As you age, one of the things you may look forward to the most is retirement and enjoying those precious golden years. In order to truly enjoy daily life, you’ll need to feel good about yourself both inside and out. This starts with maintaining healthy habits that can sustain you through every milestone. There are several facets of care that you should pay close attention to. Here are just a few tips to consider and possibly help guide you in the right direction.
The Right Amount Of Sleep
It’s vital that you get enough sleep as you get older. Because your body requires more energy to carry through a busy day and active lifestyle, getting the right amount of sleep is important. This starts with having a good mattress that is comfortable and able to support you properly. An adjustable mattress that contours to your physical needs is one way to find the right comfort that leads to a satisfying sleep. If your existing mattress isn’t working for you and you wake up several times in the night or feeling groggy in the morning, it’s time to shop for a new mattress.
If you prefer to fall asleep in your chair while watching television, you may want to consider a sleep chair. A sleep chair can allow you to recline, lay flat and adjust the back and feet accordingly. This is a great, affordable solution to a hefty lift chair with a noisy motor that often requires a lot of routine maintenance. Many sleep chair companies, like First Street Online sleep chairs, and also mattress outlets, offer warranties, so if you’re not happy with your purchase, you can also return them if you’re not satisfied.
Staying Active
Everyone knows about the importance of remaining physically active in order to achieve good cardiovascular health. But what about as you approach age 65 or older? Should you maintain your existing physical activity or slow down? This answer mostly depends on your current physical health and exercise activity level. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seniors over 65 should strive for up to 5 hours of moderate aerobic exercise every week. You can find simple ways to stay active through:
- *Walking or jogging with friends or through the park.
- *Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- *Engaging in sporting activities such as golf, fishing, or shuffleboard.
- *Going for hikes.
- *Joining a senior fitness club or obtaining a gym membership.
Remaining active helps keep your cardiovascular system as well as your muscles strong. This helps you maintain your independence and live a fulfilling senior life.
Creating A Social Outlet
While your physical health is very important, so are your personal relationships. This starts with remaining social with your peers and engaging in healthy activities that provides companionship and stress relief. This could be:
- *Meeting for cards once a week or a once a month.
- *Utilizing a potluck supper on a frequent basis.
- *Joining an enrichment class such as knitting, sewing or choir.
- *Shopping and having lunch with friends.
- *Providing some sort of community service.
Whether its getting together to go to a home party to buy jewelry or meeting your friends at church every Sunday, some social interaction can help keep you motivated and driven through your senior years.
Routine Doctor Visits
Part of a healthy lifestyle as you get older is to see your medical professional regularly. This starts with setting up a plan for a health and wellness checkup at least once every six months. If you’re on medication, it’s important to see your doctor more frequently to help monitor your care by a physical exam and blood work. Also consider preventative care. Your doctor will be the best person to tell you when you should have diagnostic testing done to check for certain diseases, cancers and medical conditions that can be caught early and treated promptly.
Turning your activities, exercise routines and menu options into everyday habits is the best way to achieve good health and happiness. The first step is visiting your health care provider for a professional referral in regards to the best exercise and diet program that you should start following. From there, make it a lifestyle choice that easily fits into your day.
