While healthy habits are an essential part of everyday life, they become increasingly important as we age. There are many ways to maintain optimal health, so it is important to choose a few key habits that can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle.
In this article, we will explore six habits that we encourage our senior residents and others to adopt, in order to promote healthy living.
1.     Drink Plenty of Water
On average, adults are recommended to drink 2-3 liters of water each day to promote a healthy lifestyle. This translates into 7 to 8 glasses of water, which is an attainable daily goal.
Keep a glass on the counter of your retirement residence suite to remind you each morning to start the day with a big glass of water or carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. Our staff at Queen’s Avenue Retirement Residence will even remind you if you know you struggle to reach your daily water intake goals!
2.     Get Outside Every Day
The benefits of fresh air and sunshine are endless, which makes a daily trip outdoors a must! Take your morning coffee and sit outside or go for a walk with friends to chat about your day. Being outdoors improves breathing and sleep patterns and boosts your immune function and mental restoration, which will help you see noticeable health changes.
3.     Prioritize Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important daily habits. There is a misconception that older adults need less sleep, but this is often because these individuals have a harder time getting to and staying asleep. Seniors should be prioritizing seven hours of sleep each night on a consistent schedule. This is because there are serious health consequences that are related to a lack of sleep, such as increasing one’s risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack.
4.     Stay Active
Easily combined with your outdoor adventure, it is important to be active on a daily basis. Whether you decide to go for a short walk outdoors or participate in a scheduled fitness activity that our retirement homes in Oakville, Ontario provide, this dose of physical activity is beneficial for your mind and body. Yoga, walking, tai chi, and stretching, to name a few, are excellent activities that seniors are more than capable of doing and having fun while doing them.
5.     Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
Food is fuel, which means that choosing healthy options will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. At our Oakville retirement homes, we make sure to serve our residents meals that include a well-balanced variety of vegetables, fruits, protein sources, and grains.
6.     Be Social
Social isolation is extremely detrimental to seniors, as it prevents them from being mentally and socially active. By meeting friends, playing games, and keeping their mind active, seniors stay healthier and happier for longer.
For more information about how we encourage incorporating healthy habits into our residents’ routines or any of our retirement residences, contact us today.
