Make Your Golden Years Your Best Years

Guest article by Jason Lewis.
If you’re a senior, then you have already entered your golden years. You’ve conquered obstacles, worked hard, and earned the right to live your best life — all day, every day.
For each person, quality of life takes on a different look. Nonetheless, whether your best days will be spent traveling, gardening, volunteering, pursuing your passions and hobbies, and/or spending time with loved ones, one thing is certain: You will need to be in your best health. This article will discuss the steps you can take now to improve your quality of life for the long term.

Don’t Forget to Exercise
Regular exercise is a key contributor to a longer, healthier life. It’s never too late to get your body moving and reap the benefits. Set a goal to be physically active for 30 minutes a day. If you’re not used to exercising, start slow and gradually increase your time and exertion. Exercise will not only improve your energy and joint health, but it also:

• Helps prevent memory loss
• Produces endorphins (the hormones that make you feel good)
• Reduces chronic pain
• Increases your metabolism (which may have slowed down a bit a few decades ago)
• Improves balance
• Boosts your immune system
• Decreases blood pressure
• Improves flexibility

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, such as those provided by companies like Humana, you gain benefits like the Silver Sneakers program, which grants you access to fitness centers all across the United States. You’re already paying for the privilege, so why not use it? And while you’re at it, take advantage of those plans by scheduling dental and vision check-ups, which will help ensure that all that exercise isn’t going to waste.

Your Brain Leads Your Body
While the brain is a mystery, a sure fact is that we use it every day. The brain is the control center for your whole body, and just like every other organ, you need to take care of it and be in tune with its needs. If you make it a regular habit to stimulate your brain with puzzles, classes, experiments, or art and crafts, you will find that your mind remains sharp and even improves through making new connections between nerve cells and generating new cells.
 
Mind Your Mental Health
Part of caring for your brain is caring for your mental health. Your mood and emotions affect all areas of your life, including your relationships, blood pressure, energy levels, ability to combat diseases, and zest for life. You can invest time in your mental health by doing daily breathing exercises, getting adequate rest, boosting your vitamin D levels with regular exposure to light, and writing out three things you are grateful for each day.
You can also foster your mental health by taking supplements that can help you battle anxiety, mental fogginess, or negativity. Research the best vitamins based on your needs, and consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that the vitamins will not interact negatively with any existing health condition. Then, find the most enjoyable way to take those vitamins (juice, smoothie, shake, or perhaps a delicious homemade granola bar).
 
Your Body Is Your Temple
More than half the battle in having a healthy body is what you put into it. Take control of your life by controlling your diet. Those who lead a healthy lifestyle not only live longer lives, but they also face less illness. Assess your needs, and from there, investigate the different foods that would help provide you with a balanced diet that wards off health problems. For most people, a diet rich in vitamin-filled fruits and vegetables, foods and drinks filled with calcium to promote bone health, hydration through water, healthy fats, and protein will help you feel 100 percent.
Your golden years can be your best years; it all comes down to taking control of your health. Keep your mind stimulated on a daily basis to stay sharp and improve cognitive function. Foster your mental health each day, and make a nutritious diet part of your routine. Start exercising 30 minutes a day. Not only will you realize immediate benefits by forming these habits, but you will also be adding healthy years to a life well lived.
 
Photo Credit: Pexels