4 Tips for Staying Happy and Healthy After the Age of 60
If you’re over the age of 60 or you are getting close to it, you need to start taking better care of your physical and mental health. This is the time when your body starts to lose its ability to recover, and while you could get away with having an unhealthy lifestyle in your younger years, being unhealthy could lead to dire and even fatal consequences. Getting healthy doesn’t have to be complicated, however, and just making a few changes could be enough to add years to your life. Let’s take a look at a few tips that will help you stay happy and healthy well into your twilight years.
Go for Regular Check-Ups
We know that check-ups can get expensive, but you need to start having one at least once per year from now on even if you have to pay out of pocket. This will allow you to catch creeping diseases quickly, and your doctor will be able to give you some recommendations on how to stay healthy even if you don’t have anything.
They may be able to catch the early signs of diabetes, for instance, and help you make decisions that will prevent you from developing the disease. So, do not take this lightly, and see if you could find a doctor in your area that can perform a low cost full check-up if you don’t have insurance.
Join an Active Senior Community
Staying healthy and active is much more difficult when you’re living alone. You could instead live in a vibrant community that would have all the resources for you to stay active while giving you freedom and privacy when needed. Senior living facilities like Monarch communities have everything from state-of-the-art gyms with trainers to activities that promote physical activity. Not only that but living in a senior community will allow you to have a healthy social life, which is one of the prime predictors of good health.
Sleep Better
Sleep quality needs to be a priority for you as well. Sleep is when the body gets into repair mode, and it will need more time to do its work as you get older. This is why it’s recommended that seniors get at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
If you’re having trouble getting to and staying asleep, try doing things like adding blackout curtains to completely block outdoor light, stopping watching screens two hours before bed, and lowering the temperature in your room to around 65°F for optimal sleep. And avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine at least four hours before going to bed.
Take Up a Sport
Now is not too late to start practicing a team sport. We emphasize team sports because they will allow you to build social bonds on top of getting a workout. Things like bocce, pickleball, or walking football are all great options. If you’d rather play individual or one on one sports, then swimming, squash, and golf are all options you could consider too.
Enjoying a happy and healthy life as a senior is entirely possible if you’re willing to make some changes to your lifestyle. Keep a good eye on your activity levels and social life, and pay very close attention to what you put in your body and how you treat it from now on.
