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In recent years, doctors and researchers have started to better understand how stress impacts the body. Ongoing stress can be bad for your mental and physical health, resulting in conditions like anxiety, depression and heart problems. Even after retirement, seniors aren’t immune from the effects of stress. Life changes and worrying about health and finances can be major stressors for older adults. But don’t let this stress you out, too! There are many things you can do to manage stress, which will help improve your overall health and well-being as you age. Managing stress can also help you avoid other health issues such as stroke, diabetes, decreased immune function and high blood pressure. The solution can be as simple as setting aside time for yourself every day, unplugging from technology, taking a walk, meditating or taking part in light exercise.

Read on to learn how managing stress can help you keep your body and mind healthy:

Exercise

Studies have shown that staying active is good for the body, the mind and your mood. Regular exercise, whether walking, yoga or swimming, can boost your mood and minimize the long-term effects of stress on your body. Exercise reduces fatigue, improves concentration, promotes cognitive function and produces endorphins. Our brains use endorphins as a natural mood booster and painkiller. Staying active also improves self-esteem and helps you sleep better, which in return also reduces stress.

Stay Social

Feelings of loneliness and isolation can cause stress and other health problems for seniors. As we grow older, our social networks tend to shrink. Retirement, changes in mobility and distance from friends and family can all lead to a smaller social circle. To counteract this, make an effort to stay involved in the community. Regularly interacting and sharing memories with other people will help build your social network and boost cognitive function. Joining group activities can also make it easier to do things like exercise regularly, laugh and try new hobbies, all of which relieve stress.

Diet

If you’re feeling stressed, look carefully at your diet. Too much sugar and not enough protein can easily leave you feeling hungry and anxious. A nutritious diet includes healthy fats, high-quality protein and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Certain types of foods are beneficial for the brain and can help regulate mood and keep your brain function and memory sharp. Eating organic, high-quality protein like fish, eggs, nuts, milk and beans can improve mood and brain activity. These foods contain nutrients and healthy fats that help the brain work properly by boosting the hormones that regulate mood and prevent stress, anxiety and depression.

Laugh

If you’re feeling stressed, sometimes you need a quick pick-me-up. Laughter is a fast way to feel better and has long-term benefits for reducing stress and improving your health. Much like exercise, laughter releases endorphins and other similar chemicals, which can help reduce pain and instantly lift your mood. Laughing is also associated with the release of other hormones that boost your immune system. The physical act of laughing improves blood circulation and helps your body relax. Incorporate a daily belly laugh into your life by watching your favorite funny show, calling a friend who makes you laugh or reading the comics in the newspaper.

Self-Care

Are you taking time out for yourself every day? Be sure to schedule at least five to ten minutes per day for meditation, quiet reflection, reading or another activity that you enjoy. Daily self-care helps you slow down and lets your brain focus when your mind might otherwise be racing with worry. These activities can lower your stress levels by shifting your focus to something positive. Much like exercise, activities and treatments like massage, deep breathing and acupuncture also produce mood-boosting endorphins.

It’s true that stress and aging often go hand-in-hand, but that doesn’t mean you have to let stress weigh you down. By focusing on a healthy lifestyle and engaging in activities like self-care, laughter and exercise, you can beat the negative effects of stress to live agelessly.

Brittle bones and falling are two of the biggest hazards of getting older. Regular exercise can help lower both of these risks – along with keeping your body trim and your joints fluid. Regular exercise can even help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Walking and Rolling Along

Many people love exercise and working out. If you’re not one of them, that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to becoming a couch potato. A daily walk, preferably outside, but also on a treadmill, or inside your home or apartment building, is an excellent form of exercise. All you need are a comfortable pair of shoes.

Stiff joints represent another obstacle for many people to begin exercising. Low impact activities, such as bike riding and swimming, are ideal for getting your body moving, without the jarring impact of sports like tennis, basketball, or running.

Strong Muscles, Improved Balance

Muscle density decreases with every passing decade. One way to reverse the process is with resistance training. Lifting weights builds muscle mass that helps burn calories. You don’t have to lift hundreds of pounds to gain the benefit of weight training. Light weights or specialized resistance bands are sufficient. Resistance training also helps to maintain bone density – reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Finally, stronger bones and lean muscle mass also help improve balance and reduce the risk of falling.

Exercise as a Social Activity

When you think of exercise, do you envision pumping music and rows of sweaty bodies clad in spandex? While a gym workout can provide a strenuous workout, it’s not necessary to subject yourself to a grueling solo routine. A leisurely bike ride with your significant other, or a gentle jog with a friend, can help prevent loneliness and depression while keeping your body moving.

Keep Moving!

The take-home lesson is that there is no one “right” way to exercise. The best exercise for you is the one you’ll actually do. So choose an activity you enjoy and get moving! It’s one of the best remedies for aging well.

You’ve probably been hearing it your whole life: a balanced diet is crucial to good health. And healthy eating only becomes more important as we age! Getting a wide range of nutrients from fruits, veggies, calcium, grains and protein helps keep your body strong and your mind sharp. A healthy diet can also help prevent age-related conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia. Eating well and maintaining a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help stave off many diseases and help you glide into old age with ease.

One of the best ways you can stay healthy — and maintain a healthy body and mind — is to have a nutritious diet that includes healthy fats, high-quality protein and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Certain types of foods are beneficial for the brain. Spinach, blueberries and black beans are all considered “superfoods” that are good for the brain. Eating organic, high-quality protein like fish, eggs, nuts, milk and beans can improve mood and brain activity. These foods contain nutrients and healthy fats that help the brain work properly, improving memory and boosting the hormones that regulate mood and prevent stress, anxiety and depression.

Eating the same boring meal every day is no way to stay healthy. Nutritionists recommend that people of all ages eat the healthy proteins listed above as well as a rainbow fruits and vegetables to help ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Being creative with your diet will also help you boost your brain power by trying new things and learning new ways to prepare food.

As you can see, eating well benefits seniors on many levels. Older adults need access to healthy and organic meals to prevent age-related diseases, boost brain function and maintain healthy body weight and blood pressure. These factors can help you maintain your health into old age and live well for years to come.

Contact Senior Living today and learn how our community amenities promote healthy living.

We all want to age well, and staying healthy as we age is one of the most important ways to do that. Check out these articles to see what the experts have to say about aging well.

Preventing Isolation

Social connections are key for senior well-being, and one of the biggest challenges as we age is preventing isolation. Isolation and loneliness can lead to serious consequences for senior’s physical and mental wellbeing. This article from US News & World Report talks about how to spot isolation, and the risks associated with being an isolated senior.

Healthy Eating after 50

Making smart food choices is important no matter what stage of life you are in, but is especially important for adults over the age of 50. This article from the National Institute of Health gives a great overview of healthy eating, and tips to help you get started with a healthier diet.

6 Common Questions about Assisted Living Communities

It can be a challenge to find the right assisted living community for you or someone you care about. This article from care.com provides a great overview of things to ask as you are visiting assisted living communities and considering which one will be the best choice.

Benefits of Massage

Massage has so many benefits, from making us feel more relaxed, to improving flexibility. Studies are now showing that it can be a huge benefit for seniors and those suffering from memory loss.

From preventing isolation, to making healthy choices, there are so many things we can do to age well and continue to live a vibrant life.

Contact Senior Living today and learn how our community amenities promote healthy living and prevent isolation.