While your life might look different now than it did when you were younger, it’s never too late to set goals and improve yourself. These new year’s resolutions for seniors will prove that you don’t ever have to settle for things the way they are. You still have the power to improve your life, your future, and yourself, no matter what stage of life you’re in. Here are 10 ideas for New Year’s resolutions for seniors.
1. Eat more nutritious foods.
Your health matters now more than ever. Adding more nutrient-dense foods to your diet can help you feel better and have better energy.
2. Move joyfully.
Find a method of movement or exercise you truly enjoy, and incorporate it into your daily habits. Physical activity is especially important for older people as it supports heart health, strengthens joints, and reduces the risk of injury from falls. Having trouble working out when the weather gets colder? Check out these winter workout tips for seniors. If you’re new to exercise, here are some fitness tips for older adults and the 6 best exercises for seniors.
3. Learn something new.
What have you always wanted to do, but never had the time for? A language, sport, or hobby? Learn it now! Set a goal to keep learning this year. You might also like this post about arthritis-friendly retirement hobbies.
4. Make new friends, or spend more time with old ones.
Feeling lonely and isolated actually has serious health concerns. Loneliness increases the risk of heart attack and stroke as much as smoking! So set a goal either to make new friends, or keep in regular contact with old ones. If you’re struggling to meet like-minded people in your same stage of life, you might consider moving to a senior living community.
5. Organize your life.
If you need to create a will, organize your finances, clean out the garage, or coordinate your medical records, this is the year to do it! What can you organize this year that will make your life easier in the future? If you need help organizing your home, here are some tips for small space living.
6. Sleep better.
Stop settling for low-quality sleep! Find solutions to sleep problems you might have, create a better nighttime routine, or talk to your doctor about insomnia or other concerns you might have about your sleep.
7. Stay creative.
Find creative outlets for your mind this year. You can try a new form of art, like watercolor painting or sculpting, or take up an old hobby you haven’t visited in a while. Creativity is important for brain function, so prioritize being creative. If you need some inspiration, check out these creative projects that can be done with dementia.
8. Preserve your life story.
Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren want to know about your life, all of it, including the parts before they were born. Memorialize your life story in some way for your descendants to read or watch. You could scrapbook, compile photo albums, write a memoir, or record videos of yourself talking about your life.
9. Learn new technology.
It can seem pointless or impossible to keep up with technology these days, but failing to do so means you’re missing out on ways to connect with the people who matter most to you. Try to learn and keep up with today’s tech, so you can continue to experience everything good the world has to offer.
10. Be more authentic.
We sometimes spend most of our lives not having the hard conversations and not saying how we really feel about things. Now is the time to be truly honest with all those around you. Be your most authentic self. What do you have to lose?
