Staying mentally and physically healthy is a worry that many retirees face. With no active career or children around to keep you on your toes, how do you make sure that your mind and body don’t slip? Active living is the answer. With active living, you can keep yourself mentally sharp, and physically in shape too. Here’s how.
Fun, Shared Activities
Solo physical exercise is a great way to keep your body in good form, but have you considered doing physical activities with other people? This allows you to take care of both your physical health and mental health at the same time. Having an active social life is also a proven way to fight the onset of both dementia and Alzheimer’s. What better way to keep your social connections strong than by participating in fun activities with your friends and neighbors?
Some fun group activities you can try include:
Exercising doesn’t just include things like running a marathon or weight-lifting. Doing chores and home improvement activities are also great ways to squeeze in some low-impact exercises into your day.
Look for an active retirement community near you where everyone owns their home and puts considerable effort into the look of their yards. This will inspire you to landscape your own property so it looks as good as possible.
Gardening and landscaping, for example, require you to bend, dig through dirt, and pull weeds, making it the perfect way to exercise and make your home look good at the same time. There are also ways to modify how you garden if you have mobility issues.
You can install decorative benches that will make your garden look beautiful, but also let you rest and catch your breath as you work. You can also plant things into outdoor containers or raised beds, meaning you don’t need to bend as often.
Customize Your Home
Living in a customized bungalow or townhouse will allow you to customize your living space and accommodate a home gym, making it easier to stay active. You can exercise at any time of night or day, and you don’t need to worry about sharing your equipment with other gym members, and you don’t need to worry about the gym being too crowded.
Don’t Get Complacent
It’s easy to let your mental and physical health slip as you age, but there are plenty of ways to keep that from happening. Participate in group activities that keep you moving, in order to stay mentally fit and keep your body physically healthy at the same time. In adult communities you will have lots of opportunities for walking, biking and other sports like golf.
By keeping yourself mentally and physically healthy, you’ll be able to continue living independently for years to come.