Living life to the fullest encompasses the mind, spirit, and body. Especially as we look to successfully age, we look to maintain our wellness in these areas.
MIND — “Learning never exhausts the mind” – Leonardo da Vinci
- Keep Learning: You may have gotten your degree or accomplished educational goals, but don’t let that stop you from continuing to cultivate knowledge. Seek intellectual pursuits by attending lectures, doing crossword puzzles, and attending cultural events.
- Use All of Your Senses: Touch, smell, taste, hearing, sight — all of these are important to continually stimulate your mind. Make sure you’re not leaving one out of your daily activities. Expose yourself to new senses by taking fieldtrips to different locations, like restaurants and parks.
- Believe in Yourself: You are your biggest cheerleader. Remind yourself of past challenges you’ve faced and conquered. Nurture your positive skills and set small goals that lead to bigger goals.
- Socialize: Be socially engaged by staying connected with friends, neighbors, and family members. To meet new people and surround yourself with new ideas, try volunteering to help out your community and at the same time expand your network.
SPIRIT — “Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” – Bernard Williams
- Time Alone: Although socializing is very important to successfully aging, don’t forget to take time to meditate and ponder on your own. Inward reflection provides deeper learning and development of confidence and motivation.
- Gratitude: Many times we forget to be thankful for what we have and the many blessings in our lives. Take a moment every day to list 10 things you’re thankful for or write letters of thanks to those who have made a difference in your life.
- Purpose: No matter what our age, we all have purpose. Once retirement rolls around, many people lose sight of their purpose without the identity of a job. Try new things, or look into becoming a champion of a cause close to your heart.
- Forgive: Holding grudges can cause stress and have adverse effects on your health, including high blood pressure, heart rate, and pain. Look for the lesson in the event and maintain perspective.
BODY — “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” – John F. Kennedy
- Eat Fresh and Eat Less: The old saying is “you are what you eat.” Find fresh foods to eat from your grocery store or farmers market and practice portion control.
- Walk it Out: Daily exercise, like walking, is a great way to age successfully. Gather a group of friends together to explore an area or trail within your local parks.
- Regular Check-Ups: Make sure you stay up-to-date with your doctor, dentist, and eye doctors. They’ll keep you on track and be able to spot little issues before they become big issues.
- Sleep: As you sleep, your body heals and recharges itself. Don’t limit its ability to keep you healthy by keeping inconsistent sleeping patterns or not sleeping enough. You should be getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
Looking for a place that you can successfully recover from a qualified hospital stay? REACH short stay rehabilitation at Lutheran Hillside Village can help you recover. With exceptional therapy, home-like settings, and a focus on the mind, spirit, and body, you’ll be on your way to a successful recovery. Call Sandy Vogel at 309-692-4600, for more information.