight gain and obesity
- Preserving good heart health
- Avoiding diabetes and other illnesses
- Improving your immune system
Adults should make it a point to be active for about 30 minutes a day, about 4-5 days a week. It’s important to point out that staying active doesn’t have to be challenging, and there are countless ways to get active. Some popular ways that adults enjoy staying active include:
- Jogging
- Yoga
- Weight training
- Zumba
- Pilates
2 | Eat Clean
Eating clean is also another important aspect of living a healthy and happy life; but what does eating clean mean? Eating clean simply means eating food that is not processed and does not contain additives or preservatives. Eating clean will ensure that you are not putting anything harmful into your body and that you are as healthy as you can be. Some benefits of eating clean for aging adults include:
- Your body will have the right vitamins and minerals
- Improved heart and brain health
- Weight management
- A stronger immune system
- Increased energy levels
Eating clean isn’t hard, some easy and clean foods to incorporate into diet include:
- Organic fruits and vegetables
- Organic meat
- Wild-caught fish
- Foods high in protein and healthy fats
- Unrefined foods such as brown rice, quinoa, and millet
- Snacks with no added sugar; natural sugar such as honey, maple syrup, and monk fruit are great natural sweeteners
3 | Make it a Point to Spend an Hour a Day Doing Something You Enjoy
To truly live a happy and healthy life, you need to set a certain amount of time aside each day to do something for yourself; something that you enjoy. You will find yourself looking forward to this time for yourself, whether it’s an hour in the morning while you drink your coffee, or it’s an hour at the end of the day before bed. This time should be spent focusing on the one thing you enjoy, not worrying about other tasks and responsibilities. Not sure what to do in your “you time?” Here are some ideas:
- Read a book
- Start a TV show
- Go on a hike
- Walk your dog
- Call a friend or family member
- Meditate
- Journal/blog
- Do a puzzle
- Take a relaxing bath
- Learn a new skill such as another language or how to play an instrument
- Workout
- Listen to a podcast
Improve the Quality of Your Life as You Age
As you approach retirement age or if you already have retired, it’s important that you pay special attention to your health and happiness. The more you focus on your health and happiness, the more you will enjoy your life; and the more likely you are to prolong it. Try to incorporate these 3 easy tips into your daily life, a small effort now will have a great impact later.
Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds, and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.
