When it comes to ideas for self-care, variety is key. Trying activities such as journaling, mindful breathing, socializing, and creative crafts are great starting points to add to your daily schedule.
Varying your self-care exercises can make them more meaningful and successful. This practice can also help seniors improve their attention span and memory performance.
That's why our senior community in Oklahoma City, which sits right in the center of Oklahoma, put together this list. These different methods of purposeful self-care can help promote better mental wellness with only a little effort.
How often do you spend time thinking about things that you're grateful for? Has something happened today that you'd like to spend more time appreciating?
These are the questions of daily gratitudes that can show you the brighter sides of life.
It's a great self-care method that can help with healthy aging and emotional balance. It gives you the chance to analyze the day and pick out all of the things that made you happy.
Try spending at least five minutes every night before bed to reflect upon these gratitudes.
Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas is the perfect way to understand your emotions better. Not only does this help you put tricky situations into perspective, but it also lets you analyze how you react to certain situations.
Many people who use journaling for self-care find a better sense of understanding of both their thoughts and their bonds with other people.
Journaling works well if you do a daily gratitude routine. Write down your gratitudes as you think of them so you can always flip back and re-read all about them in the future. You'll memorialize those joyful feelings so that the future you can revisit those positive memories as many times as you'd like.
Meditation and mindful breathing should always have an honored place in any self-care routine. These practices help re-center your mental state in the present. Instead of focusing on future worries or past mistakes, you remind yourself that you're here and you're okay.
It's a calming activity that assists in eliminating stress and anxiety so you can focus your mind on more productive or enjoyable things.
All you need to do is find a quiet spot and close your eyes. Breathe in and out slowly, trying to clear your mind of anything else. Focus on your body and the feeling of those breaths.
You'll likely find your thoughts straying, but that's natural. Simply clear your mind again, and keep going.
Of all the daily habits that uplift your spirit, creative ones are some of the best. This is because they help alleviate stress while also letting you find a sense of peace during a potentially chaotic day.
You get to express difficult emotions in a way that is meaningful for you. You may not be able to put words to those emotions, but you can shape them into being with creativity.
Some creative pursuits to try include:
Walking grants us many benefits, both physically and mentally. That's why it should always be included in any list of senior empowerment ideas.
You'll work on your physical health with an activity that can be done alone or with friends. You'll get to reconnect with the rest of the world and not feel so isolated.
Even a short walk of ten minutes can have lasting positive benefits throughout the rest of the day, including:
Self-care in assisted living doesn't mean you always have to do things alone. Self-care includes a variety of different skills and activities, and socializing is one of the best things you can do for your mental wellness.
Interacting with other people is a necessity if you want to improve your well-being.
While many ideas for self-care can be done alone, you need to make an effort to reach out to others for well-rounded improvements. Something as simple as a small chat with another resident can make a big difference in your overall mental health.
Take time to participate in community events, outings, and other social activities so you never suffer from the symptoms of loneliness or self-isolation.
The signs that you need more self-care tend to be the way your thoughts affect your daily life. When you notice that you're diminishing yourself or feeling low, self-care can often help offset those mental problems.
Skipping activities is another big sign that you're at the beginning of a potentially downward spiral. If you've stopped exercising, avoiding community activities, skipped meals, or are even pulling away from friends and family, it's time to evaluate your mental state.
If you neglect self-care for too long, stress can become overwhelming and cause physical symptoms. Early signs of too much stress include:
Adding anything new to your schedule can be difficult, but perseverance will make it easier. Try to do at least one self-care activity each day, making it a highlight in your daily schedule.
By looking forward to wellness routines for seniors, you're more likely to follow through. Within a few weeks of doing this, you'll realize that it's now a regular part of your day, and you no longer need to focus on doing self-care. It's now natural, easy, and rewarding.
Arming yourself with meaningful ideas for self-care is only the first step in finding better mental wellness. Joining a senior community that aligns with your individual needs is crucial to successful self-care.
At Morada Southridge, your mental wellness is one of our top priorities. We can help offload daily stressors like housekeeping, so you have plenty of chances to do things that make you happy. With easy access to our activities calendar and community events, you can also stay connected with other residents for a social boost.
Contact us today to learn more about our Oklahoma City community and how we can work together to achieve a fulfilling retirement!