Refresh Your New Year with Simple Changes

3, 2, 1… Happy New Year! 

You’ve made it! You’ve sailed into the new year with poise and grace despite how different the year may have looked. There may have been some obstacles along the way, but you’ve managed to overcome them all the same.

Now that the new year is here, it’s a good time to reflect on everything that has happened in the past twelve months. Use it as an opportunity to think about how you might do things differently or about the things you might want to change. It can be more than just a resolution too, like a way to change how you look at everything and anything around you!

Your fresh start happens now

A fresh start can mean just about anything–really anything! Maybe you want to make a change in your daily life that can benefit you physically and mentally, or maybe you plan to rekindle relationships and friendships that have gone quiet for far too long. What about a new year resolution to add more color to your plate to live a healthier lifestyle?

Whatever it may be, new year’s resolutions should pave the way for you to do more of what you love, keep you healthy and ultimately bring more joy into your life. According to Healthline, “[the] new year often signifies a fresh start for many people.” Let’s take a closer look at how you and your loved ones can adopt these wellness trends to promote better senior health in the new year!

Increase your fitness and health

It’s hardly a secret that fitness and health play a huge role in physical and mental wellness. The American Academy of Family physicians or AAFP suggests that seniors get thirty minutes of exercise, five days a week. Exercise helps muscles grow and keeps your body active and able, letting you maintain your independence and continue with day-to-day activities like gardening or baking your favorite desserts to share with family and friends.

Staying active also promotes better sleep and reduces your risk of depression and anxiety. The CDC’s physical activity guidelines states, “benefits of physical activity on brain health occur immediately after a session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity…, such as reduced feelings of state anxiety…, improved sleep and improved aspects of cognitive function.”

Whether you choose to increase the number of walks you take around your neighborhood or explore new yoga poses that can also benefit your hearing, there‘s an exercise routine perfect for everyone and every age group. The American Association of Retired Persons shares over seventy fitness videos to help make fitness more enjoyable for you this year. Reach out to a friend or family member who you know would love to join you and schedule a time to complete routines together. Staying active while staying social? It’s a win-win! 

Reconnect with family and friends

Have you been meaning to reach out to an old friend? Maybe a distant family member you haven’t heard from in a while? You still can! This year is all about you. It’s time to rekindle old relationships and strengthen new ones. Don’t forget to add time to your day to spend with your grandchildren and loved ones too–it‘s beneficial for everyone!

That’s right–socialization has many health benefits for you and your loved ones. Social interaction and relationships with family and friends can have a profound effect on mental health. This is especially true for seniors who are more at risk for loneliness and social isolation. According to the CDC, seniors are more prone to loneliness and social isolation due to distance from family members and friends, chronic illness and even hearing loss.

Don’t let age or hearing loss become a factor in how often you connect with your loved ones. If you have hearing loss that makes using the phone difficult, you may benefit from ClearCaptions call captioning service. Reduce the effects of social isolation with our easy-to-read captions that encourage better communication and connection.

So, why is socializing important and what health benefits come from it?

• Regulates your response to stress and anxiety
• Improves memory which can lower your risk of dementia
• Promotes better physical and mental health
• Increases your happiness and longevity
• Decreases your chance of depression and social isolation

Read more on the health benefits of being social and how clear communication boosts mental health. 

Change up your dinner plate

As we age, it’s important to stay one step ahead with proper nutrition and diet. Nutrients are key components to our wellness and bodily functions after all. This year, make a healthy and conscious decision to think twice about what you put on your plate… you are what you eat, they say.

Health in Aging recommends seniors get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and choose foods rich in fiber. Include two daily servings of low-fat dairy products and strive for heart-healthy proteins like salmon and tuna at least twice a week. Take a step in the right direction and incorporate some of these healthy foods into your diet to help with your new year’s goals!

• Spinach
• Collard greens
• Carrots
• Oranges
• Legumes
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Low-fat milk and yogurts
• Healthy fats like olive oil
• Herbs and spices

Need more ideas on healthy new year resolutions? Click here.

Join the sixty-one percent of baby boomers who choose to set new year resolutions that promote better senior health in the new year. Your fresh start is happening now! Are you ready?

If you know someone who is living with hearing loss who doesn’t have a caption phone yet, help them get connected. Learn more about our call captioning service or call 866-246-7850 for more information.