Do you want to carry on enjoying the quality of life that you are accustomed to for as long as you possibly can? Are you determined to maintain a high standard of living well into your twilight years? If you want to hang onto your youthful vigor for years and years to come, you’re going to need to do something about it. You can’t afford to leave anything to chance in this instance — if you want to remain sprightly as you grow older, you need to look after your body and your mind!
For advice on what you must do to retain your independence as you grow older, be sure to read on.
Remain active
Physical activity will play a crucial role in your attempt to retain your independence as you grow older. The more active you are on a daily basis, the less likely you will be to suffer from major heart problems. What’s more, physical exertion will aid you in your bid to remain strong and balanced, which in turn will help you to steer clear of bad injuries as you enter your twilight years.
If you want to hold onto your independence for as long as you possibly can, you simply must make an effort to remain active as you grow older. To perform this all-important task in an incredibly efficient, effective, and enjoyable fashion, be sure to heed the following advice:
1. Find a physical activity that actively interests and engages you (you aren’t going to be inspired to work out over a sustained period of time if your fitness regime is boring or lackluster).
2. Align yourself with a like-minded friend or family member and embark on your fitness endeavor alongside them (conversing with your fitness partner will you work out will be sure to keep you entertained and motivated).
3. If you regularly drive to your local store, consider walking there instead (provided you will be capable of carrying your shopping home, of course).
4. Go swimming on a weekly basis (this form of physical activity will be gentle on your joints, improve your cardiovascular endurance, reduce your risk of osteoporosis, and boost your mental health).
Move into a senior living community
Social engagement also plays a pivotal role in elderly independence. Quite simply, if you want to retain your quality of life for as long as you possibly can, you need to surround yourself with individuals that bring the best out of you. With joyful and spirited people by your side on a daily basis, you’ll be much more likely to maintain a strong lust for life, which in turn will help you to retain your desire to lead a full and rich lifestyle.
Of course, your capacity to spend time with other people will get harder and harder as you age, simply because your mobility, and subsequently your ability to move about freely, will dwindle. Fear not, however, as there is a way in which to circumvent this hurdle, that being to move into a senior living community. Once you relocate to this type of assisted living complex, you will have the capacity to go about your daily business alongside like-minded retirees who, like you, want to carry on living their lives to the full. For more information about enrolling in an independent living program at a senior living community, be sure to check out Frontier Management.
Never be afraid to ask for help
Asking for help when you are attempting to retain your independence might seem counterintuitive, but it really isn’t it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with requesting a bit of assistance every now and again, which is why you shouldn’t be afraid to perform this all-important task. By utilizing the help, knowledge, and resources provided by external forces, you will have the capacity to share your burdens on a daily basis. This will allow you to devote more of your time and effort to all of the aspects of your life that bring you happiness, which in turn will make you more likely to enjoy your twilight years.
If asking for help has never been your forte, fear not, as there are a number of things that you can do to cultivate this crucial skill. Here are four things you must do become comfortable with requesting assistance:
1. Be clear, concise, and coherent whenever you ask for help.
2. Never apologize for being in need of assistance — remember, everybody needs a bit of help at some point in their life!
3. Request assistance in face-to-face settings (you’ll be less likely to receive a ‘no’ that way).
4. Express your gratitude for the help that you receive and offer your own form of assistance going forward.
Step out of comfort zone
After working so hard for so many years to do right by your family, you deserve to enjoy a bit of ‘me’ time in your twilight years. You deserve to fill your days with fun, laughter, and adventure. If you want to take the bull by the horns and inject a bit of excitement into the autumn of your life, you’re going to need to step out of your comfort zone. Trying new things, speaking to new people, and visiting new places will help you to make memories that stay with you for the rest of your life. And you never know, you might very well end up unearthing a brand new hobby!
Make no mistake about it; you can push yourself of your comfort zone no matter how old you are. To perform this life-affirming task in an effective fashion, you must:
1. Put yourself into new environments (such as an aforementioned senior living community).
2. Whenever you’re offered choices, refrain from taking the safe route.
3. Make snap decisions (oftentimes, this will help you to follow your gut feeling).
4. Be open to the idea of saying ‘yes’ more often.
Want to carry on leading a fun and fulfilling lifestyle throughout the course of your twilight years? If so, be sure to heed all of the advice laid out above.
