How Seniors Can Stay Mentally and Physically Fit this Spring
Keeping yourself physically and mentally fit are two important parts of healthy aging. If the cold winter season has kept you from contributing to your physical and mental wellbeing, think of spring as a chance to start anew. Here are a couple of great spring activities to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy in 2021.
1. Gardening
If you’ve been thinking of starting a garden, spring is the best time to begin. Many easy-to-grow plants thrive during the springtime, and your local nursery will likely have what you’re looking for in stock. Gardening is also a great excuse to exercise; it requires you to bend, crouch, and stand, which will help you maintain a healthy level of physical flexibility.
On top of that, gardening requires you to remember how to care for your plants, keeping you mentally sharp. It can also be a great way to socialize; if you live in a seniors’ residence, consider joining (or starting) a gardening club, where members can get together to trade tips and tricks on how to best maintain their plants. Many seniors’ communities are redefining senior living by including private balconies with their apartments, allowing residents to enjoy gardening on a smaller scale with hanging baskets.
2. Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a hobby that’s easy to pick up and can help you stay mentally fit. Birdwatching promotes mindfulness, or the sense of being in the present. Successful birdwatchers need to clear their minds and pay attention, or they may miss something.
This means you can’t allow your mind to drift off; if you find that your thoughts tend to spiral out of control, birdwatching can be a good way for you to practice focusing on the task at hand. Using birdwatching as a way to practice mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety, and allow you to enjoy a higher quality of sleep.
3. Hiking on Trails
Winter may have made your local trails too treacherous to hike, but the spring weather should open up many trails for you to use once again. Hiking is an excellent way to maintain your cardiovascular health, and the trails can vary in difficulty as well, meaning you can up the challenge as you improve.
If you have mobility issues, look for trails that have wide paths that are relatively even, and are clearly marked the entire way. If you’re looking for a challenge, make sure you’re well-prepared, and consider going with a group. Not only will this ensure your safety, but you’ll get a chance to socialize as well.
4. Outdoor Taiichi
You may have seen groups of seniors practicing Taiichi outdoors in the past. While Taiichi is an activity that can certainly be done indoors, there are many advantages to practicing this form of movement meditation outdoors. Being outdoors can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and the effect is only enhanced by Taiichi.
This is a gentle form of exercise that focuses on deliberate movements that will not only help to improve your balance and flexibility, but it will also require you to focus on your movements, allowing you to practice a sense of centeredness and being in the moment. Taiichi can be done in groups or by yourself, and can be adjusted according to the physical limitations you may have.
