Simple steps we can all take to have the best chance of a happy old age.
Staying Healthy as We Age
Every Tuesday without fail, lovely 94 years young, Lillian takes me on the community bus to Bingo. She is always ready on time, smartly turned out, well wrapped against the cold and wearing one of her favourite berets. Despite many aches and pains, she is invariably laughing and joking as she levers herself onto the bus and into her seat. After each session, when dropped back home, still laughing she says to all “See you next week, if I am still here, God willing, but I know I will be the first to go! Ha ha.”
As humans, we share a mutual desire for a good quality of life. While we can’t avoid getting old but that does not mean we cannot maintain a great quality of life, laughing as we go! Here are some tips to help you enjoy a ripe old age.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits can provide significant benefits for your wellbeing. Reduced mobility, pain, and certain physical conditions can make it harder to engage in physical activity. However, there are plenty of local activities in our local area for all levels. See the Age UK Southwark website for local events.
Reduce stress
Prolonged stress is known to have negative effects on our physical and mental wellbeing. Look for ways to reduce and cope with stress in your daily life. Some recommended coping mechanisms for stress include meditation, reading, light exercise, gardening and doing things you enjoy. Reducing your own stress levels can indirectly improve the quality of life for you and your loved ones.
Make time for friendships
Social contact is another crucial element of your quality of life. We are naturally social creatures and benefit from making connections with others. The digital age has brought new ways to stay connected with your loved ones, but we can’t underestimate the importance of physical presence. Plan to see your family and friends in real life at least once a month.
Make time for hobbies
Doing things that we enjoy releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical in our brains. Finding enjoyable hobbies and making time for them can improve our quality of life. If you’re not sure where to start, consider joining a singing for the mind group. These are great fun. The popular songs are infectious, making it almost impossible not to join in and have fun!
Get involved in the Local Community
Community involvement/volunteering has a host of benefits, one of which is increased feelings of belonging. By joining-in you can support positive changes in your community. Find out more about how to get involved by exploring opportunities on local websites.
Spend time outside
Increasing the time spent outdoors, amongst nature is a low-cost yet effective way to improve quality of life. Take a walk in an historic local park, or visit Dulwich Art Gallery following up with lunch in a local café. Or how about a visit the Horniman Museum followed by a walk in the museum gardens, with stunning views over London?
Recent studies have shown there is no physical reason why even in our 70’s we can have the same mental capacity and equal fitness as we have in our 40’s. Research shows that many of the changes attributed to aging are actually caused in large part by disuse. So, no more excuses, for a ripe old age, the time to get more active is now!
Michael Scott, is the co-owner of the award winning, locally based, specialist, home care company Right at Home Mitcham Streatham and Dulwich.