Assisted Living Services in Winston-Salem
Retirement and old age are often seen as a time to throw worries away. You probably imagined not having to wake up early, not go into work, to set your own schedule, to pursue interests and hobbies that you’d set aside in your younger days convinced that you’d have time to do them all when you’re retired.
You imagined all your stress would fade away with age, but unfortunately, every age comes with its own unique challenges and developments. At Heritage Woods Senior Living, we see that there are many stresses that are specific to old age and accompany the changes in physical, mental and emotional needs. Some of these are loss of independence, financial situation changes, and health concerns.
Working with seniors every day providing assisted living services in Winston-Salem, we see that these stresses can take a toll on your health and predispose you to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, mental health issues, and more. Self-care is vital at any stage in life, but if older truly means wiser, then you should prepare for how to deal with these stresses now. Here are some tips to help you manage your stress.
Get Laughing
There’s nothing better than a dose of laughter to boost your mental health. If you or your loved one is feeling worried, try a funny movie and TV show. Discuss funny and beloved memories. Tell jokes – even bad ones can be good at making you laugh if you put yourself in the right mindset.
The internet is a treasure trove of funny cat videos and joke sites. The Reader’s Digest Jokes website has a collection of jokes of all style so there’s sure to be one to make you laugh!
Cuddle with a Furbaby
There is nothing like hugging a sweet, furry kitten or puppy to make you smile! This is great since many assisted living facilities are pet-friendly. Visitors and residents in Assisted Living Services in Winston-Salem are welcome to bring their pets with them.
If you don’t have one of your own, borrow a family member’s or a friend’s pet for some cuddling. If that’s not possible, take a walk to your nearest pet store or rescue shelter and ask if you can pet and snuggle with one of their animals. You can provide some much-needed community service at the same time!
Studies show that spending time with a pet like a cat or a dog, lowers blood pressure levels. It also provides other cardiovascular benefits. So, get in some furry hugs and kisses with a friendly animal.
Deep Breathing & Meditation
Meditation has been shown to have amazing effects on stress levels.
By taking even a few minutes every day to sit, relax and take deep breaths, you can make a big difference in your mental state and stress. If you find meditation difficult, just simply focusing on your breathing for a few minutes can have positive results.
There might be classes offered in your Assisted Living Services in Winston-Salem or you can use online apps like Headspace and Insight Timer. They provide instructions on how to meditate and provide a variety of tools, resources, and even teachers to make the skill easy to learn.
Low Impact Exercise
You already know that exercise is great for maintaining your health and quality of life. Keeping physically active is particularly important for seniors as it is an effective preventative method for many physical, mental and emotional debilitating conditions.
For seniors, it is best to choose exercises with low impact on your body, especially if you’re not used to exercising regularly and are just starting to build this good habit. Yoga and walking are great options and both considered to be good stress relievers. Yoga
has the added benefits of improving your flexibility and balance.
Your assisted living community might offer yoga classes, or you can find many classes on YouTube and the internet that you can follow along.
Journaling & Writing
Jot down your feelings – good or bad – can be cathartic. If you’re stressed and don’t feel ready to talk with someone about it, you can write it out in a journal. I say writing, but you can also doodle, sketch, paint or express your thoughts with any medium you
choose.
The act of expressing your feelings in any method that speaks to you can help you come up with a solution or put things in perspective. You could try these gratitude exercises or even write down something that makes you feel happy or thankful every day.
Feel the Music
Music is a great stress reliever at any age. You can probably find any of your favorites on the internet. Listening to music is relaxing and reduces anxiety. If you’re in the mood, you can even sing or dance. Even better if you can grab some friends and make it a party.
Talk to Someone
If your stress is bothering you and nothing you do is helping soothe your anxiety, you should find someone to talk to about your stress. A family member or trusted friend is a great option for talking about things on your mind. If that doesn’t feel right for the circumstances, you can always discuss the situation with your doctor or ask for a referral to a therapist or a social worker.
Not dealing with stress can cause many health issues like poor sleep, heart palpitations, irritability, depression and more. If you are concerned about your stress levels or any concerning symptoms, you should always go see your doctor. Assisted Living Services in Winston-Salem like Heritage Woods Senior Living has many events, resources, and techniques available to help you manage your stress.