Mental Health Tips for Seniors

Smiling senior woman leaning on exercise ball

Experts have realized that the connection between mind and body makes it essential to treat the entire person. And according to the World Health Organization, for older adults, mental health is shaped by physical and social environments, stressors related to aging, and a lifetime of experiences. Are you interested in maintaining or improving your mental well-being? These mental health tips for seniors can help.

Manage Stress in Healthy Ways

To protect your mind and body, it’s important to learn how to manage stress in healthy ways. There are several possibilities:

  • Do deep breathing exercises. Calm breathing can lead to a calm mind. If you’re feeling stressed, try taking several slow, deep breaths. Concentrate on the way the air moves in and out of your body.
  • Meditate. Some meditate by sitting and focusing on a mantra. Others choose a form of moving meditation like tai chi. There are a variety of forms of meditation to explore, so explore your options to find something that appeals to you.
  • Try self-care. The modern world is a hectic place, and it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind. Finding time to take care of yourself can help you to step back and regain your balance. You can read a book, take a relaxing bath, schedule a massage, do a puzzle, take a walk, watch a favorite television show, or meet friends for lunch. Choose an activity that recharges your emotional batteries.

Stay Active

Keeping your body active also benefits your mind. Regular exercise can help you feel stronger, reduce stress, ease pain, and improve sleep. These are all things that enhance mental well-being.

Be Social

Interacting with other people keeps the brain active and spurs a sense of emotional connection. Whether it’s venturing out to make new friends, staying in touch with loved ones, or even giving back by volunteering, socialization is powerful. That’s why being social is inevitably on every list of mental health tips for seniors.

Prioritize Sleep

Seniors often struggle with sleep. Many mistakenly think it’s because they need less. In truth, older adults still need between 7 and 9 hours to function well and protect against serious issues like cardiovascular troubles, diabetes, increased fall risks, obesity, and depression. Troubles getting enough sleep are often related to poor sleep habits, sleep environments, stress, or medications. In some cases, a sleep disorder is to blame. If your efforts to prioritize sleep don’t succeed, talk to your doctor.

Embrace Healthy Eating

Quality materials are often considered a measure of excellence for products. By that logic, it makes sense that you’d need healthy foods to fuel a healthy human. Eating healthy isn’t boring. There are plenty of delicious meals and snacks that are rich in fruits and vegetables and jam-packed with essential nutrients.

Review Medications

Pharmacology is complex, and today’s seniors are increasingly caught in its web. As Time reports, about 40 percent of older adults take five or more medications. Roughly 20 percent take 10 or more. It’s a situation with pros and cons. Medications are prescribed because they offer benefits. However, they can also have side effects, and the risk of side effects and interactions can increase as the number of medications does. Taking the time to review your medications with your doctor both when you have a concern and at regular intervals is a good way to protect your physical and mental health.

Try Something New

Learning something new keeps your brain healthy, inspires curiosity, and creates new pathways for you to explore. It can open new opportunities to socialize and prompt an expanding range of interests. Seniors are often blessed with free time, and they can use that freedom to explore new interests.

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When you’re interested in protecting your mental health, there’s a lot that you can do. However, no list of mental health tips for seniors would be complete without a reminder. Anyone who has serious concerns about either their physical or mental health should speak with a professional. Your healthcare provider can be an invaluable ally.

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