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Live Your Best Life

Did you know that your well-being and your health have a lot to do with the choices you make? It’s never too late to start making better choices for a better life. Yes, it’s true that genetics and good genes play a part but so do lifestyle choices.

What is also important, is taking responsibility for your overall well-being and making everyday choices that put you in charge of your health, and integrating healthy practices into the fabric of your everyday life.

So, what exactly does influence how successfully we age? There are a host of factors, ranging from how socially connected you are to where you live.

Factors That Determine Longevity

Purpose 
Older adults who are engaged in meaningful activity and feel a sense of purpose in life tend to have lower rates of mortality and better health. Volunteering late in life is associated with reduced risk of hypertension, enhanced cognition, delayed physical disabilities and lower mortality rates.

Connections

One study found that seniors with strong social networks are less likely to show signs of dementia several years down the road. Staying connected to family and friends, even through social media and online chat services such as Skype, yields positive health benefits.

Health 
Growing evidence shows a key to overall good health lies in maintaining a healthy brain. Over the last decade, research has proven there’s much more to it than working the daily crossword, and that good nutrition, stress management and regular exercise all play key roles in keeping brains healthy. Memory function in seniors is improved by regularly doing tasks that require active engagement and that are challenging — like learning a new skill.

Activity

A sedentary lifestyle puts you and your aging family members at risk for chronic diseases. Engaging in physical activity for 30 to 45 minutes each day will cut your risks for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. People in the Blue Zones, those areas of the world where people live the longest, have active daily lifestyles built around natural movements such as gardening, walking, swimming, hiking, and biking.

 

Spirituality
Spirituality influences healthy aging and can also cut risks from chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Spirituality doesn’t necessarily mean organized religion. Engaging in activities such as meditation, painting, and gardening, for example, can all nourish your spirit.

 

Environment the place you call home should be a place where you can relax and enjoy life, not be bogged down with worry and stress about how you’ll manage the details of daily living. Your home should not have a negative impact on your mental and physical well-being.

 

Nutrition cooking especially if you live alone is not something a majority of older adults look forward to doing 7 days a week, 3 times a day. Yet, we all know the importance of nutrition and eating property and how important it is to age well.

 

What You Can Do Every Day for Your Well-Being 

Research continues to show physical activity, mental stimulation and social connections reduce risks of disease and depression, and can help you live longer. A National Institute on Aging report found that older adults experience the highest levels of well-being when they are socializing, working or volunteering, AND exercising.

Your best chance of successfully incorporating wellness into your daily life is to start small. Here are a few starter ideas:

  • Sign up to volunteer where you can use your experience or expertise to help others.
  • Take a lifelong learning class at your local community college.
  • Go for a walk, try a tai chi class, or use soup cans as hand weights to build strength.
  • Bible studies, meditation classes, support groups or yoga to help you stay spiritually connected and emotionally healthy.
  • Join a book club, or just talk about your favorite book with a friend over coffee.

Lastly, aim to incorporate all 7 factors together and it can lead to a healthier, happier and longer life. This kind of approach can be the key to longevity, as well as maintaining independence and overall wellness as you age in place and live a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life.