We hear a lot about self-care and how it can help students or parents or young adults, but self-care helps everyone. What is self-care? It’s daily or weekly things that someone does to take care of themselves. It’s important for seniors to take part in self-care activities. So I’ve compiled a list of activities to promote self-care in older adults. You can also check out this article by the Senior Living Resource.
Yoga
Yoga is a perfect form of self-care because it is both physical exercise and a mental meditation. If you can’t do yoga, there are often chair yoga classes for seniors and those with limited mobility. Water aerobics is also a popular form of exercise with older adults. The idea here is to take time out of your week to get your body moving and to focus your mind.
Journaling
Keeping a journal is good way to focus your mind and reflect on your life. You can keep a written journal or an audio-recorded journal. The how isn’t important, it’s the self reflection that is key here.
Establishing a Good Sleep Routine
Consistent sleep is the building block of health for older adults. It can be key in mental and physical health. Establishing a good nighttime routine can be good for regulating sleep. I always find that it is easier for me to fall asleep when I have a set of steps that I always perform before I go to bed. I’m under no illusions that any of this is easy, which brings me to my next point.
The best self-care advice that I have is to be kind to yourself, and take small steps. Personally, the app Finch has helped me turn my self-care into small steps. Don’t beat yourself up for not sticking to a routine, or being horrible at journaling. I suck at journaling, I always forget to do it, no matter how many times I’ve tried to consistently journal. It’s ok. Just try your best every day.
