You might be adjusting to retirement at home or an aged care facility. You may notice things that weren’t apparent when you were so busy raising kids, working full-time, and keeping up the home. For example, your body likely starts to show the tell-tale signs of years of living and enjoyment. When it comes to aging gracefully as a senior, there’s more to it than the tabloid headlines about appearance. In reality, aging well is more about having the physical and mental health to support and allow you to live the best life possible.
So, consider these tips on how to support you on what to do to ensure you continue to live a full life now.
Look after your skin
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Thus, it is important to look after it.
By treating the body well, the skin will continue to help you with important functions, including regulating your body temperature, protecting your organs, and allowing you to feel sensations and the ability to touch.
To keep your skin healthy, consider wearing sunscreen and protective clothing outdoors. These steps can protect against the damage of the sun’s rays.
Keep hydrated too, and follow a skincare routine to look after it. Regarding skincare, there are many options available, ranging from CBD ageless care creams to lightweight moisturizers.
Be active to embody aging gracefully
There are many benefits to maintaining an active lifestyle and exercising as an older adult. Regular exercise can reduce certain medical risks, help you maintain mobility, lower stress, improve mood, and enhance sleep.
So, find an activity or form of exercise that you enjoy. Embrace it if your doctor gives the go-ahead to be active. Even 30-minute periods of activity can do wonders for the body and mind.
It could be from walking, swimming, yoga, or higher-intensity workouts. But, listening to your body, capabilities, and doctor is important.
Consider ways to stay active that are safe for you. With the help of smartwatches with medical alert capability, seniors can maintain monitoring for their safety.
Watch your diet
Maintaining a healthy approach to eating is key to aging gracefully. Therefore, try to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.
They could be fresh, canned, or frozen produce. My mom told me about frozen blueberries, and they’re yummy! Just remember to defrost a handful or two the night before you want to use them in baking, on cereal, or as a snack.
Make sure to have “lean proteins,” too. A good way to get that is through beans and fish. Consider whole-grain foods, those high in vitamin D, and “healthy fats” like avocado.
Yes, there are healthy kinds of fats! Try to avoid processed foods or foods with high salts, generally.
Aging gracefully: Embrace hobbies
Finding new hobbies or taking up ones you hadn’t done for a while can give you a sense of purpose. It can also be a fun way to spend your time.
For your mental health, drawing is a great hobby, as are painting and other creative activities. They can be terrific stress-relievers
Your chosen activity can also improve self-esteem. That makes sense, as you can feel good about completing projects and growing skills.
Hobbies can have a social element too. Perhaps you will take up a pastime that allows you to interact and meet others of a similar mentality and create and develop friendships.
You can look forward to spending time doing an activity, whether it is with others or alone. Along with the mentioned benefits, taking up a hobby can also provide structure. They allow you to fill your days, which previously may have been taken up with work or raising a family.
What does aging gracefully mean to you?
For sure, I’m aging. How gracefully? That may be another whole deal. LOL
We’re all doing the best we can :) You look great in the profile photo!
Growing old gracefully means accepting your body and mind as you are, without denying your history, but determined to live your best life going forward.
That’s a great way to put it, Amy! xx
I definitely fit this age category. It has been a while since I have created art. I now spend more time writing, which is also a creative outlet.
You’re a great writer!
Not cursing in public? LOL
Haha, that depends who you ask 🤣
It is important to have hobbies to prevent one’s mental faculty from rusting! Good post!
Hobbies are productive on many levels, as you say!