Are you ready with your New Year’s resolution already?
As we get older there is still time to make positive changes. Well, if you have not yet narrowed down to it, how about making it a healthy one. With a few healthy changes to your lifestyle you could make a big difference to your health and wellbeing in 2020. The key is to keep it simple and practical.
Here are a few New Year’s resolutions we suggest considering. It’s easy to follow and you can implement them right away:
- Eat healthy and drink adequate amount of water – As you age, your body still requires healthy foods, but you will need fewer calories. Eating a variety of foods from all food groups can help supply the nutrients a person needs as they age. Strive to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, low-fat dairy and healthy fats. Along with a healthy diet it is also important to have a daily intake of water. As you age, your body’s ability to conserve water decreases, so you don’t feel thirsty as often. However, your body still needs water. Also, older adults are always at a risk of both dehydration and over-hydration, as a result of health conditions, medications, loss of muscle mass, reduction in kidney function, and other factors. So, remember to keep yourself well hydrated!
TIP: Why not use a new water bottle – you can carry it with you so you always have water to hand?
- Be active – Staying physically active is key to healthy ageing. You should dedicate a portion of your day to fitness even if it’s just a walk or some stretches. Having said that, it is of utmost importance to find the right exercise for you, so you can stick with it all year long. If you don’t enjoy the gym you could walk, take up yoga, cycle, dance. Age UK has some great tips to stay active in your house: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/exercise/simple-exercises-inactive-adults/. As per a recent survey conducted by Girlings, 49% of the residents said they were as active as before, since moving into their retirement property.
- Revive an old friendship or make new ones – It’s not always easy remaining close to friends who don’t live right down the street. But there are dozens of resources you can use to rekindle old friendships. Make a telephone call, send an email or reach out to one of your childhood buddies via Facebook or another social media platform. Make it your goal to keep in touch and possibly schedule a get-together soon. If you are looking at making new friends, there cannot be a better place than a retirement development. Many offer coffee mornings, luncheons and regular get-together for the residents, in the communal lounges. It helps bring like minded people together and combat loneliness. Girlings tenant, Dorothy Franklin from Hedingham Place in Halstead, Essex, discovered a wonderful friendship in her fellow residents Phil and Brian. This is what she had to say,
“Since moving into my Girlings apartment I’ve been lucky enough to discover this wonderful friendship I never thought I’d find again. Phil and I have led similar lives and we like the same kind of things. If he’s cooking fish or duck, which he knows I like, he’ll cook a meal for me too and bring it round. I know Phil loves liver and bacon so if I’m cooking that I’ll cook some for him, and another friend, Brian who lives down the corridor – I take it round on a trolley like ‘meals on wheels’! We look after each other here.”
Dorothy Franklin
- Keep your brain busy – We know that physical activity is important, but giving your brain a “workout” is just as crucial. Challenging your brain regularly keeps cognitive skills sharp and reduces your chance of experiencing memory loss. In 2020 make time to play games that’ll force your mind to work in overdrive. If you are accustomed to doing crossword puzzles to keep your brain active, be sure to increase the level of difficulty to challenge your brain to work even harder, which will promote plasticity or switch it up with a different type of word puzzle.
TIP: Why not consider learning a new language? A great way to challenge your brain and you could use it on your next holiday!
- Explore new volunteering opportunities – Volunteering for a charity can be very rewarding, be it a few hours helping in a shop or a shelter or food bank. Several charities offer ‘befriending’ services where you can volunteer to visit or talk to vulnerable or lonely people, including those run by organisations like Age UK, The Samaritans and Silverline. With loneliness being rampant in today’s modern day and age, these organisations are a blessing to those who need it the most. Volunteering is not only a great way to give back to the community, but it also benefits your own health. According to Helpguide, it provides a sense of accomplishment, increases self-confidence and brings fulfilment to life.
- Revisit an old pastime – When was the last time you dedicated time towards doing something that used to be your favourite hobby? In the new year get out that sewing kit, paints, brushes & easel, or fishing rod and indulge in activities that you used to be passionate about. You may even consider sharing it with friends or introducing it to grandchildren, so you have something new to bond over.
Or is your new year’s resolution is to move to a new home, with independence and reduced property burdens so you can spend more time doing the above, then there is no better time to consider a move to a retirement property with Girlings.
Let us find you a new home this New Year.
To view available properties…
Call: 0800 525 184 Email: lettings@girlings.co.uk
Wishing you all a fabulous New Year from everyone at Girlings!
