Well Timed. . .
According to the World Health Organization, the number of people aged 60 and over is expected to double by 2030. Research has traditionally focused on reducing physical risk factors to ward off chronic disease in those joining the ranks of our aging population.
Today lets focus primarily on psycho-social activities you can increase doing which have been proven to aid in healthy aging. It will also incorporate mental health tips that will better your chances of living a good life in your advanced years.
Although there are many mental health tips for successful aging, we have to start with your daily activities which involves taking good care of your body. We don’t have to complicate this with the myriad of health advice we often are overwhelmed with.Just keep simple:
- Exercise regularly and be active.
- Spend more time standing.
- Eat nutritiously.
- Get enough sleep.
Maintain Social Connections –Social isolation and loneliness can have dire consequences. The National Institute on Aging says social isolation and loneliness have been linked to higher risks for heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Being socially active is important for older adults. Building social networks can boost self-esteem and increase physical activity.
Learn New Things for Healthy Cognitive Function –In a study of adults 60 and older, scientists aimed to find out if sustained engagement in learning cognitively demanding novel skills over a period of time would improve cognitive function. Participants learned to quilt, do digital photography, or engaged in both activities for an average of 16.51 hours a week for 3 months. The findings show clear evidence that sustained engagement in these challenging and new activities did enhance participants’ memory function. So, engaging your mind in educational activities is a big positive for your brain. That could mean learning a new craft, instrument or skill. Learning in this way might be key to maintaining healthy cognitive function as you age.
Have Fun – Do all those leisure activities that you had no time to do while you were working. Go to a jazz concert or a play. Or dance to a garage band. The arts have been shown to promote well-being. You should take that creative writing class you always wanted to take. Or sign up for the painting class at the local art center. Creativity positively impacts your health. Art therapy has been shown to slow down cognitive deterioration related to dementia.
Older adults should not hesitate to tap into their resilience. By using your strengths and past history, you can better cope with your challenges and problem-solve. Incorporating these mental health tips can help you age in a healthy manner. Seniors can now look forward to a better quality of life by taking care of their physical health and safeguarding their mental health.
#aging #thedailybuddha
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