Our Favorite Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier Life in 2021
A new year is the perfect time to start fresh with new resolutions or revisit resolutions of the past. 2020 has been an interesting year to say the least but that doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead to 2021 with new goals and ambitions.
Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition many of us share; the personal pride of making a goal and sticking to it for a whole year is immense. New Year’s resolutions are unique to everyone but a person’s success in following through with them comes down to a few common themes.
- Make attainable goals
- Plan how to achieve those goals
- Keep track of your progress
- Never give up
Keeping these four themes in mind will help you throughout the next 365 days to stay on track and accomplish your New Year’s resolution in 2021.
Looking for a few fun resolution ideas? Here are some of our favorite New Year’s resolutions for seniors:
Get more sleep
Getting more quality sleep is important for a person no matter their age but is especially important for seniors. Sleep serves major functions besides just filling up your energy tank.
While you sleep your body goes to work repairing and recovering from the previous day while recharging for the next. Health experts recommend getting 7-8 hours or more of sleep a day for seniors. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try to avoid the afternoon naps.
Make sleep fun with special smartphone apps like Pillow that track your sleep schedule and give you insights into different sleep stage durations, sleep journaling, and sleep-quality ratings. Pillow and other sleep-tracking apps are a great way to identify what might be wrong with your sleep schedule and learn tips on how to improve it.
Exercise every day
Aim to get up and move at least once per day. The new year is the perfect time to start tackling your fitness goals, however big or small they might be. Exercising just 10 minutes per day is better than not exercising at all, so don’t be afraid to start small and build as the year goes on.
Interested in learning more about staying fit in 2021? Take a look at our recent blog post “Exercise for Seniors: How to Stay Fit As You Age” where we go over different exercises for different muscle groups and more.
Pick up a new hobby
Got a hobby you have always wanted to try? The new year is the perfect time to get started. Got an old pastime you used to enjoy? Bring it back in 2021!
Journaling, bird watching, hiking, biking, painting, puzzles, scrapbooking, baking, and more are just some of the possibilities. Hobbies should be fun and give us something to look forward to that isn’t “work.”
Bonus points if your hobby is also a healthy activity at the same time.
Learn about new tech
Have you been feeling like you’re falling behind in the world of tech? We hear you. The ever changing landscape of innovation can make it confusing from year to year with so many upgrades and new products coming out.
Make it a goal in the new year to become more invested in how tech works and how it can benefit your life. Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of computer users, and there has never been a more important time to understand how to use and communicate with tech than during the pandemic.
We recently wrote a blog about staying connected during the pandemic with the use of technology, have a read here if you’re looking for a starting point.
Read one book per month
Reading is the perfect way to stimulate your mind while relaxing at the same time. Everyone wants to read more, but we all know how easy it is to buy a book and leave it sitting on the shelf for a while before actually finishing it, if we even eventually do!
Make it a goal this year to read 12 books in 12 months. Reading one book per month is a great goal to have and easier to accomplish than you think. Pick up books on new hobbies you might be learning, history you’ve never heard of, or stories that excite you. Reading is the perfect low-key hobby for anyone at any age.
Meditate every day
Life can be stressful; this was especially true throughout 2020. Knowing how to meditate is considered a stress-relief superpower that many health experts swear by. The ability to shut down your mind and focus on absolutely nothing is no easy task, but once you can achieve it you will benefit from improved moods, brain power, and focus.
Meditating in the morning is a great way to start your day because the clear head and focus that come from a good meditation session will follow through the whole day and set you up for success.
Start small and aim to meditate for 20 minutes per day—we’re sure that as soon as you start you’ll only want to do it more!
Did you know meditating is also a great way to strengthen your spiritual wellness? Our full-time chaplain is available to help guide your spiritual journey with compassionate, individualized support along the way.
Your resolutions are uniquely yours
At the end of the day your resolutions are for, well, you! So, make sure they fit your lifestyle, goals, and personal missions. The new year is the perfect time for anyone to start fresh with new goals. What are some of your unique resolutions going into 2021? Post about it and let us know on Facebook!