Cantissimo Senior Living Blog

Did you know that the way we think can affect how our body feels?

We create stress in our lives when we get attached to our beliefs, likes, and dislikes and set expectations. This is what holds us back and keeps us trapped in repetitive, habitual behaviors.

• Do you always need to be liked?
• Do you get defensive when criticized?
• Do you judge others?
• Do you eat to soothe yourself?
• Do you set expectations for yourself or others?

Every one of these behaviors is created by your past collection of memories and experiences. Instead of being present to what is right in front of you, you keep repeating the past by recycling old data. Your repetitive thoughts trap you into cycles of anxiety and stress, creating suffering. What if you could let go of some of your expectations and beliefs? What if you could simply accept things as they are without adding any judgment or expectation to the moment. By being present and open, you can find joy in the moments of your life.

The hustle and bustle of modern life leaves even the most mindful, well-rounded people with unnecessary stress. Meditation can be an excellent way to alleviate these stresses and improve your sense of wellbeing. Meditation has been around since before the Common Era, making it one of the oldest recorded practices in history. Initially used as a spiritual practice to gain oneness and enlightenment, meditation now provides an escape from our modern, stress-ridden lives.

Though meditation is intended to relax and calm, it can be quite daunting to start meditating. Meditation beginners find themselves labored by certain obstacles like focus and concentration issues, falling asleep, and being alone with their thoughts. It doesn't have to be this way! With a few tips and tricks, and the right knowledge, anyone can find peace and self-understanding through meditation.

With the start of the new year, many people have found the motivation to improve their lives. While some individuals may have big plans for the upcoming year, like losing significant weight or starting a multimillion-dollar company, most people take this as a time to set realistic and positive goals. One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to correct bad habits like smoking, nail-biting, eating junk food, and other things of that nature. It's easy for humans to get stuck in their ways, which means that habits can be difficult to shake, but not impossible.

To successfully kick your habit, you need determination and self-control. With a positive outlook and the right tools for success, anything is possible! If you're interested in dropping that bad habit this year, allow us to share our top ten tips and tricks for getting rid of bad habits:

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.  

Review the following six tips to help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder 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!

Have you found yourself stuck in your writing? Perhaps your pen was flying across the page, and then it seems as if, suddenly, the creativity has run dry? This experience is commonly known as writer's block. It may be discouraging and even frustrating, but you are not alone. Writer's block is a normal sensation. To help get past this roadblock in your writing, consider the following tips!

     10. Freewrite

Freewriting can be extremely helpful to plow through writer's block. The idea is to set a time limit (we recommend starting with 5 or 10 minutes) and just write. It does not have to be on the topic you were writing about before or even make much sense. Just get words and sentences on paper. This has been known to help inspire new ideas or get past those that were holding you back. Some of the most significant issues with writer's block are self-criticism and doubt, which prevent you from putting pen to paper in fear of anything you write being unworthy of saving. Sometimes, it helps to see it on paper, progress, and you can always go back and edit later.

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.

Age 55 seems to be a life milestone when many think more seriously about future eventualities like retirement or moving out of the family home. The latter can be driven by many motivations:

• The existing home feels too big once the kids have moved out
• Home maintenance has become overwhelming
• The neighborhood has turned over, and old friends have moved away
• The current multi-level home has stairs that will become a concern with age
• A change in health status that makes the current residence impractical
• The local climate forces consideration about a place with better weather
• A desire to be closer to family

Questions to Ask

No matter the reasons, the decision to move can only be made after certain questions have been answered.