It doesn’t matter how old you are. Every year brings new opportunities for personal development and improvement. With the help of new year’s resolutions, you can hold yourself accountable to your goals and find new ways to improve your life: For the better.
We’re here to walk you through five new year’s resolutions for seniors, so you can start making changes tomorrow.
Let’s dive in:
Eat healthier
A healthy, balanced diet will help you look and feel good about yourself. If this is the resolution you want for the year, aim to prepare a balanced, well-rounded diet. You’ll want to include protein, whole grains, fruits, veggies, and dairy. You’ll also want to make sure you’re also drinking an adequate amount of water with every meal you have.
As you get older, it can be challenging to shop for food and make new meals all on your own. If it helps, plan out your meals for the week, so you don’t need to make too many trips to the store.
If you need more assistance with groceries or preparing your meals, consider connecting with a Senior Care Companions. We can help you run errands and maintain a healthier lifestyle throughout 2023.
Stay active
Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. On average, seniors should aim to get at least 150 weekly active minutes. That means you’ll want to have at least 20-25 minutes of daily activity.
If your new year’s resolution is to work out more, consider restructuring your daily routine to have more walks or time on the treadmill. You can also consider signing up for workout classes for seniors at your local community center or a gym near you. This will hold you accountable for your goals and help you get closer to 150 active minutes.
Here are a few other low-impact activities you can try:
- Yoga
- Riding a bike
- Jogging
- Swimming
- Water aerobics
Don’t forget to have fun with the activities! Find something that you enjoy doing and look forward to doing every day. If you haven’t worked out in a while, start small and work up to 20-25 minutes a day. Start by setting aside 10 minutes every day to go on a walk and slowly increase the time.
Downsize your space
Are you considering moving into a senior care facility soon? Do you want to sell your home and downsize to a smaller apartment? If so, consider adding downsizing your space to your new year’s resolutions. Eliminating clutter, selling what you no longer use, and getting rid of items that take up space will make things easier when you’re ready to make the big move.
Don’t be afraid to lean on the help of your friends and family! If you’ve lived in the same house or apartment for years, there might be tons of boxes and items to go through. With help from your loved ones, you can de-clutter your living space and start looking for new homes.
Organize your important documents
If you’ve struggled to stay organized the last few years, make 2023 the year of organization. You’ll want to gather your important documents, including financial documents, medication lists, wills, or end-of-life wishes documents. Consider looking through. Have a special place where all of these documents will live and consider updating them at the beginning of every year.
Read more
Reading is a great hobby that has proven to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It can also help reduce stress levels, sharpen your decision-making skills, and be a great way to entertain yourself. If you want to read more in the new year, start by setting a goal to read at least one book a month. Look at the current list of New York Times bestsellers for inspiration, or pick up a book that aligns with your hobbies and interests.
You can keep track of how many books you read by marketing it on your calendar. At the end of the year, you can reflect on all the books you were able to read.
Connect with Senior Care Companions for help
If you’re ready to take on the new year with a set of resolutions, congrats! You’re one step closer to being a better version of yourself. Whether you want to enhance your diet or workout more frequently: You’re sure to feel the effects of these lifestyle changes in just a few months.
If it’s hard to stick to your goals and you need additional assistance, lean on Senior Care Companions for help. We can help you with errands, cooking meals, or other chores around the house.
Connect with us today to learn more.
