The Secrets Of Highly Active Seniors

Aging well is a result of harmony, love, tranquility, and activity. It is the happy outcome of mind, body, heart in harmony.

Highly active older adults are well-versed in prioritizing health and staying active. If you’re looking for the secrets of well-being, it’s a unique blend of healthy habits, lifelong learning, self-esteem, curiosity, and openness.

It’s Never Too Late

The good news? It’s never too late to boost activity, get more energy, and feel the joys that come from being highly engaged.

“There’s surprisingly not much difference between an 18-year old brain and a 100-year-old brain,” says Argye Hillis, M.D., director of the cerebrovascular division, at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

It’s never too late to make healthy choices.

Here’s a set of secrets that you can put to use—starting today.

Tips For The Body

Stay Hydrated

Up to 60% of the human body is water. We need water to feel good, have lots of energy, and stay balanced. Wondering what to drink? Water. Still water. Sparkling water. Water infused with lemon or cucumber. Hot water. Cold water.

You get the idea. Water is one of the simplest ways to balance your electrolytes. Drinking enough water is key for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Eat Healthy Foods

With so many different diets, it can be confusing to figure out what to eat. The short answer? Eat healthy and natural foods.

“Packaged, processed foods tend to make you feel sluggish and heavy,” says Johns Hopkins geriatrician Alicia Arbaje, M.D., M.P.H.

Nutrition experts recommend eating vegetables and fruits. When you have the chance, select food that you can recognize. In other words, is this something that looks like it does in nature? Ideally, focus on food that is grown locally, and is chemical-free.

Find Your Personal Zone

If you’re looking for the ‘right’ solution for age-defying-energy-levels, you may need to do some experimenting. As we age, our bodies change. This can trigger changes in food reactions, allergies, and sensitivities. You may not be able to eat the same as when you were a marathon runner in your 20s. By making friends with this fact, you can explore the changes, and adapt accordingly.

Get Sound Sleep

Getting sound sleep is possible — even as you age. Numerous studies point to physical exercise, such as yoga, being a valuable aid in getting quality sleep. Before jumping into sleeping aids or pills, explore yoga, walking, and physical exercise as natural sleep aids.

Tips For The Mind

Exercise Your Body, Boost Your Brain

A few minutes of movement several times a day can keep your energy strong and steady. Many experts recommend walking as an ideal activity as we age. If possible, walk in the morning sunshine.

Love Lifelong Learning

Love to play with words? Enjoy puzzles? Fascinated with different languages? It’s never too late to learn. Staying open to learning is a great way to support maximum functioning of your brain. Experts at Johns Hopkins Medical Center advise seniors to “keep learning a goal as you age.”

Staying Curious

Curiosity is a key factor in staying active, energized and highly engaged. What are you curious about? Perhaps you’re eager to learn more about a topic that has held a life-long fascination. Maybe you’re intrigued with a topic that has always beckoned you, but you haven’t explored yet.

Staying curious and open is a key secret of highly active older adults.

Tips For Life

Values

If you’re retired, having so much time on your hands can be unfamiliar. This can produce feelings of boredom, unworthiness, or apathy. Instead of giving into these negative emotions, experts recommend focusing on values. Using core values enables you to make wise choices, to do what matters.

By identifying your values, you’ll have a clearer sense of your true, chosen priorities.

Vows

Vows are often something we think of when it comes to marriage. Yet, there are many levels of vows. A vow is your commitment to living your values. It may inspire you to go back to school, help a friend, finish a project, or make a life-altering decision.

An active and fulfilling life is often one that is infused with the energy of self-initiated vows.

If you are curious to learn more about this, you’ll find secular and spiritual applications of vow making in The Vow-Powered Life: A Simple Method for Living with Purpose, by Jan Chozen Bays.

Relating

Relationships give our life meaning and purpose. If you’re looking for the secrets of active seniors, you’ll discover that they actively nurture relationships. Whether this is with family, friends, or neighbors—active seniors are actively relating.

Volunteering

What’s a cause that lights up your heart? Is it a specific activity? Is it a charity, community group, or faith-based gathering? Talk to friends who volunteer. Explore opportunities in your community, city, and state. Volunteering boosts your spirit and is certain to keep you highly engaged.

Volunteering puts all the pieces together in one package. You’ll feel positive emotions about using your time and energy to help others. You’ll be highly engaged. You’ll build new relationships, with the people you serve as well as like-minded volunteers. You’ll grow a steady sense of meaning and purpose. And, you’ll enjoy a great feeling of accomplishment.

Assistance Club Summary

The #1 idea: Staying active applies to your body, mind, and sense of purpose. By taking a balanced, steady approach, you can stay active and achieve age-defying levels of energy.