The new year brings with it a renewed feeling of purpose and excitement to see what lies ahead. The senior aging professionals at Baldwin House understand that older adults and adults of retirement age enjoy the countdown to the new year. We’ve come up with 6 New Year’s resolutions for seniors that we wanted to share in case you need inspiration.
A new year is an ideal time to commit yourself to move into a senior living retirement community, take up a new hobby or even give up a bad habit!
Whether the community you live in offers different activities or watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight, there are many ways that seniors can ring in the new year in style.
Older adults, caregivers, friends and loved ones can set aside time to talk about resolutions and turn it into a time to reminisce about the year that’s ending and make plans for the new year ahead. If you’re wondering whether anyone still makes resolutions, a survey found that close to 50% of baby boomers will make resolutions. Many of those resolutions, it was found, will focus on improved health and other self-improvement goals.
6 New Year’s Resolutions For Seniors
If you’re looking for ideas on potential resolutions for 2024, here are a few to consider.
- Eat healthier. As we age, it’s more important that we pay attention to our diet and well-being. It’s always easier to reach for processed foods or fast food, but there are many healthy options for eating and cooking at home. When it comes to preparing meals, make sure you’re eating whole grains, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables. Consider having cut-up veggies and low-fat dressings in the fridge for those times when a snack attack hits. Remember, you don’t have to give up desserts or your favorite salty snack, but just eat them in moderation.
- Get social. It’s easy to stay indoors and not connect with friends and family in the cold winter months in Michigan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t video chat as a way to stay in touch. When the weather permits, plan an outing with your loved ones. Make your relationships and friendships a priority this year.
- Get up and get moving. Taking a walk around your Baldwin House community is a great way to get more active, and you could also say hello to a neighbor as a way to be more social. You could invite your neighbor to join you on a walk around the community. Consider chair yoga or water aerobics as a way to stay in shape and stay active.
- Exercise your brain. Staying mentally active is just as important as getting physically active. Do puzzles, play trivia games, do crosswords or stay engaged with a favorite hobby that engages your brain. There is no age limit on keeping your mind active and engaged! Don’t make the mistake of spending all of your time sitting down watching television, because that will lead to you aging faster.
- Plan for your future. What do you want to do or try in the new year? Why not take a cooking class or learn a new skill? Setting goals for your future keeps you more engaged and focused on your future.
- Start a new tradition. What would you like to kick off as a new annual tradition? Decorating your house for the new year? Eating a particular food or treat as you ring in the new year? Making plans for at least monthly outings with loved ones? Reading one book a month? Keeping a gratitude journal? It doesn’t matter what the tradition is, what matters is that it means something to you and that you will embrace for 2024 and beyond.
Decide when your new year will start. Not everyone can stay up until midnight – and not everyone wants to! If you know you won’t be awake that late, decide what time your new year starts. If it’s 9 p.m., then embrace that and set a resolution to do a countdown to the new year before you go to sleep. Call a friend or family member and count down the new year with them. Make whatever time you welcome the new year an important time for you. It’s not the time on the clock that matters, it’s your attitude going into the new year that will set the tone, whether it’s 9 p.m. or midnight!
Visit a Baldwin House Senior Living community near you. Baldwin House Senior Living is built upon the strong foundation of guiding families and empowering seniors.
Baldwin House offers families peace of mind and gives active adults and seniors who call Baldwin House home the freedom to live their very best lives. Call us today to schedule a visit. We’d love to meet you or your loved one!
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