Stress can be one of the most corrosive and debilitating negative emotions of them all, and it often triggers a wide range of associated emotions, too.
For older adults and seniors, stress often seems even more difficult to manage, especially if you’re living on your own in your own home.
That said, continue reading to learn some tips and tricks to reduce your stress levels as an older adult.
Treat Yourself to an Indulgent Dessert
Not only is settling back on the couch with a generously sized slice of chocolate fudge cake one of the best ways to de-stress, relax, and be ultimately present in the moment, but it will also release positive endorphins to your brain to help calm you down.
There are a myriad of benefits to the brain and, indeed, the body as a whole when you include chocolate (especially the dark variety) into a balanced diet, which are:
- Lowering the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
- An instant mood booster
- A way to control your appetite for a few hours afterward
- A support to the production of collagen in the skin
- Lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol
Consider Changing Location
The root cause of stress in one person can be entirely different to the root cause for someone else, but if you’re experiencing disruption in the form of noisy neighbors or else you’re struggling to keep up with the demanding challenges of running a home, there’s another option.
Look into independent senior living in Chicago and discover the plethora of options to regain your independence and freedom whilst simultaneously letting the facility take care of the financial and practical matters associated with independent living.
Volunteer Your Time to a Worthy Cause
Giving back to your local community, whether this is by volunteering a couple of hours of your time at a homeless shelter or working on a volunteer basis at an animal rescue center, will be multi-beneficial.
Obviously, the deserving people and animals that you choose to help will benefit immensely, but volunteering and charity work, in general, will also help to improve your sense of self-worth and have a positive impact on your mental health in general.
Engage in Physical Exercise
Exercising your body has a direct and positive effect on your brain, specifically through the automatic release of endorphins into your brain that serves to heighten your mood and lower your stress levels.
Even just twenty minutes of exercise a day, whether this is on an exercise bike in your living room or walking around the block a couple of times each morning, can have a huge impact on your mental health.
Drink More Water
The final tip to help reduce and manage your stress levels on a daily basis as an older adult is one that you’ll have heard time and time again in the past and therefore seems to be a solution to almost any health issue going.
However, it really is true that drinking more water every day will ensure that your body and brain are hydrated and functioning correctly.
