New Year Resolutions for Seniors

 

The New Year is around the corner and it is time for thinking of those resolutions again! Whether you resolve to be fitter and healthier, connect more socially or to tick off some points on your bucket list, this is a time to take stock of the year gone by and to think of the year ahead. Covid has taken more than it fair share of our time and energy and we have learned to understand the new normal.

Given below are some thoughts and you could consider adding to your list of New Year resolutions.

Eat better for your Health

Take your health into your hands. Change your eating pattern. Take baby steps toward eating right. After all, if you have been careless with your food habits, you cannot change these overnight.

Less fats, more fibre with a healthier mix of fruits, vegetables and nuts is always advisable for most people. As seniors, it becomes even more important and relevant for us to regulate our diet. As some wise people say, “stop eating just before you are full!” Others say that at least half of your plate should be fruits and vegetable. Remember that eating better is the only answer to reducing your weight.

Find a New, Healthy Activity

Build exercise or yoga into your daily routine. A round of tennis or golf, a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes every day (150 minutes per week of walking is the minimum recommended), yogic breathing exercises, swimming or cycling would be great to get into your daily schedule. I have met several seniors who have started running and competing with people of their own age. In the process of staying fit, they have also found a whole new community of like-minded and passionate friends.

Complete some points in your Bucket List

Give yourself a break. You have earned this. Over the years, all of us have been adding to our bucket list. This list has kept getting longer since we were not able to find the time during our work life. Now is the time to start ticking off some items.

Connect More with Friends and Family

Re-establish old connections that you lost while you were busy at work. Don’t wait for someone else to take the first step. It is interesting to see how many people are rediscovering their old school and college friends using Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Weekly lunches or coffee mornings with a group of friends, WhatsApp or Zoom calls with your family members spread across the World are great ways of re-connecting. Time spent talking and laughing with those that mean the most is time well spent.

Reduce your belongings

Resolve to clean out your closets and your home. Think of the difference between “want” and “need” before you start this exercise. Keep things you need and give away those you want. This may sound philosophical but try and give away whatever you have not used for the past one year. Your challenge will always be “what if” you suddenly need the item again. If you decide to give it away, keep this as an active resolution till the next year and then assess whether you felt the need for the items you gave away. Chances are that you will never miss these items.

Brush Up on New Technology

Technology, as you are well aware, is changing our World. You should have understood the many forms of communication and connection through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and so many others it is time to do so now. Now is the time to get a working understanding of the Metaverse and the Internet of Things, Crypto, Artificial Intelligence and more. To brush-up your own knowledge and skills, there are on-line tutorials for every possible question that you may have.

Tell Your Story

Now is the time to tell your story. Write your blog and publish it on a weekly or monthly basis. Think of all the anecdotes in your life, the milestones in your career and the time you spent as a child and your parents and your extended family and store these memories carefully in writing. Not only will this record your own memories and thoughts, but this could also become a record of your family history for the future generations.

Give your brain a workout

The more you exercise your brain, like your body, the stronger it will be. Read more and beyond your daily newspaper. Join or start discussion groups on subjects that interest you. Try Sudoku, Chess, Quiz Up or Scrabble. All these games are available free on your smart phone. Play online with people you do not know and compete with the best.

Remove negativity and anxiety from your life

Life is too short and at our stage in life, we are already on the “back nine” of a round of golf! Now is the time to remove all the negativity we have carried inside us about family, friends, and the World in general. All this negativity is only hurting ourselves.

Get enough sleep

Most people seem to believe in a myth that as you get older you need lesser sleep. Nothing is farther away from the truth. If you are sleeping late or getting up very early, stay in bed longer than you normally would have and soon you will be sleeping longer and waking up much more rested.

Get regular medical check-ups

Monitor, manage and record your blood pressure, your blood sugar, and your weight in a regular systematic manner. If you don’t have any of these challenges, consider yourself blessed. It is necessary for you to get annual medical check-ups done and if you did not get a checkup this year, resolve to undergo a comprehensive check up in the New Year.

Travel and discover new places

Throughout your working life you would have wanted to see new places but did not have the time either because of work commitments or family commitments. Covid permitting, now is the time for you to realise all those dreams. You and your partner can travel to new cities or new countries or even discover new parts of the city you live in.

Finally, as you celebrate during this festive season with your loved ones, raise a toast to the coming year, but with a smaller glass!

The runway is getting shorter with each passing year. This is a cause for celebration and not despair.

Wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.