Peace, tranquility, and relaxation are desirable to anyone. Unfortunately, this doesn't come easily to everyone, especially older adults and those with anxiety disorders. A day gone wrong may sometimes disturb the whole week or even longer. As such, it is critical to learn healthy ways to ease stress.
Regardless of the causes of stress, these tips will enable you to live a more stress-free life. Let's start:
This year has been one for the books, and the COVID-19 pandemic has a considerable effect on our holidays and how we spend them. Unlike past years, many older adults will not be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones, and this may be affecting your mood. So, is this gloomy mood due to this crazy year, or could it be something more?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that comes in cycles with the seasons. You may notice that you begin to feel less motivated, have a suppressed appetite, and don't engage with the things and people you love as much as you used to. As the days get colder and shorter, your circadian rhythms, or your internal clock telling you when to wake up and go to bed, get out of balance. In turn, this can affect your hormone regulation, which leads to the feelings associated with depression.
People who live farther away from the equator, and those with anxiety or bipolar disorder are more likely to be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder than other individuals. If you have been feeling depressed and it has lasted for more than a few weeks, you may want to try taking some steps to combat this and speak to your doctor about additional options to help you feel better this winter season.
Ted had always looked up to his father as a tower of strength and inspiration. Often laboring seven days a week for decades to build a successful small business, he still found time to coach sports teams for Ted and his three other children.
Ted's dad and mom were able to retire comfortably at an age when they could still enjoy an active lifestyle. They caught up on all the travel and other leisure activities they put off during their working years. After enjoying this wonderful life for 17 years, Ted's mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was gone in a matter of months.
His dad held up well despite feeling devastated. After a couple of years, he almost seemed to be his old self. However, Ted noticed some changes. A fastidious dresser all his life, his dad began to neglect his appearance. It wasn't surprising to find him in the middle of the day wearing the clothes he slept in the night before. Also, as a business owner, he had expertly managed his finances over the years. Now Ted was finding past due bills.
Ted came to the realization his dad was having memory and cognition issues. After a series of doctor visits, it was clear his dad needed a memory care living arrangement.
Ted's story is one example of a scenario faced by many families of older adults. However, it may be difficult for adult children to admit a parent is suffering from memory and cognition problems. One reason is some older adults with memory deficits can be otherwise healthy. This seems to make it easier for families to deny there are problems.
Another reason is denial due to a feeling of shame about dementia and memory loss. Due to common misunderstandings about these afflictions, they have acquired a vicious stigma that leads to needless suffering due to delays in seeking treatment and support.
Families who educate themselves about memory and cognition issues are better prepared to seek assistance sooner. Here are ten signs that a loved one may benefit from memory care:
We’d love to share with you six pillars of health that date back thousands of years and come from the world of Ayurveda known as the medicine of yoga.
The Six Pillars are meant to be incorporated into your daily life to help you stay healthy, vibrant, and maintain your independence. After all, this is the time of life to travel, play with grandkids, volunteer in your community, and enjoy quality time with family and friends.
The human body/mind has some pretty basic requirements to maintain energy, proper elimination, and stress resiliency. These practices are simple and easy and will support you to feel great!
Retirement can be a big step. It impacts you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It changes your life structure and takes away the schedule that most humans need to stay happy and productive. One of the biggest obstacles in retirement is time management, as many individuals don't know how to spend their time. It may sound simple, but it's a roadblock that retirees face every day.
Time management is challenging for everyone, but it can be even more complicated when a free schedule is suddenly thrust upon you after years and years of hard work. With a little guidance in time management and productivity, anyone can successfully navigate retirement.
Here are five ways retirees can manage their time and make the most out of their day.
Finally, you are retired. Now you have all the time to accomplish anything you desire without worrying about official duties. But did you plan for this? Have you prepared a bucket list of things to do? And then what's next after you accomplish everything on your to-do list?
Do you want to enjoy the coming years to the fullest? Too many fall prey to a retirement trap of repeating the same routine, failing to experience new things, and ultimately suffering from boredom. If you are among those who want to lead an exciting life after retiring, then you are in the right place! However, sometimes things don't go as you may have planned. You might be faced with financial setbacks or any other reasons that spoil your plans. And it's at this point where boredom creeps in.
Many become frustrated and even depressed for not being able to accomplish their goals. Regardless of the situation you are in, it is important to note that boredom presents a serious health risk.
"My son, be steadfast in honoring your father; do not grieve him as long as he lives. Even if his mind fails, be considerate of him; do not revile him because you are in your prime." (Sirach 12-13).
Dementia stands out as a signature affliction of old age throughout human history. Defined as symptoms linked to loss of memory and thinking skills, dementia takes several forms, with 60-80% caused by Alzheimer's disease. Yet, it is not considered to be a part of normal aging.
Some moderate cognition changes are expected with age, but these do not lead to loss of independence. However, more serious cognitive decline can produce symptoms like rapid forgetting, navigation impairment, inability to solve everyday problems, or difficulty holding ordinary conversations.
Nevertheless, age is strongly correlated with dementia. One estimate shows only a 1.7% prevalence of dementia among those 65-69 years old. But with a doubling of new cases every five years, dementia incidence grows to over 50% by age 90.
Do you know of a medicine that is available at zero cost and attainable almost all the time? You heard us right; it is called laughter!
Laughter contributes to a sense of well-being and encourages you to have an optimistic outlook in life. It leads to a more relaxed state of mind and helps you focus on the positive outcomes of a situation. Laughter allows you to connect to your loved ones and bring an excellent mood to yourself and the people around you. It is true when people say that your attitude affects your body, mind, and soul.
Laughing with your friends, or even on your own, not only has mental but many physical advantages as well. Doctors across the world have suggested that the best, and often, the easiest way of dealing with an issue is to crack a joke and laugh. There is much more depth to this claim, and we will learn more about it as we go on!
How well do you listen to your body? And how do you talk to your body? Did you know that the language you use and how you relate to your body really matters?
Dr. Joe Dispenza describes thoughts as electric. Your thoughts create feelings that affect the electromagnetic field around you.
Stress is a fact of life. We have all experienced it at some point in our lives. Stress can be a great motivator when you have a big project to deliver, and when your stress response is well-managed, stress ebbs and flows naturally with life circumstances. When sustained over an extended period, stress becomes dangerous and can lead to illness and disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, prolonged stress can lead to pain and tension, anxiety, poor sleep, fatigue, anger, depression, chest pain, and headaches.