Some countries in the world still have very high life expectancy rates. And many people are exploring tips and habits they can develop to live longer. While longer life expectancy is a good thing, the aging process can be difficult for people to accept. As we age, things start to change, both physically and emotionally, and it can be hard and stressful to get used to these changes.
As a matter of fact, stress management is often associated with improved health and well-being of our elders. If you’ve lived for decades with incomprehensible stress, you may wonder if there is even stress after retirement. But, even if we don’t really think about it that way; retirement can be a bit stressful. The stress of old age can still come from relationships, finances, and the pension itself, as well as many other areas of life. That’s why it is crucial that our seniors take the time to perform activities that will reduce and manage their stress.
And if you don’t know what techniques can be used for stress management for older adults, don’t worry! Below, we list some activities that will help our elders to relax.
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Breathing Exercises
You’ve probably heard about those and believe me it’s no myth; breathing exercises do work wonders for relaxation! They are extremely convenient, fast to do and anyone can easily do them, regardless of their age, including seniors. Wherever you are, you can dissipate stress through a few deep, controlled breaths.
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Meditation
Research on meditation shows that it can, not only relieve stress when practiced but also help build immunity to future stress – your stress response may occur less frequently if you meditate regularly. Meditation is also ideal for relieving stress in older adults, as it does not require special equipment or physical abilities, can be practiced in a variety of circumstances, and can relieve stress.
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Yoga
No matter how old you are – five years or a hundred – you are the age you feel. The later years of life can actually become golden, as there is enough time to devote to physical and spiritual development. Most health problems in older people are due to lack of exercise, poor eating habits and shallow breathing. However, the body has incredible recuperative powers. So when you start doing yoga exercises, similarly to breathing exercises and meditation, you will soon sleep better, have more energy and a more positive outlook on life.
In fact, studies show that yoga can help improve the well-being and quality of life of older adults, as well as improve their health. It is also a great way to reduce stress and can provide other physical benefits. Although some forms of yoga have a spiritual component, yoga can be practiced as a simple physical exercise, making it compatible with all beliefs.
The practice of yoga also offers a great deal of flexibility, making it a good choice for people of all levels and physical conditions.
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Cognitive Puzzles
Sudoku or crossword puzzle solving or working with other thinking games can provide mental stimulation similar to “brain exercise”. You can get a lot of mental stimulation by doing a daily crossword puzzle from your local newspaper, or you can switch to more advanced technology by playing a portable game like Nintendo DS, Brain Age. You can also play fun online games.
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Cognitive Restructuring
Sometimes just looking at something different can make it seem less stressful. Practice finding a positive in a situation, looking at it from a different angle, or even working with a therapist in a specific situation, and you may find that your reaction to stress works less and less. “Cognitive restructuring” is a clinical term that changes attitudes towards things, an important part of cognitive therapy that is certainly very helpful in addressing a variety of issues, including stress.
Do you know any other useful techniques to help our elders manage their stress better? Share them in the comment section below!
