At the start of a new year, people often resolve to improve their lives. Older adults are no different. For many, taking steps to live a healthier life is the focus of their New Year’s resolutions.

If you are a senior looking for ways to live your best life, we have a few tips to add to your resolutions list. They will help you focus on the body, mind, and spirit.

5 Tips for Living Your Best Life During Retirement

1. Live a purposeful life: When you are raising a family and pursuing a career, your days are usually busy. Sometimes too busy. Favorite hobbies and pastimes may be left behind.

Once your children are grown and you retire, you might struggle to find meaningful ways to fill your time. It’s easy to slip into unhealthy habits if you don’t have a plan for living with purpose.

Whether it is volunteering, continuing your education, or taking up a new hobby, having purpose helps you avoid the negative health consequences of being sedentary and disengaged with life.

2. Adapt to changing nutritional needs: As we age, our nutritional needs change. Seniors often need fewer calories but more key vitamins and nutrients. For example, vitamin D and B12 deficiencies are more common in older adults than their younger counterparts.

Adjusting your diet to meet these changes is important. One resource for learning more is ChooseMyPlate.gov from the US Department of Agriculture. Seniors will find information and suggestions for making smart food choices and creating healthy meals on this site.

3. Create a strong social circle: Friendships are important at every age, but especially when we grow older. Having a circle of friends to socialize, travel, and share life’s ups and downs with is good for the mind and the spirit.

Friends also keep you more active and engaged with your community. That means you will be less likely to spend your retirement years at home in front of the television.

4. Find a physician you trust: Having a trusted doctor who will listen to your concerns is another vital part of aging well. As you grow older, the physician-patient partnership becomes more important than ever.

Not every physician, however, is comfortable caring for senior patients. If yours isn’t, it might be time to find one who is. Once you do, make it a priority to follow their advice on preventative screenings and annual checkups. It’s the best way to detect small health concerns before they become big ones.

5. Stay active: Staying physically active aids in managing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis, while also lowering the risk of falls. Walking, yoga, swimming, and resistance training are forms of exercise that build core strength, stamina, and balance.

You might also find Go4Life, created by the National Institute on Aging, to be useful. Their site has a variety of free fitness resources and videos designed exclusively for older adults.

One final suggestion is to give careful thought to where you live during your retirement. From the climate to the type of housing you choose, your environment can play a key role in safety, opportunities for socializing, and overall wellness.

Call Sunrise Senior Living to learn about the independent living communities nearest you today!

Source: Sunrise Senior Living