Ways to Make Senior Living Easy and Pleasant
Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy a Simpler Lifestyle
Mar 31, 2009
Seniors don't have to wait till retirement to adapt these practices for easy living. Start any time adjusting routines to make the senior lifestyle both pleasant and productive.
Adjustments to Routines and Schedules for Easy Senior Living
Do all your errands and shopping between the hours of 9:00 and 3:00, with slight adjustments depending on where you live. It will be much easier to find parking and traffic is lighter. Also stores and places of business can give you more quality attention since they aren't overworked at that time.
Also, do not shop on weekends or any other time when working people are out. Much as one would step to the right on a sidewalk, these ideas help seniors share space with those with daytime jobs by sharing public spaces to everyone's advantage. This is civility at its best. Some people recommend avoiding Fridays too. Also consider taking driving trips on weekdays to avoid weekends when families and working people travel.
Keep a schedule of sorts, but don't build pressure into it. What does not happen one day can be added to the next day's list.
Seniors Can be Prepared for Storms and Other Disasters
Avoid keeping too much stuff in the yard or patio which has to be brought in garage or house during storms or other disasters. Go through your things and give away or put in the garage anything that is not being currently used. This will reduce the chance of having something blow into your living quarters during storms, as well as lessening clutter.
Keep a supply of water and non-perishable food for such occasions. Also have flashlights, batteries, radio, and extra medications in a consistent place to be easily accessed if needed.
Connect with the Community for Pleasant Senior Lifestyle
Become involved with the community. It could be in a church or community center. But being connected with the greater world around you makes one come alive and gives meaning to the days.
Volunteering is another effective way of connecting with the community. Use the skills you've spent years honing to make the world a better place. Help in a museum or community center. Follow your personal interests to do things you've always wanted to do. Helping someone is like a high-potency vitamin for both the body and the soul.
Stay Physically and Mentally Active for Successful Senior Living
In addition to normal medical exams and maintenance, it is important to practice a healthy lifestyle. One of the ways to do this is to stay physically active. Walk, swim, work out, garden, to keep your body in working order. When you wear out, take a nap – it does wonders for your energy.
Commune with nature by frequenting parks or gardens. Watch the sunrise or set. Watch birds. Get in touch with your spiritual self.
Other Hints for Stress Free Senior Living
- Women can benefit from wearing clothes with pockets to eliminate or reduce the need to carry a purse.
- Lessen or eliminate credit cards. Live on cash, living frugally when necessary and spend when you can afford to.
- Don't cook for one or two. Cook for four or more; then freeze the uneaten portion to make another day's meal easy with the microwave.
- Maintain intergenerational connections, with relatives, neighbors and friends.
- Assign a day for certain tasks, like watering, grocery shopping, housecleaning, etc. It gives shape to the week.
Senior living can be easy and pleasant by adopting a simpler lifestyle. Retired people can adjust routines and schedules, prepare ahead of time for emergency situations, connect with the community, stay physically and mentally active, and follow the above hints for stress free living.
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