New Year’s Resolutions are an important ritual in our culture. The new year brings with it the chance of renewal; a collective will to push ourselves to become better, stronger, kinder people. There’s a lot that goes into a good resolution; you want it to be measurable, so you can track your progress, and realistic, so that you don’t become frustrated and give up. Self-love is important when creating a resolution; being honest with yourself and picking a goal that’s within your grasp and helpful to your daily life is essential. At the time you’re reading this, New Year’s will have already passed, but if you haven’t picked a resolution yet, it certainly doesn’t mean it’s too late to make a change. Here’s a list of resolutions for seniors to inspire you to make a change.
Eat better. A rule of writing says you should save the best for last, but here, we’re putting it first, because there’s nothing better than eating better. This resolution hits all of our metrics; it’s something you can measure, something that’s important, something that’s manageable and something almost anyone can do, unless they’re already eating perfectly. There are so many different ways to approach this resolution; its power lies in its versatility. You can stop eating as much fast food. You can drink more water. You can eat a more balanced diet. You can eat smaller or larger portions, depending on your weight goals. Any step towards healthier eating is an accomplishment, and the better your eating habits, the better you’ll feel overall, which will give you the energy to see this resolution through.
Practice mindfulness. This resolution is powerful for many of the same reasons as eating; it’s measurable, easy to accomplish and wholly beneficial. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of the present moment; if you’ve never heard of it before, there are a plethora of guides, so you’ll have resources abound. The easiest way to hop onto this resolution? Pay attention to your breathing at least once a day; feel the air entering into your body on an inhale, and rushing out on an exhale. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone, and being aware of the present moment can make it easier to accomplish other goals you have by reducing your stress levels.
Ask for help. Over years of living, we develop a sense of pride in doing things well, without needing any assistance. There’s nothing wrong with this sense of pride in theory; being proud of what you do can help you strive to accomplish more, and a sense of pride is likely what’s got you interested in resolutions in the first place. That said, you can take pride in the relationships you’ve built over the years. You can take pride in the fact that you know yourself well enough to know when your workload is too much. You can take pride in asking for help. For many things, friends and family will be able to help you carry the load. When it’s too much even with their help, highly specialized home care professionals can help you with activities of daily living.
