Seniors: How to Stay Active at Home

SENIORS

HOW TO STAY ACTIVE AT HOME

By Hayli Zuccola

If the pandemic taught us anything—besides the importance of hand sanitizer and toilet paper—it was the realization that you don’t have to go far from home to maintain an active lifestyle. Of course, being active doesn’t just pertain to physical exercise, but encompasses all types of engagement including mental and inspirational recreation.

For seniors who aren’t ready to face the uncertainties of the ongoing health crisis, here are just four ways to continue being active at home.

Though it isn’t the sole source of sustaining a healthy existence, exercise is vital not only for physical health, but mental health as well. According to the CDC, “regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better.”

Now you don’t have to run a marathon or partake in strenuous weight lifting to reap the bene ts of exercise. Simply going for a walk, stretching or doing a round of seated yoga can make a huge di erence, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Take the exercise routine outside to absorb the sunshine and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Taking up a new hobby is a great source for staying active at home. Since the pandemic began, gardening has become more popular than ever, but if digging in the dirt leaves little to no interest for you, there are tons of other hobbies to choose from including baking or cooking; bird watching; photography; painting and even coin collecting. The possibilities to sort through are endless, and dozens of them can be done inside or right in your backyard.

MENTAL EXERCISES

While physical tness has its place in an overall wellbeing, it’s also important to keep your brain in shape too. Working on crossword puzzles, playing memory games, reading or even trying to learn a new language are all ways to keep your mind sharp and engaged in the moment.

STAY CONNECTED

Seniors, especially those with health issues that leave them more at-risk, have been spending a lot more time at home, but that doesn’t mean they have to be alone. Technological advances have made it so much easier to stay connected with friends and family. Even those who aren’t the most techsavvy don’t have to depend on social media or video communications to keep in touch, just picking up the phone to call a friend can help ll the need for some socialization. ■