10 Ways to Achieve a Healthy, Happy New Year

Colin Milner, Int. Council on Active Aging

When we cry out “Happy New Year!” we mean it—just about everyone wants to be happy in the new year. As we age, happiness stems less from material possessions and more from healthy, good relationships and fulfilling activities that keep us engaged in life. In fact, losing their health is the greatest worry of older adults. You can take action to have both health and happiness in the new year. Get active. Not just physically active, but intellectually and socially active, too. You’ll feel better, improve your health and attitude, and keep your brain working.  

Plan to Be Active in 2007

Get your best friend to join in and keep you motivated. Start a “Get Active Club” at your community center or place of worship. Plan on trying these activities over the next months; don’t do everything at once. But work on all of the 10 ways to get active; each will bring you a year’s worth of rewards.

1. Invest in a good pair of shoes. When your feet are happy, so are you.  Comfortable, well-fitting shoes are a must and worth the investment.
   
   
2. Play games. Games keep your brain working and cognitive skills healthy. And it’s a fun way to spend time with others.
   
   
3. Take a walk or roll. Walk around the block, walk to the store, walk a mile. Walking improves lower body strength, maintains mobility, and helps prevent cognitive decline.
   
   
4. Stand on one leg.  Work up to standing on one leg by performing balance exercises. Good balance helps you with everyday activities, like reaching into a cupboard, and avoiding falls.
   
   
5. Visit an eye doctor. Failing eyesight is not a given as we age. Age-related macular degeneration is the most common vision loss as we get older, but studies have shown that people who smoke cigarettes and are obese are the most likely to get it.
   
   
6. Increase your physical activity. Physical activity and exercise do a lot of good things, not only for physical health, but also maintaining cognitive skills and reducing the risk of dementia. You have to use it or lose it.
   
   
7. Seek out your friends, family and neighbors. Social connections are good for your emotional well-being.
   
   
8. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Switch to a “5 A Day” plan. People who eat a balanced plant-based diet don’t worry much about counting calories, and gain many vitamins and minerals.
   
   
9. Laugh a lot. Laughing increases circulation, immune system defenses and mental functioning while decreasing stress hormones.
   
   
10. Get enough sleep.  Get your seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Insomnia affects almost half of adults 60 years and older, making it the most common sleep complaint. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, make a few changes in your habits. Changing habits is more successful at improving sleep than taking medications. 

Did you notice that virtually every activity improves your mental health and reduces the risk of dementia?  By increasing your levels of physical activity, social interactions and intellectual engagement, your new year plan of activities will increase your health and happiness.     

These excerpts were printed with permission from the International Council on Active Aging. Visit us at www.kipda.org for the entire article.