You may be in your thirties, still feeling as vibrant as ever, or you may be closing in on your sixties, already feeling your old sports injuries acting up. No matter where you are in your life, treating age as just a number wouldn’t be the wisest of ways to ensure that you grow old strong and independent. In fact, when you acknowledge that you’re entering a new phase of your life, your silver years can be indeed as fulfilling and healthful as your youth.
It all depends on your willingness to stay active in every way possible, from maintaining a rich social life, striving to master new skills, to exercising as often as needed to boost your health. Let’s take a look at several most promising ways to protect your wellbeing as you grow older, and make the most of the time you spend in retirement!
Make workouts a part of your routine
Even for younger individuals, leading a sedentary life tends to cause a whole slew of health issues that only worsen over time. Staying passive in your silver years can be even more detrimental, as you need a more carefully planned exercise regime in order to retain your muscle mass and make sure you stave off injuries. As your body changes, you can slow down the ageing process with the help of versatile workouts to keep your cardiovascular system happy, and your joints and muscles protected.
Always consult your doctor for the best balance among your workouts, but regular, daily walks, especially in the sun, are a great way to kick-start your healthy lifestyle. Add a bit of strength training to delay losing muscle tissue, and swimming and similar low-impact exercises for the health of your joints, especially your spine, knees, and hips.
Connect with the right people
Whether you’re already a part of your local church choir or you’re an active volunteer, staying in touch with people who share your values and establishing new bonds is key to growing old healthy. Surround yourself with positive people of similar interests, and you’ll be much more inclined not to skip your next book club meeting or a dance class.
Apart from that, staying in touch with your friends and family is essential, as you need the right amount of emotional support, even if you’re not battling any ailments. Love and closeness are at the very core of feeling fulfilled with your life as you age.
Choose the right place for you
Think about how you’d like to spend the most sensitive years of your old age and who you would entrust with your wellbeing. Thanks to the changing landscape of aged care, you can now make sure that you spend time in a home you like, surrounded with people who can provide you with the care you need, and help you stay as active as you please.
Opting for trustworthy aged care homes like NewDirection Care designed to support freedom of living your own lifestyle, contributing to your wellbeing, all the while ensuring ample medical and professional support in every possible way. However, you need to do your research beforehand, weight your options, and invest in the best plan for your own retirement.
Love the learning curve
It’s good for your brain as well as your self-esteem, as when you master new skills on a regular basis and improve your existing knowledge, you safeguard your cognitive skills. However, keep things colourful and interesting, so that your same-old knitting class doesn’t become the only way to learn something new. Think: reading new books, learning a new language, overcoming your fears such as singing in public, or you can take up a martial arts class and learn self-defence techniques.
Above all, strive to never get stuck in a rut simply because you’re getting older. In fact, many modern retirees are looking for ways to keep earning an income despite being retired, whether it’s setting up a blog, or working as a teacher in your community. Just make sure you stay active and challenge yourself to progress as a person no matter your birth certificate.
Rethink your diet
Finally, you need to understand that the inner workings of your body are slowly changing as you age. Your metabolism will slow down, your nutrient needs will change, and you’ll need to make sure that your diet can keep up with all of these possible setbacks. For example, if you’re at risk of high blood pressure or arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about all the ways your diet can help prevent issues.
Focus on getting lean protein, plenty of healthy carbs and fibre, as well as healthy fats, all of which are readily available in groceries that are common in a typical Mediterranean diet – which is precisely why so many medical professionals recommend this type of eating for people of all ages, especially seniors.
Stay mindful of your needs, listen to your body, and ask for support in every aspect of your life. As time goes by, you’ll see just how rich and beautiful your old age can be, so make the most of every moment you have by leading an all-around active life!
