CBS News reports that the average American retirement age is 62, and almost 60% of survey respondents said they retired earlier than planned. Not only did they have to stop working, but they also had to deal with health issues.
All these factors mean that an older adult can suddenly experience a huge life change, and it can leave them reeling. Without resilience tools, they may suffer from declining overall health, and it can take its toll on their quality of life.
To prevent this from happening, you'll need positive aging strategies. Here's a list of coping skills that seniors in Kendallville, IN can use.
Taking care of your emotional wellness also addresses mental health for seniors. So it's important that you learn emotional coping skills, as this will take you far.
The key thing is to accept and acknowledge your feelings. You should allow space to feel grief, sadness, or frustration. While accepting these feelings, you should practice self-compassion and remind yourself it's okay to struggle while dealing with transitions.
Journaling can be a great way to do this. Write about your emotions and thoughts, as it helps you process change and track emotional growth. You can also use it to practice gratitude and reflect on things you're thankful for to boost your emotional resilience.
Other ways to deal with your emotions are to talk to a counselor or therapist or join support groups.
Taking care of your body with healthy habits can also do wonders for dealing with life changes. If you don't already, you should do gentle exercise, such as:
Staying active with a daily routine provides structure, and this helps with coping, gives you purpose, and provides mental clarity.
Sleep hygiene is vital too. Establish consistent sleep patterns to support your emotional and cognitive well-being.
Lastly, eat a wholesome and balanced diet. Nutrition affects your mood, so get enough vitamins, fiber, and hydration.
Humans are social creatures, meaning that social activities can decrease loneliness and make life changes more manageable.
You should stay socially connected and nurture family bonds by making regular phone or video calls. You can also make new friends in senior living communities, community clubs, or religious groups. Or you can adopt a pet to get comfort, structure, and emotional connection.
Another suggestion is to volunteer. Helping others can foster a sense of value and belonging.
Keeping your brain strong and healthy can aid in coping too. For example, it's always good to do lifelong learning; taking classes (either online or in-person) can stimulate the mind and boost self-worth.
If that's not something you're interested in, you can still do puzzles and games at home. To distract from stress and sharpen focus, do:
In your everyday life, set small and meaningful goals, such as organizing a single room or learning a new recipe. These are more achievable, and when you can tick those things off, it'll build confidence.
In addition, reframe your negative thoughts. Cognitive restructuring can help you challenge "all-or-nothing" or catastrophic thinking.
Getting in touch with your artistic side can help you blossom and handle anything life throws at you. Some suggestions here include:
All of these things involve self-expression, emotional release, and a sense of accomplishment. They're also therapeutic and healing.
Some seniors find comfort in spirituality, but if you don't, that's okay. For those who do, faith and prayer can provide:
Individual meditative scripture reading or devotional study can anchor you too. You can find inner peace in timeless values.
Another thing you can try is purpose-focused reflection. Journaling or speaking with a spiritual counselor about life's meaning and legacy can also ground you.
We mentioned earlier that routine is great for seniors. In addition to your physical activities, you can also have a general structured day to create predictability. This can reduce emotional chaos.
As for tangible chaos, you should simplify your environment. Decluttering or downsizing can reduce anxiety, especially during transitions like moving.
To improve your independence, consider using adaptive technology. Here are some helpful aids:
Most importantly, seek help when you need it. There's no shame in receiving outside help, so ask for it. By using caregiving services or transportation support, you'll relieve the stress of trying to do everything alone.
Implementing our above suggestions can already make a tremendous difference in your life. However, adopting stress-reduction and relaxation techniques can bring further positive changes.
The first is mindfulness and meditation. These can reduce anxiety and increase present-moment awareness. You can do guided meditations through apps or community classes.
Or you can do box breathing, the 4-7-8 technique, or simple slow breathing, which can lower your stress hormones. Progressive muscle relaxation is also easy to do; just tense and relax groups of muscles gradually. This exercise helps reduce physical tension that's linked to emotional stress.
For low-effort relaxation, turn to aromatherapy or soothing music. You can create a calming home environment by using essential oils and relaxing playlists. Combine these things with mindfulness and meditation for improved results.
Life can be unpredictable, and even when you have positive changes, it can be overwhelming and disorientating. But if you keep this list of coping skills close, then you'll be able to handle anything.
The important thing is to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. By using a holistic approach, you'll be able to strengthen your resilience. As a result, you'll experience less distress and more control over your life.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about a quality senior living community in Kendallville, IN. Chandler Place Assisted Living has high-speed WiFi and devices to keep our residents connected.