10 Relaxation and Stress Reduction Tips for Seniors

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Finding new ways to relax and feel good as a senior can be tough, especially if you’ve become accustomed to living in a specific routine. After retirement, everything is supposed to slow down and become easier but often seniors face additional challenges related to physical and mental health, mobility, and navigating the modern world. Furthermore, it’s common for the elderly to experience potentially debilitating illnesses or chronic conditions that can make everyday tasks seems stressful or burdensome. To help you or a loved one live a more serene and fulfilling lifestyle as a senior, here’s a list of 10 relaxation and stress reduction tips that will prove useful for the majority of the elderly:

1. Relocate to a Care Home

Living at home on your own may seem like the best way to stay independent and self-sufficient but taking care of everything yourself certainly isn’t the most relaxing way to live. A well-staffed and maintained care home will handle all of the daily tasks that would otherwise consume your time, energy, and focus. Plus, you’ll be in an environment where you can easily make friends with people in your demographic. With prepared meals, comfortable accommodation, and a structured routine prepared for you, you won’t have to stress about trivial tasks anymore. To see an example of the services and conveniences that are offered at one of these facilities, check out the official site for Vale View Heights, a leading care home in Sidmouth.

2. Practice Yoga

Yoga might seem like it would be too difficult for you to take up in old age but there are actually plenty of exercises that are perfect for beginners. While it wouldn’t be advisable to jump right into advanced upside down holds and intense stretches, the basic tenets of yoga which involve breathing and performing gentle stretches will help to keep your body limber and elastic. There’s also the mindset aspect of yoga that helps you control your thoughts and stay centred in the face of stressful obstacles. Of all the physical art forms, yoga is most likely the most beneficial for the elderly and individuals who are recovering from or treating mobility reducing conditions.

3. Do Gentle Breathing Exercises

While yoga offers its own set of breathing exercises, there are other deep breathing exercises that can be beneficial for extending your lung capacity and providing your body with more oxygen. Since low oxygen levels in the blood have been linked to cancer and increased stress levels, it’s important to improve your body’s ability to extract oxygen from the air you breathe. These exercises typically involve taking deep breaths and then exhaling in a strategically timed or rhythmic manner. It should be noted that seniors with breathing problems should consult with their doctor about which breathing exercises would be safe to perform.

4. Listen to Music Frequently

Listening to music is something that many people do less frequently as they age, probably because the songs that they once enjoyed in their youth are no longer as popular or because they’ve heard all of their favourite songs so many times before. Exploring new musical genres and playing instrumental playlists on sites like YouTube or through music streaming services can provide you with a seemingly never-ending selection of new musical experiences to enjoy. Studies have shown that listening to music can heal or prevent depression, soothe chronic pain, and help with mood control.

5. Use Social Networking Sites

Browsing social media sites like Facebook and Twitter might seem like something that is for the millennials, but it can be an excellent tool for seniors to get in touch with previous classmates and acquaintances from earlier in their lives. Staying in touch with friends and family is a great way to keep your memory and relationships healthy and intact. Additionally, staying active on social media will give you an easy way to stay knowledgeable about world events and trends, so it’s a great way to stay young and current in the mind.

6. Use Herbal Teas and Tinctures

Many herbal teas and tinctures have anti-aging and healing properties that will keep you feeling mentally sharp and physically nimble well into old age. Although it may take a couple weeks to a few months to start noticing the improvements in your wellbeing, if you keep consuming a balanced regimen of herbs that have proven medical benefits, you’ll notice that stress reduction is just one of many perks which include increased physical strength, enhanced focus, and higher energy levels.

7. Sleep 8-10 Hours

As we get older, it can be easier to get by on only 5-6 hours of sleep but it’s not necessarily the healthiest thing to do. Studies have shown that getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night will help you avoid age-related mental illnesses and slowly progressing physical conditions like cancer, arthritis, and heart disease. The brain and heart are rejuvenated during sleep, so sleeping a couple extra hours every night is guaranteed way to enhance your physical stamina and focus.

8. Grow an Indoor Garden

While going outside in the hot sun and bending over with a mini shovel might not be the most comforting or relaxing activity for a senior, having a small shelf-mounted indoor garden is something that anyone can handle. Nowadays there are smart gardens that take care of most of the plants’ nutritional and hydration needs automatically on a timed basis. Still, you’ll get to enjoy the relaxing hobby of pruning leaves, planting seedlings, and harvesting the fruits or vegetables of your light labour.

9. Take Up a Philosophical or Religious Studies

Studying your religion or philosophy of choice is a great way to keep busy with enlightening material and edifying fellowship. Whether you’re becoming more well-versed in a holy book or spiritual scriptures, or learning about another school of philosophy like stoicism, exploring the edifying epiphanies of mankind will keep your mind thinking creatively and positively.

10. Nature Walks or Strolls

Going for slow-paced walks or strolls in nature along paved paths is an easy way to get fresh air and appreciate the beauty of our planet while placing minimal stress on your joints. As you can easily observe by just stepping outside in a scenic area, studies have proven that spending time in nature has a noticeable stress reducing effect.

Do All of the Above for Optimal Results

In closing, there’s no reason to pick one item on the list above and stop there. Try working all of these activities into your daily routine and you’ll notice that your lifestyle will become much more relaxing overall.