Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Trying new things with joyfulness raises your levels of dopamine and energy levels. Listening to music raises your dopamine, as does dancing.
If you’re able to, consider joining an educational travel tour. These tours are offered by a variety of different organizations, and are a wonderful way to travel and learn at once. Taking classes is a wonderful way to meet new friends, another way to keep your mind active.
Try to include mindfulness practices, such as meditation, in your daily routine. Even as little as 10-15 minutes of meditation per day has been connected to improvements in mental and physical health. Bring mindfulness practices to your daily activities. Eating intentionally, in a relaxed and thoughtful way, is tied to better digestion and health.
To practice walking meditation, start by being aware of your physical body as you stand. Feel the way your feet connect to the ground, and the way the air feels against your skin. Walk forward at a gentle pace. Continue to notice the way your body feels as you move. Breathe through your nostrils, maintaining awareness of the feeling of your breath flowing through your nostrils and into your lungs. Come to a stop, and notice how it feels to cease movement. Repeat this exercise until your attention wanders. Over time you’ll develop the ability to practice this meditation for longer periods of time.
When you focus only on yourself and your needs, you’re more likely to have trouble with the aging process. Participating in a larger group will help bring a sense of meaning and purpose to your life. You’re more likely to feel important to other people when you’re active in their lives.
Avoid heavy drinking, overeating sugar, trans and saturated fats. Increase the amount of good fats, whole grains, and Omega 3s for optimal health.
One way to fulfill your weekly exercise commitment is to engage in moderate activity for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Follow your body’s comfort level with exercise. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. If you like animals, consider volunteering as a dog walker for your local animal rescue organization.
Strength exercises are often done using gym equipment, which aids in weight lifting. However, you can also do heavy gardening (such as working with a shovel) or carrying heavy household items. Exercises that use your own body as a weight, such as sit-ups or push-ups, are also considered strength exercises.
If you have physical limitations, look for an adapted yoga class which is designed for yoga practitioners with limited mobility. Most yoga classes allow individual adaptation based on each person’s need. Yoga might be a good option for people who are unable to engage in more strenuous forms of exercise.
Yoga and tai chi can also help improve your balance. You should be able to talk while engaged in moderate activity, though you shouldn’t have enough breath to sing or shout. Joining a fitness class of any kind is also a great way to socialize and make new friends.
By focusing on the lives of your family and friends, you’re less likely to feel isolated and alone. If you live close to your family, consider scheduling “family time” as a regular part of every day. Schedule “game nights” with your friends, or join them for club meetings or events.
Consider volunteering to take meals through organizations such as Meals-on-Wheels, or tutoring a young person in academic skills. Retired business people might volunteer for SCORE which mentors fledgling business owners.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to explore your interests, visit groups and ask questions of its members. People are usually quite happy to talk about their hobbies. If you can’t find a group centered around your interests, consider finding like-minded people online.
Learn to use social media, and share pictures and videos with your family and friends. Because younger people tend to be more fluent in using computers for social interaction, you’ll likely feel younger simply by becoming familiar with online socializing.
