Category: Happy Living

Seniors at the Wheel: Aging Health Issues that Impact Safe Driving

Posted on by Martin

How to know when it’s time to reconsider driving for your elderly parent or patient. 

Telling an elderly loved one that it may be time to stop driving can be a difficult conversation. For many seniors, driving may feel like a key aspect of independent living. Asking family or friends for rides can be embarrassing or frustrating—and relying on expensive taxis or car services can add up.

But if your loved one is facing physical limitations, driving can be a serious risk to their safety. While aging alone doesn’t change driving ability (there are many happy 90-year olds with licenses while their younger peers have long given them up!), elderly drivers are more likely to have health concerns or other limitations that pose a challenge behind the wheel. 

Below are important tips to help you know when it’s time to ask your elderly loved one to hand over the keys—-and how to be sure you’re both making the safest choice. 

If your loved one…is confused, nervous, distracted, or forgetful. 

Whether your loved one has been diagnosed with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or is simply experiencing general memory loss, cognitive health is the most important factor for safe driving. If he/she is not able to recall places or names, make choices quickly, or focus properly behind the wheel, they’re likely to be unable to navigate their vehicle or drive safely for any distance or time. 

If your loved one…has recent vision changes or an eye disease.

Moderate to severe vision loss or eye diseases (such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy) can make it harder for a driver to see road signs, merging cars, or pedestrians clearly enough to respond quickly. 

If your loved one…has a hearing loss.

Safe driving relies just as much on our sense of hearing as on our sight. Sirens, honking horns, or mechanical issues need to be heard right away to avoid potential crashes or unexpected break-downs. 

If your loved one…moves slower or feels weaker. 

As any driver can tell you, quick reflexes can often be the difference between a crash and a quick swerve away from danger. As a driver ages, they may find their response times slowing down or their muscles weakening, both of which can undermine their control over the steering wheel, brakes, and vehicle. 

Medications and Driving…one more thing to consider.

Regardless of age or health, mixing strong medications and driving is a cause for concern—-and seniors may be more susceptible to negative side effects than their younger counterparts. Even if your loved one is in the best of health, check carefully with his/her health provider to make sure none of the prescribed medications’ side effects may impact their ability to drive safely. Note also that some over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines or cold medicines, may cause drowsiness or dizziness and should be double-checked with a health provider, too. 

Making safe, smart choices with your aging parents can be a challenge. But choosing the best home care shouldn’t be. Learn more about finding compassionate caregivers focused on dignity and quality of life by reaching out to Community Home Health Care at 845.425.6555. We’re always happy to answer any questions and connect you with the right care for your family. 

The Importance of Companionship for Senior Mental Health

Posted on by Martin

It’s inevitable that as people age, they also become more isolated. A 2016 Merck Manual study found that about 30% of 46 million seniors not living in a nursing home live alone. The consequences of isolation on senior mental health can be tragic, ranging from extreme loneliness to a further decline of health. It’s crucial then, for seniors to seek out companionship.

However, the answer is not necessarily to move to a senior facility. In spite of the prospect of crippling loneliness, many seniors strongly hold on to their independence.  The Merck study also found that about 90% of those seniors who live alone insist on doing so.

How can we then help these fiercely independent but also isolated seniors? There are several possible solutions.

 

Why are Seniors Alone?

There are many reasons that lead seniors to spend their days alone. Adult children may move away or are simply too busy with their own families to visit often. Even seniors with family caregivers may feel alone if their family caregiver works during the day.

There is also the sad fact that friends and spouses may have passed away. Deteriorating health is another factor, as it can mean losing the ability to drive or go for walks. Embarrassment is another consideration, as seniors with poorly functioning facilities (such as bladder control) may worry about experiencing an incident in public.

 

Consequences of Isolation

Loneliness is obviously the biggest result of isolation, but this can, in turn, lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, or a risk of depression.

There is also a decline in health and an increased rate of mortality for seniors who live alone. This may be due to unchecked symptoms and a lack of a social network that would advise medical attention. Seniors who live alone may also neglect or forget to take their medication, or have trouble with certain medical treatments.

Social skills also deteriorate among seniors who are frequently alone. Many of us have heard of the “grumpy old man” stereotype. They have trouble interacting with people when given the opportunity, which in turn leads others to back away, causing more loneliness.

 

In-Home Caregivers as Companions

As mentioned earlier, many seniors value their independence so much that they’re willing to endure isolation. Therefore, relocating them to a nursing facility is not the solution. As long as he or she is able to safely live alone (i.e. no chance of falling or passing out), seniors should ideally live at home where they feel comfortable and secure.

A suitable compromise then would be to hire an in-home caregiver who can provide companionship (and if necessary, some medical assistance) to the senior. This will allow the senior to maintain his or her independence while not feeling lonely and isolated.

In-home caregivers provide physical and mental benefits for seniors. They can help seniors with physical therapy, exercises, or simply taking walks with them. In-home caregivers can even take them on small field trips such to the movies, lunch, or to the mall. They can play mind-stimulating games with seniors such as chess or cards, or assist them with their hobbies.

In-home caregivers can also monitor medication, doctor’s appointments, and the senior’s overall well-being. They can even cook for them, do light housework, and assist in personal care. And of course, in-home caregivers are simply someone to talk to.

Even if your senior has a family caregiver, an in-home caregiver can be a helpful asset. Interacting with a different person is mentally stimulating and can alleviate boredom, for both the senior and family caregiver. An in-home caregiver is also beneficial for the primary caregiver because it allows him or her to take a break and do other things, like work full time, engage in personal outings, or tend to their families.

 

Additional Remedies for Isolation

There are other ways for seniors to combat isolation. Be sure to take into consideration their physical or mental health, as some of these suggestions may not be ideal for someone with say, dementia or debilitating arthritis.

Volunteer

If the senior is still relatively able-bodied, he or she can take on a volunteer role. Even if it’s only once a week, volunteering for a certain cause gets him or her out of the house and interacting with others.

Adopt a Pet

Animals don’t talk, but they certainly provide companionship and unconditional love. Caring for a pet would also give a senior a sense of purpose and stimulate their minds. Just make sure not to get a pet that would be difficult to care for, such as a large dog.

Schedule Regular Meetings with Friends

It’s crucial for seniors who live alone to maintain contact with nearby friends. Encourage them to meet up for coffee or lunch at least once a week, or even visit each other’s homes.

Meet Other People who Share Your Hobby

Coloring, painting, knitting, playing board games, assembling puzzles—there are countless hobbies that seniors can enjoy with others. Local community centers may have clubs that cater to your senior’s hobby.

Use Video Telephony to Keep in Touch

Your senior can communicate with faraway loved ones via Skype, FaceTime, or some other form of video telephony. Seeing their loved ones on a screen can be more satisfying than simply speaking on the phone with them, and can help alleviate some loneliness. You may first need to teach your elderly loved one how to use the technology, so don’t use an overly complicated program. It may lead to frustration and reluctance to use it.

 

If you have a special senior in your life that needs companionship, we at Community Home Health Care can help. Our staff of highly trained in-home caregivers includes home health aides, personal care aides, and registered nurses. We are here to provide personal and medical assistance, but most importantly—friendship. Please visit our website, call us at (845) 425-6555, or drop by our facility and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

 

20 Easy Ways To Have A Better Morning Every Day

Posted on by Martin

There’s a saying that goes, “if you win the morning, you win the day.” Nowhere is this truer than in home health. In a profession that’s so demanding and intensive, winning the morning is critical to being as productive, engaged, and efficient as possible. Here are twenty ways to do that:

1. Wake Up To Natural Light

If you can, wake up to natural light. An excellent way to do this is by going to bed with your curtains half open so that the morning sun will stream in as it rises.

If you can’t sleep like this, thanks to light pollution from streetlamps or something similar, consider investing in a daylight alarm clock, which uses a wake-up light to simulate natural sunlight and help you wake up bright, happy, and feeling fresh.

2. Give Yourself More Time In The Morning

A rushed morning is a recipe for stress and unhappiness. To feel fresher and happier, set your alarm clock 15-30 minutes earlier each day.

This will allow you to enjoy a comfortable morning routine that’s filled with all the things that make you happy and satisfied, from stretching to reading to simply enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee. While learning to wake up a bit earlier might be tough at first, it will have marked benefits for your time and well-being.

3. Stretch

A daily stretching routine has dozens of perks, ranging from increased mobility and flexibility to improved posture and strength. When you wake up, do a short sunrise yoga practice or simply stretch each of your extremities for 15 seconds. This simple exercise will help prime you for the rest of the day and make you feel healthy and ready to go.

4. Read

Reading for 5-10 minutes each morning can help you get in a good frame of mind for the rest of your day. Pick a book of motivational quotes or read from one of your favorite novels or the newspaper. In addition to helping to calm your brain and put you in problem-solving mode, reading can extend your morning routine and make it more relaxing.

5. Take A Vitamin Or Wellness Supplement

The better you feel, the more ready you’ll be to take on the day. With this in mind, incorporate a vitamin or wellness supplement into your morning care regimen. While the supplement you take will depend in large part on your personal health and goals, taking a probiotic, multivitamin, powdered green supplement or something similar will work wonders when it comes to helping you feel healthy and vigorous.

6. Limit Your Decisions

Did you know that making decisions makes your brain tired? Scientists call the phenomenon “decision fatigue.” Luckily, you can give your brain a break by limiting the number of decisions you have to make in the morning.

Do this by prepping your coffee or tea, laying out your clothing, deciding what to eat for breakfast, and deciding which route to take to work the night before. While it may seem silly, this simple ritual can make it much easier to enjoy a relaxed and leisurely morning.

7. Get Some Fresh Air

Fresh air helps you feel alert and awake. With this in mind, take a walk or enjoy a cup of coffee outside before you get ready for the day ahead.

8. Do Something Physical

Whether you’re a gym person or an outdoor enthusiast, make some time to do something physical before you head into work. Ideal for pumping up the blood flow to your brain and helping your body feel fit and active, being physical in the morning is an essential component for a great day.

9. Wake Up To The Smell Of Coffee

If you’re a coffee drinker, buy a coffee maker that you can program to auto-brew before you wake up. This way, when your alarm goes off, you’ll have the scent of delicious coffee to lure you out of bed. You’ll also reduce one step in your morning routine, which is essential to enjoying a more streamlined start to the day.

10. Listen To Music

Listening to music can help kickstart your brain and make you feel more alert. To give yourself an immediate morning boost, listen to your favorite radio station for 5-10 minutes each morning.

11. Journal

Journaling is an excellent way to get rid of disruptive thoughts and prime yourself for the day ahead. Luckily, a morning journaling routine is easy to begin. Spend 10 minute each morning just writing down whatever is in your head. This allows you to get things like worry and anxiety out on paper, rather than letting them to rule your day-to-day life.

12. Eat Protein

A balanced breakfast is essential to a great day, and eating lots of protein first thing is ideal. Instead of fueling up on dairy or pastries, eat a protein-dense breakfast of eggs or low-fat Greek yogurt. In addition to helping you feel alert and energized, protein also gives you the energy boost you need to make it through the day.

13. Stop Snoozing

While it may seem like hitting the snooze button will give you the precious few moments of extra sleep you need, it interrupts your REM cycle. The more you snooze, the more you impair your body’s natural rhythm, making it harder to get out of bed. From now on, stop hitting the snooze button and, instead, get up when the alarm sounds.

14. Change Your Alarm Noise

Nobody wants to wake up to a shrill shrieking or a loud alarm. Instead, set your alarm noise to music or natural sound, like running water or chirping birds. This makes waking up less stressful and more pleasant.

15. Prime Your Body With Water

Instead of turning right to a cup of coffee in the morning, drink a glass of room temperature water, first. It’s a nice wake-up call for your muscles and organs and can help you rehydrate after a long night of losing moisture through your breath.

16. Meditate

Even if you don’t connect with meditation on a religious level, meditating for a bit each morning can help you get in a positive mindset and put the anxieties and concerns of every day to rest. Use an app like Headspace for fast, guided meditations that are beginner-friendly.

17. Make Your Bed

Nobody likes coming home to a bombed-out bedroom. With this in mind, take five extra minutes in the morning to make your bed. It’ll help your space feel neater and tidier and make the process of getting out of the house more organized.

18. Get Dressed

While running out the door without brushing your hair may seem harmless, it can take a toll on your attitude throughout the rest of the day. Instead, take the time to get dressed and ready. Not only will you look more professional, but you’ll also feel better about yourself throughout the day.

19. Stay Off Social Media

Social media can have a detrimental impact on our emotional and mental wellbeing. With this in mind, stay off of it in the morning and leave checking your Facebook page until later in the day.

20. Smile

Listen to something that makes you happy, like an audio book or favorite radio show as you drive to work. You’ll smile and feel happier all day.

Better Mornings Make for Better Days

As a caregiver, getting the best possible start to each day is critical. In addition to helping you feel more motivated and prepared for the challenges of the day ahead, these twenty steps will also support your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, allowing you to be stronger and more present for your patient(s).

12 Tips to Help Protect Seniors from Identity Theft

Posted on by Martin

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S.

Right now, more than 15 million U.S. residents have their identities stolen each year, with losses exceeding a total of $50 billion annually.

While it’s true that identity theft can (And does) affect anyone, seniors are at increased risk. Today, senior identity theft is growing rapidly, and people ages 50 or older are frequently the target of scams and fraudulent activity.

While various factors make seniors especially vulnerable to identity theft, deceased spouses, dementia and cognitive decline, a failure to check credit reports regularly, and often substantial saving or checking account balance are some of the primary draws for identity thieves.

Luckily, there are many ways that friends and loved ones can help protect seniors from the burden of identity theft.

Read on to learn more.

Why are Seniors Vulnerable to Identity Theft? 

While many factors influence seniors’ vulnerability to identity theft, including the ones mentioned above, the issue is complex and multi-faceted. Even seniors who aren’t affected by dementia or cognitive decline are frequently the target of identity theft, but why?

On one hand, the answer may be generational. As a general rule, seniors grew up during a period when people were quick to trust one another, and credit card and banking scams were not as prevalent as they are today.

Alternately, seniors are often concerned about not seeming dependent or overly needy, so they may not ask for help or verification from a friend or family member when something seems fishy, or when they receive an odd phone call asking for personal information.

Finally, seniors may be at increased risk of identity theft because the human brain changes with age. According to a 2012 study conducted by psychologists at UCLA, senior citizens quite literally process risk differently than their younger companions. When presented with mildly risky or dangerous situations, the older people in the study displayed less activity in the portions of the brain responsible for responding to danger, which suggests that they may not recognize or respond to risk the same way as their younger counterparts. 

To help protect seniors from identity theft, it’s critical to understand the various factors that place them at increased risk.

12 Ways to Help Protect Seniors from Identity Theft

 

1. Find trustworthy caregivers

While it may sound shocking, some of the main culprits in senior identity theft are the senior’s caregivers. Because these people have access to the senior’s personal documentation, credit cards, and checking account numbers, it’s easy for an unsavory caregiver to create fake accounts in the senior’s name or wreak havoc on checking and savings account balances.

With this in mind, vet all caregivers thoroughly and consider conducting background searches and checking references. While this may seem paranoid, it’s the first (and arguably most critical) step in ensuring a senior’s identity remains safe and sound.

2. Help the senior be aware of common scams

It’s reasonable for a senior to get excited about a phone call or email stating they’ve won a million dollars and, if nobody bothers to tell them about common scams and frauds, it may not occur to the senior that these types of interactions aren’t legitimate. With this in mind, seek to be informed about common frauds and scams and pass the information along to the senior citizen.

The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force operates a website called StopFraud.gov, which offers a wealth of information on common scams and how you can protect yourself and others. Check it regularly and keep your senior informed of what you learn. Better yet, turn the senior him or herself onto the website and have them check it frequently.

3. Monitor a senior’s financial activity

One of the most efficient ways to keep a senior out of identity theft troubles is to monitor their financial activity carefully. Since many common scams come in the form of credit card or email scams, monitoring credit card and bank statements can be a useful way to catch fraudulent activity before it blows up.

4. Check in often

While it may seem nosy, checking in often can help keep seniors safe from identity theft. Don’t hesitate to ask your senior friend or relative if they’ve received any suspicious calls or emails lately. While some seniors may get frustrated by these questions (believing they couldn’t possibly be the victims of identity theft), it’s worth it to ask.

While it may cause a small tiff, the tough conversation is ultimately worth it if it protects the senior from financial or personal hardship. Soften the conversation by reminding the senior that identity scammers are excellent at what they do and that the scams may not even seem like scams.

5. Enroll the senior in identity theft protection

There are various credit monitoring services designed to monitor personal and financial information for any red flags. Plans are affordable and can be a crucial tool in the ongoing battle for keeping seniors out of the clutches of identity theft.

6. Shred unneeded personal documents

Old personal documents that contain sensitive information like the senior’s birth date, social security numbers or banking information should be shredded or burned. This prevents them from falling into the wrong hands (in many cities and states, it’s common for identity thieves to comb through trash on public streets in search of such documents) and causing havoc.

7. Verify the validity of any “Free” services gated with personal information

Seniors are often targeted by scammers offering free or highly discounted medical services in return for personal information. While these proposals may seem outstanding, they’re often fraudulent. If the senior in your life receives any such offer, check the company with the Better Business Bureau before proceeding.

8. Encourage the senior to check credit reports often

Since seniors are typically not applying for mortgages or other large loans, they may not check their credit reports as often as younger people. Unfortunately, this is how so much fraudulent activity goes unnoticed for so long.

To be on the safe side, encourage the senior to check his or her credit report at least once a year. This can help keep tabs on financial and personal information and ensure it’s not being used incorrectly.

9. Help the senior understand link scams

Many scammers masquerade as reputable companies and use fraudulent links to gain personal information. Help the senior understand how these scams work and how to stay safe: instead of supplying personal information via a questionable link, go directly to the company’s website and complete an application or sign-up process there.

10. Maintain open communication about phone scams

Many identity scams use callers pretending to be court representatives or medical establishments, claiming outstanding balances for past bills. Instead of giving personal information to these callers, help the senior understand the need to call the company directly instead, and resolve the issue there.

11. Consider hiring an attendant

In the grips of dementia or Alzheimer’s, many seniors begin to make risky financial decisions and become intensely vulnerable to scammers. If this is the case with your loved one, consider hiring a professional caregiver to keep the senior out of financial trouble and away from the clutches of scammers.

12. Get the senior a secure mailbox

With a traditional, street-side mailbox, it’s easy for anyone to steal a senior’s sensitive mail. To protect your loved one, opt for a secure mailbox option like a post office or locking box.

Senior Identity Theft Stops Here

Seniors are a vulnerable population when it comes to identity theft. Luckily, you can help your loved ones stay secure with these twelve helpful tips. In addition to protecting a senior’s personal and financial information, these steps also go a long way toward ensuring healthy, happy, secure golden years for the senior in your life.

 

 

 

 

 

13 Ways We Can All Counter the “Disadvantages” of Old Age

Posted on by Martin

People have varying impressions of old age.

Some people believe that getting older is a beautiful thing and that it offers the perfect opportunity for people to spend quality time with their friends and loved ones. Some people, however, believe that aging is frightening and that people who are getting older lose their freedom and well-being in the process.

Whichever side of the aisle you find yourself on, it’s undeniable that there are disadvantages to aging, and many people dread it because of that. Luckily, there are several smart ways to combat those disadvantages and ensure that aging is as graceful and enjoyable as possible.

Read on to learn more.

13 Ways to Beat the “Disadvantages” of Getting Older

Aging, just like anything else, is a battle of mind over matter.

While it’s true that we can’t prevent certain chronic diseases by maintaining a positive outlook, it’s also true that we can make the process of aging much more enjoyable and civil by maintaining a sense of optimism. Whether you’re a senior interested in improving your quality of life, or a senior’s loved one who wants to help boost outlook and create a happier, healthier lifestyle for the person you love, here are thirteen smart ways to do it.

1. Seniors feel as if life is “passing them by.”

Solution:

Seniors often feel that they have become irrelevant. In many cases, a senior’s spouse has died, and the person’s social relationships may have declined from what they used to be.

In these cases, it’s easy for older people to become depressed or to feel neglected and forgotten. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be a given for all seniors.

Instead, it’s easy to combat this “disadvantage” by ensuring that seniors are included in family gatherings, social events, and community affairs. In addition to combatting feelings of loneliness, this also helps to encourage the development of new relationships and experiences.

2. Dating can be difficult

Solution:

Encourage seniors to join like-minded groups, clubs, and organizations. While dating may look different at 70 than it did at 17, it’s far from impossible, and many seniors find that they sincerely enjoy dating at an older age.

3. Seniors often feel tired and worn out

Solution:

While it’s normal for older adults to feel less energetic and outgoing than they used to, it’s not normal to expect to spend every waking moment of the day in seclusion because of it. Instead of feeling worn out all the time, seniors can boost their energy by engaging in exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of high-quality rest, and spending time with family and friends. If tiredness persists, a trip to the doctor may be in order, as certain supplements may help boost energy levels.

4. Exercise and activity can be trying or painful

Solution:

To stay in optimal health, seniors need to stay active. Unfortunately, this often becomes more difficult with age. To keep joints, bones, and the cardiovascular system healthy and functional without becoming exhausted in the process, seniors need only to adjust their activity type and level.

For example, if a senior used to be a long-distance runner but finds that difficult, something like water aerobics, yoga, or swimming may be ideal. While many seniors assume that aging means the end of their active lives, it’s more typical that an adjustment is all that’s needed.

5. Seniors often have a difficult time feeling attractive

Solution:

Aging means changes in the body and appearance, but seniors don’t have to feel self-conscious as a result.  

Many seniors find that visiting the salon or indulging in beauty or self-care rituals that they couldn’t justify when they were younger (such as facials, massages, or pedicures) are all wonderful ways to feel more attractive.

6. The senior may feel “out of whack” with the times

Solution:

It’s common for seniors to be confused about Justin Bieber and The Kardashians. Luckily, it’s easy for seniors to feel more engaged and involved in either learning more about the pop culture of today or spending time with people who treasure the same eras and memories they do.

Seniors who have no interest in reading pop culture magazines will enjoy taking part in themed parties or getting together to rehash old memories with friends. 

7. Driving can become difficult or disallowed

Solution:

One of the things seniors dread most about aging is the loss of certain freedoms, like driving. While it’s inevitable that some seniors will lose their driving privileges, this doesn’t have to mean the end of an ability to do things for oneself.

In fact, there are many ways for seniors who can’t drive to get around. In many cases, public transit may be a good option. In other situations, a senior may enjoy using a senior-specific shuttle that helps seniors run errands like shopping. In many cases, seniors even choose to enjoy a nice leisurely walk to their destination.

While the right answer will differ depending on a senior’s health and energy levels, getting older doesn’t have to mean a total loss of freedom. 

8. Being away from family can be lonely

Solution:

One thing many seniors struggle with is being far away from family and friends. Luckily, regular phone calls, Skype sessions, and hand-written letters can help close even the largest physical gaps and ensure happy, close relationships between seniors and their families. 

9. Seniors are often bored in their day-to-day routines

Solution:

Let’s be frank: getting older can be boring! Luckily, seniors can combat this boredom by signing up for an art course, auditing a class at the local university, volunteering, or learning new things. While old age presents many challenges,

it also offers a level of free time that allows seniors to take full advantage of opportunities and better themselves in dozens of ways.

10. It can be difficult to find clothing that a senior likes

Solution:

Many seniors find that, as they age, their previous fashion tastes don’t work well with their lifestyles. Luckily, this is just a matter of adjustment. While seniors may not be able to wear the flared dresses or dapper suits they once favored, it’s easy to find clothing that a senior loves and feels comfortable in. A simple shopping trip might just be in order!

11. Seniors aren’t used to the fast pace of today’s world

Solution:

Go slower. Seniors have a right to be somewhat alarmed by how quickly everything moves nowadays, and it can benefit them (And us) to slow down and be more intentional during our time with them. When we’re not rushing or hurrying, we have space and freedom to enjoy our interactions with the senior rather than racing through them.

12. Seniors often don’t feel well

Solution:

Seniors who have conditions that can be treated with diet, exercise or medication will often feel better after receiving the proper care. While it’s unrealistic for many seniors to expect that they’ll feel as spry at 80 as they did at 20, there’s also no reason to assume that aging has to mean feeling poorly at all times.

 

13. Seniors have a difficult time adjusting to older age

Solution:

Help the senior understand that every life stage is beautiful, and there are many things to love about aging. While many seniors have a difficult time facing getting older, accepting the realities of it and moving into the next phase gracefully make the entire process easier for seniors to bear.

The Disadvantages of Old Age, Turned Upside Down

While many people fear “the ravages of age,” it’s possible for seniors and caregivers to take a series of simple steps to make aging into a positive, upbeat, exciting process rather than a disappointing and frightening one. 

 

10 Ways Knitting can Improve Your Overall Health

Posted on by Martin

So you want to improve your health. What’s your first step? Maybe you get a gym membership or start power walking around the mall on rainy days. Maybe you purchase a few helpful diet books and start trying to incorporate more leafy greens into your meals. Maybe you take up yoga or tai chi. Those are all great efforts, but the answer to good health may be simpler than you think.
According to a recent article published by The New York Times, the simple act of knitting can provide some serious health benefits. And it’s less expensive than a gym membership.

Here’s what you need to know.

How knitting Can Improve Health and Wellbeing

Not convinced that picking up a pair of knitting needles can help you live longer and be happier? Here are the facts:

1. Knitting helps reduce stress

Knitting features a repetitive motion much like those found in yoga. As such, it offers many of the same relaxing benefits. While learning to complete the stitches can be difficult, at first, people who have zoomed past the learning curve typically find that knitting or crocheting can lower the heart rate, decrease the blood pressure, and reduce the amount of cortisol the body dumps into the bloodstream.

2. Knitting can boost self-esteem

There’s nothing quite like crafting an item from scratch to help you feel good about yourself. While yoga and meditation both provide some of the same relaxing benefits of knitting, knitting does something that neither of those pastimes does: it provides a tangible payoff in the form of a hat, scarf, or sweater.

For people with low self-esteem, seeing these things come together from nothing can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and simply looking at the things they’ve created can help boost confidence and provide a dose of happiness for dedicated knitters near and far.

3. Knitting can replace addictive habits

For people struggling to stop smoking or drinking, or to navigate the stress and anxiety caused by death in the family, knitting can be a massive help. Programs like prisons and schools regularly use craft-making activities like knitting to help calm anxious individuals and boost social skills, and people struggling with addiction have routinely found that the repetitive and calming act of knitting can go a long way toward replacing their addictive behavior. 

4. Knitting may help you control your weight

Thousands of people throughout the country eat out of boredom. Thousands more eat when they’re feeling stressed or lonely. Over time, these emotional eating habits can lead to severe weight gain, which has an adverse impact on the quality and enjoyment of life. Fortunately, craftwork of any type (including knitting) can help control these urges.

By putting the mind into something positive and constructive, like making something, it’s easier to avoid emotional food cravings and focus on eating only when you’re hungry, rather than when you’re simply stressed or afraid. 

This is a simple payoff, but it’s one that can work wonders to improve the quality of your life and health.

5. Knitting can help keep arthritis in the hands at bay

If you’ve noticed your hands beginning to get arthritis as you age, knitting can help. Because knitting requires small, repetitive movements of the hands, it helps the fingers and joints remain dexterous in the golden years, which can translate into increased daily comfort and fewer arthritis symptoms moving forward.

6. Knitting can lessen eating disorders

While this may seem like an outlandish benefit, a study conducted by the University of British Columbia in 2009 found that 38% of women (all of whom suffered from anorexia nervosa) found that knitting helped them manage the problem. 

What’s more, 74% of participants said that knitting helped them decrease their anxiety and keep their fears at bay. Because of this, knitting is often used in eating disorder treatment programs and can be ideal for people who have struggled with eating disorders in the past.

7. Knitting can decrease depression

If you’ve been feeling blue lately, knitting may be just the thing to help you. According to a study conducted by Betsan Corkhill, an England native, wellness coach, and founder of the “therapeutic knitting” site Stitchlinks, 54% of respondents in an informal survey said that knitting helped them feel happy or worked to alleviate their depression.

This may be due to the relaxing benefits of knitting, or to the fact that focusing on something positive makes it much harder to focus on negative, time-consuming thoughts.

8. Knitting can help manage chronic pain

Because knitting requires all of a person’s focus, it can decrease chronic pain and help the brain re-focus on the positive, thus reducing a person’s experience of pain. 

Because of this, and because it is a low-intensity activity, it can be ideal for individuals who have cancer or are coping with painful, chronic conditions.

9. Knitting can stave off the effects of cognitive decline

According to a 2011 study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, participating in cognitive activities like knitting and crocheting can help prevent or decrease the effects of cognitive decline. In the study, 1,321 people between the ages of 70 and 89 were evaluated and interviewed about the cognitive activities they participated in. The study determined that the seniors who engaged in craft making activities had lower rates of cognitive impairment and memory loss.

With this in mind, it’s clear that something as simple as knitting can go a long way toward improving mental health and staving off cognitive decline with age.

10. Knitting can help you be a part of a community

Multiple studies have shown that maintaining social relationships is critical as we age, and knitting is a great access point for doing this. By joining a knitting group, attending craft shows, and more, knitters can show off their wares and make new friends along the way.

The Case for Knitting

Simple, low-impact, and easy for virtually everyone to enjoy, knitting is a fantastic way for people to manage pain, feel happier, and stay active as they age. Plus, it’s an excellent way to produce some truly unique wearable items for yourself and your family!

 

 

7 Ways to Reduce Your Fear and Anxiety Now

Posted on by Martin

You know the feeling: you wake up in the middle of the night with a knot in your chest. You’re unbearably anxious, but about what? Maybe it hits you while you’re driving, watching traffic merge onto the freeway or negotiating uncontrolled intersections. Maybe it comes when you meet new people or enter new experiences. 

Today, anxiety is one of the most common disorders to affect adults in the U.S. Approximately 40 million people age 18 and older suffer from anxiety disorders right now.

Fortunately, anxiety and fear are both highly treatable, and people who suffer from either can often find relief through a mixture of at-home and clinical remedies.  While only about 1/3 of the people currently suffering from anxiety get treatment, individuals who want to reduce their fear and anxiety can learn some helpful tips in this article.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of intense nervousness or unease. It commonly affects people when the outcome of something is uncertain, or the environment is unfamiliar. While everyone experiences worry, anxiety is a different sensation and may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal upset, tension in the chest, a loss of appetite, nausea, or even vomiting. 

7 Sure-Fire Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Fear Today

If you suffer from anxiety or fear in your daily life, follow these seven tips to begin reducing it:

1. Practice breathing exercises

Breathing is a powerful tool that can have a massive effect on the brain’s “fight or flight” response. In fact, taking long, slow breaths can help decrease stress, stimulate the vagus nerve (which mediates the “fight or flight” response in the nervous system and lowers heart rate), and lower blood pressure and heart rate. 

The next time you’re feeling anxious, focus on your breathing. Take several long, slow exhales (of at least 3 seconds in length), and then move into long, slow exhales which take at least seven seconds to complete. 

After about four or five of these, you’ll notice your anxiety beginning to ebb, and your heart rate and body systems returning to normal.  

2. Practice visualization

Part of the reason that anxiety is so powerful is that it drags the brain into a loop. Instead of focusing on the good of a situation or experience, people who suffer from anxiety get caught in a loop of negative and frightening thinking. Fortunately, you can pull yourself out of this by practicing visualization.

Visualization is simple. When your head starts to spin, and you get fearful, practice imagining the situation in your mind. Instead of focusing on what will be frightening or painful about it, visualize it going well, and imagine yourself navigating it calmly. While this will help calm your mind in the short-term, it can also contribute to improving the outcome of the situation in real life by allowing you to prepare for it in advance.

3. Activate the thinking side of your brain

Anxiety and fear are emotional responses, and it’s easy to short-circuit them by asking the thinking (rather than the emotional) side of our brains to take over. Here are a few simple ways to do this:

  • The next time you’re anxious, place it on a scale from 1-10, with ten being incredibly fearful and one being relaxed. This does two things: it forces you to take an aerial view of your anxiety by putting a number on it, and it allows you to begin thinking about your fear in a rational way, which in turn allows you to combat it.
  • Ask yourself some simple questions. Questions like “Am I making this worse than it is?” “Is this fear grounded in reality?” “Am I overreacting?” “What can I do to fix this?” will go a long way toward allowing you to get a grip on your anxiety and look at it from a rational standpoint.
  • Ask yourself if you can worry your way to a solution. Some problems can be thought through to the point of a solution. In other situations, though, this will just drive you crazy. If you can’t “worry yourself to an answer,” let it go and try your best to take proactive steps to combat it down the road.

4. Practice being AWARE

AWARE is an acronym people who treat anxiety use to describe the process of moving through the fear and dread. Here’s what it stands for:

  • A: Accept the anxiety and understand that fighting it will only make it worse
  • W: Watch the anxiety and notice how it ebbs and flows, rises and falls. Don’t get attached to holding onto it or “making” it go away.
  • A: Act like you normally would. If you panic, your mind will go right along with you. If you stay calm and act like nothing is wrong, though, you mitigate your panic response and enhance your reasoning capabilities. 
  • R: Repeat the “A-W-A” steps as frequently as you need to get the feeling under control.
  • E: Expect that your anxiety will melt away soon. 

While it takes some practice to implement these steps reliably, focusing on them now is a good way to ensure that you get a better handle on your anxiety in the future.

5. Meditate

Meditation is a tool for calming the mind and decreasing attachment to our emotional selves. Long since used by leaders around the world, a regular meditative practice can go a long way toward decreasing your anxiety and making it easier to function daily.

Fortunately, meditation is also more accessible than ever before. Apps like Headspace make it easy to meditate for just a few moments every day, and you don’t need to dedicate a huge brick of time to the practice. 

While there are dozens of paid meditation programs you can participate in, it’s easy to access meditation without spending a dime. Simply find a quiet space, sit in a comfortable position, and focus on your breath for ten minutes. While it takes a while to get comfortable with the act of meditation, you’ll notice effects on your fear and anxiety in a short period.

6. Get enough sleep

Everything looks worse when you’re tired, and the simple act of getting enough sleep can be instrumental in helping you combat your fear and anxiety. With this in mind, shoot for 7-8 hours of sleep each night and take naps throughout the daytime as you need it.

7. Talk it out

Talk therapy, or even a coffee with a loved friend, can be amazingly helpful for people suffering from fear and anxiety. The simple act of voicing your worries and concerns can help destabilize them and help you see a clear path forward. Plus, talking to a therapist can help you learn more tools to combat fear and anxiety, and see to it that they have less of an impact on your life going forward. 

A Happier Life Made Simple

Fear and anxiety can be crippling, and people who suffer from them often feel as if they’ve been robbed of their enjoyment, happiness, and ease. Fortunately, these seven tips can help you begin the battle with fear and anxiety, and live a happier life starting today. 

 

6 Proven Methods to Improve Your Memory as You Age

Posted on by Martin

Memory loss: it’s one of the things people fear the most about aging. While memory loss comes in a variety of shapes and forms, many people imagine themselves unable to remember a loved one’s phone number or forgetting special days. 

While these things are a reality for some seniors, memory loss doesn’t have to be an essential component of aging. In fact, people who take proactive steps to improve their memories with age can enjoy a lifetime of mental sharpness and clarity. Read on.

What is Memory Loss?

Memory loss is forgetfulness that exceeds normal levels. For example, a young person may forget the name of a performer for a moment, and then recall it in conversation several minutes later. This is not memory loss. Instead, it’s a standard spell of forgetfulness.

If a senior begins to forget things like whether the stove is turned on, where he or she lives, or whether a visitor is a daughter or a neighbor, this is considered memory loss.

According to Medline Plus, memory loss is caused by normal aging or by injuries to the brain, including brain tumors, concussions or head trauma, brain infections, or stroke. 

While most people experience bouts of forgetfulness throughout their lives, memory loss is a problem that is most prevalent in seniors. According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every eight seniors experiences memory loss as they age. Surprisingly, this memory loss affects young seniors the most prominently, with 44.7% of older persons between ages 60-64 reporting memory loss. 

While some level of memory loss is normal throughout our lives, excessive or ongoing memory loss can be signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia. As such, it is important for people who want to keep their minds healthy as they age to take proactive steps to preventing memory loss.  

6 Smart Ways to Improve Your Memory as You Get Older

If you’d like to stave off the effects of memory loss, follow these six tips:

1. Keep learning new things

Learning new things is by far one of the best actions you can take to protect your memory and keep your mind sharp. Harvard Health Publications reports that higher levels of education are associated with improved mental functionality in old age. This may be because of several reasons. 

On the one hand, learning new things keeps people in the habit of using their minds, and may translate into higher levels of mental challenge and development with age. On the other hand, learning new things has been shown to help promote neuro-generative activity in the brain, and improve the brain’s ability to make new connections and keep existing connections healthy.

Fortunately, learning new things is simple, and you have many options if you’re interested. Pick up a new hobby or audit a class on a platform like edX. Take a dance class at your local community center or learn a new language. 

You don’t have to do something as drastic as going back to school to learn something new. You simply have to dedicate yourself to using your brain and making lifelong learning the top of your to-do list.

 

2. Don’t buy into the myths about aging and memory loss

The mind-body connection is one that’s often underestimated in our society. When it comes to memory loss, people who believe that aging and memory loss go hand-in-hand may actually experience increased memory loss. In fact, Harvard Health Publications reports that seniors exposed to repeated, negative stereotypes about memory loss and aging do worse on memory tests than their counterparts who avoid the stereotypes. 

With this in mind, don’t buy into the myth that aging means an automatic loss of memory. Take proactive steps to keep yourself healthy, and don’t believe the hype.

 

3. Engage all your various senses

The mind is a “use it or lose it” thing, and engaging all your senses helps keep each of them stronger. Memory works best when all our senses are engaged, and, because of this, it’s typically recommended that seniors pick up new hobbies that engage the senses.

For example, consider cooking. When you make a pizza from scratch, you have the scent of the ingredients, the feel of the dough as you knead it out on the counter, and the sight of bubbling cheese to look forward to.

If pizza isn’t your top priority, you’re not limited to cooking. In fact, any tactile hobby, like pottery, will work beautifully.

 

4. Focus your memory to where it’s needed most

The mind takes in thousands of tiny bits of information each day and, with age, this can quickly become overwhelming. Because of this, professionals recommend that seniors learn to economize their brainpower. For example, instead of clogging your head up with the 15 things you need to do next Tuesday, write it down in a planner. 

By getting it out of your head and onto a sheet of paper, where it’s easy to remember, you free your brainpower up for more important things, like learning new skills, building new relationships, and more. 

 

5. Reinforce your memories with repetition

Repetition is a powerful tool for solidifying memories and making short-term information long-term. With this in mind, use repetition in your daily life to boost your memory as you age. When you meet someone new at a gathering, repeat their name to yourself verbally. When you’re learning a new skill, repeat it several times until you feel like you have it down pat. We can’t expect our brains to perform well without the benefit of repetition, and the simple act of repeating something to ourselves can go a long way toward helping us remember it.

 

6. Take care of yourself physically

Good nutrition and adequate hydration make all the difference when it comes to protecting your memory. Simple things like inadequate hydration can have a devastating impact on memory, and studies have found that people who eat brain-boosting foods, such as fish, once each week have a massive 60% lower risk of developing dementia as they age. 

That said, fortify your diet with plenty of clean, fresh water, foods rich in omega-3s, and healthy fats.  Your brain will thank you for it!

Healthy Memories Start With Preventative Care

While conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia do affect some seniors, getting older doesn’t mean your memory must go out the window. With these six tips, it’s easy to take good care of your memory as you age, and enjoy a clear mind and sharp memory throughout your golden years. 

 

10 Volunteer Opportunities Guaranteed to Increase Your Happiness This Holiday Season

Posted on by Martin

Bring joy and hapiness to yourself and those less fortunate by volunteering this holiday season

The holidays are a time of giving, and most people find that they feel better about themselves and the world around them when they volunteer to help at local, national, or global organizations.

The reason for this is simple: the world is a hard place, and, while we can’t reach out and fix the entire thing at once, the most proactive step each of us can take is to do everything in our power to make our corner of it better.  

In recent years, the number of people who volunteer housebound has risen, climbing to more than 62.6 million adults in 2014. 

These figures spike during the holidays when people from all walks of life are looking for ways to give back, spread some good cheer, and lend a helping hand to their neighbors and communities.

If you’re searching for a volunteer opportunity to participate in this holiday season, here’s our list of the top ten volunteering opportunities:

1. Volunteer at a soup kitchen Help out at a soup kitchen

 Right now, 1 out of every 6 Americans faces hunger, and more than 17 million U.S. households experience “food insecurity” (meaning the household has occasional periods where it is difficult to access enough food for all its family members) each year.  These are staggering numbers, and they just go to show how critical the work that soup kitchens and similar community organizations offer is. 

This holiday season, one of the easiest and most helpful things you can do is to take an active role in feeding the hungry. Volunteer positions at soup kitchens (which provide free, hot meals for needy families and individuals) are common and straightforward. Plus, since they don’t require heavy lifting or intense physical activity, they’re ideal for older seniors or people with injuries and disabilities. 

To find a soup kitchen, community kitchen, or food bank (organizations that work to feed their communities around the holidays and throughout the year)  in your area, visit FeedingAmerica.com and enter your location. 

2.  Donate to a local domestic violence shelter

 Every single minute, an average of 20 people (in the U.S. alone) are abused by their intimate partner. This abuse leads to more than 10 million individuals being displaced from their homes annually. In many cases, the victims of abuse turn to domestic violence shelters for legal advocacy, orders of protection, housing, and healing.

This holiday season, find one of these organizations in your area and donate time, supplies, or money. In the name of safety, many domestic violence shelters are only open to women and children, and they always need simple supplies. Here are some items you can donate:

  • Baby formula
  • Diapers
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Clothing
  • Household goods (shelters often furnish women with household supplies when they leave the shelter and move into their own apartments or homes)
  • Children’s toys
  • Holiday food (turkeys, cookies, etc.)
  •  Gifts

Some shelters also have facilities for pets, and separate housing units for men. To find out what your local shelter needs, contact them and ask for a requested donation list. Keep in mind that many shelters are in confidential locations and may not accept strangers as volunteers, so you may have to go through a screening process to volunteer at the shelter. 

If you don’t want to do that, you can always donate supplies. To locate your local organization, visit the local coalitions page from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  

3. Read to children at a local library

Read to children at the library

 Reading stories to children is a fun and enjoyable volunteer activity that leaves everyone involved feeling happy and festive – especially when the books are old holiday classics, like The Night Before Christmas. 

To find out when your library hosts children’s Storytime, and how you can get involved, contact your local organization for more information.

4. Read to seniors at a senior centerSeniors reading books for the holiday

Senior centers are commonly overlooked volunteering destinations, but they need just as much attention as places like soup kitchens and shelters. To give back to your community and help local seniors this holiday, offer to read stories, sing carols, make Christmas ornaments, or more at your local senior center.  

Many of the seniors in these places have no remaining family, and a visit from a caring volunteer may be something they look forward to for days.  

5. Do food drop-offs for your local food bank

Most local food banks run programs where they deliver critical groceries to people who are house-bound, ill, or needy. This holiday season, volunteer to take over some of these deliveries. In addition to being a critical service, these deliveries also provide essential supplies to vulnerable populations that truly need the help. 

When you volunteer your time to drop off these donations, and you’ll be rewarded by meeting new people and making new friends. 

6. Volunteer at a halfway house

Halfway houses are commonly in need of volunteers for the holidays. Simple things, like volunteering to cook meals or work with residents, or just offering to donate supplies are highly appreciated. These small things are wonderful ways to make a difference during the holiday season.

7. Donate your time to meals on wheels

Meals on Wheels is an important organization that makes it a mission to deliver warm, healthy meals to seniors who can’t cook for themselves, or leave home very easily. Without an organization like this, these seniors often go hungry or fail to get the nutrition they need from their daily meals.  

Meals on Wheels of America

Fortunately, your support can help make a difference. This holiday season, donate directly to Meals on Wheels or visit their website to locate volunteer opportunities in your area. 

While this is a simple program, it’s one that can make a significant difference in a senior’s life.  

8. Make care packages for overseas soldiers

Holiday packages for soldiers

Soldiers currently deployed overseas don’t get to spend the holidays with their families, and many of them are missing husbands, wives, parents, and children. This holiday season, one compassionate way to get involved and volunteer your time is to put together care packages for overseas military personnel. 

Military.com has a helpful list of things to send people who are deployed, and SupportOurTroops.org has simple directions for assembling and mailing care packages to overseas military. 

9. Volunteer at your local animal shelter

Volunteer at local animal shelter

We know it’s important for humans to have happy and safe holidays, but what about the animals in our lives? Each year, more than 7.6 million dogs and cats enter shelters in the U.S., and only 2.7 million are adopted. In no-kill shelters, caring for those animals left behind can be expensive and exhausting, and volunteer assistance is always appreciated. 

This holiday season, dedicate your time to caring for the animals who can’t come home for the holidays. Cleaning pens, cuddling with animals, walking dogs, or attending community events to raise awareness are all fantastic steps. If you can’t volunteer for physical work, consider donating pet food, beds, supplies, or even money to your local shelter.  

10. Help your neighbors

If you’d like to keep your volunteer efforts as close to home as possible, look for small ways to help your neighbors. Simple things like shoveling your elderly neighbor’s walk, brining a batch of homemade cookies, or singing carols with some people from your area will brighten spirits and help everyone get into the holiday frame of mind. 

 

Conclusion  

Volunteering for the holiday season is a great way to get into the giving mindset and make a difference in your community. While it can be difficult to locate volunteer opportunities that fit your priorities, these ten opportunities are ideal for most people and can help you do good this holiday season. 

12 Ways Exercising Can Improve Your Mental Health

Posted on by Martin

 

While many people think of working out as a way to lose weight or build muscle, it actually does much more than that. Over the past 10 years, scientists have learned that exercising can actually increase brain function and provide considerable mental health benefits. So, yes, exercise helps your body stay healthy, but it benefits your mind, as well.

Here’s how:

Exercise reduces stress

One of the best-known benefits of exercise is stress relief. By walking, heading to the gym, or taking a few laps at the pool, you can give yourself a serious leg-up in terms of managing physical and mental stress. This is due, in large part, to the fact that working out increases the concentration of norepinephrine, a stress-moderating chemical. This means that a good workout – be it a 30-minute walk or a few laps around the track – can dissolve existing stress and help you cope better with stress in the long run.

2. Exercise releases endorphins

Endorphins are the body’s so-called “happy chemicals.” When they’re present in our bodies in adequate amounts, they create feelings of happiness and mitigate depressive symptoms. This is one of the main reasons that doctors often recommend people suffering from anxiety or depressive disorders spend a good deal of time working out. In some cases, the endorphins released as a result of exercise can be as effective at treating depression as antidepressant medication! That said, aim to get about 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week and watch how it changes your mood.

3. Exercise boosts your confidence

While exercise may well help you lose weight and feel better about your body, it gives you a major self-esteem boost no matter what. It doesn’t matter what your weight, gender, or age is – exercising regularly boosts self-esteem and improves self-image, which can help you feel more self-worth and be happier with yourself in general.

4. Exercise is enjoyable

One of the great keys to finding a fitness program that works for you is to find one that you legitimately enjoy. Often, this means working out outside. When you take your exercise outside in the form of a hike, trail run, walk in the park, or paddle around a lake, you’ll be boosting self-confidence even more and getting the anti-depressant benefits of Vitamin D while you’re at it. Just remember to wear sunscreen!

5. Exercising can help prevent Alzheimer’s

One of the most popular benefits of exercise is that it can help protect you from cognitive decline. Degenerative diseases kill brain cells and lead to a hazy brain that doesn’t work quite as well as it used to. Fortunately, research has shown that working out can help build new brain cells and protect the hippocampus, the part of the brain that’s responsible for learning and memory. This, in turn, can help prevent age-related cognitive decline.

6. Exercise makes you less anxious

We all struggle with anxiety and the way that we cope with it differs. People who work out, however, may have an advantage. Research has shown that exercise is fantastic at helping manage anxiety and that doing a high-intensity exercise like interval training can actually help improve a person’s anxiety tolerance. So, the next time you’re feeling a little anxious, get out for a 20-minute walk. Chances are the difference will be immediately noticeable.

7. Exercise makes you smarter

If you’re thinking of going out for a spelling bee or challenging yourself to a game of Sudoku anytime soon, you might want to hit the gym first. Cardiovascular exercises like jogging and swimming can help the brain build new neural pathways that improve overall memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, scientists believe that a good workout helps boost brain-derived protein (BDNF) levels in the body, leading to quicker decision making and faster learning.

8. Exercise improves your memory

Having a tough time remembering where you pit your keys? It might be time to get active more often. Regular moderate exercise supports the brain in order to make learning new things easier. It does this by stimulating the hippocampus to produce new cells which aid in the building and retention of new memories.

9. Exercise moderates addictive personalities

Thousands of people in this country struggle with various addictions. From food to television, addictions come in all shapes and sizes and often the methods used to cope with addiction are less than healthy. Fortunately, there’s a better way. The substance that people become addicted to is commonly dopamine.

Drugs and alcohol both produce dopamine, as can food when ingested in the proper levels. Fortunately, exercise also produces dopamine in considerable levels, which can help mitigate addictive cravings and help prevent withdrawals. Some addictions also disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms, which can lead to sleep deprivation and an exacerbation of symptoms. Exercise helps mitigate these things and produces an overall feeling of well-being.

10. Exercise helps you relax

People who exercise often generally sleep better and feel more relaxed. In fact, some studies say that working out can have the same relaxation benefits as a sleeping pill for people who struggle with insomnia. That said, if you’re feeling jittery, anxious, stressed out, or disrupted, you might want to head out for a brisk walk. Doing so can help you manage stress and feel more relaxed.

11. Exercise helps you be more productive

We all know how it feels to not check off every item on a day’s to-do list. At best, it’s an annoying feeling and, at worst, feeling unproductive can lower our self-worth and create an environment that’s ripe for self-blame. Fortunately, there’s a way around this feeling. By exercising regularly, people can boost productivity. This includes increasing prioritizing capabilities and creating more energy, both of which give you the fuel you need to power through a busy day and clear your to-do list in preparation of tomorrow.

12. Exercise helps you be more creative

If you’re looking to be the next Van Gogh, you may want to head out for a run first. Studies have shown that mild to moderate levels of exercise can help boost creativity for up to two hours after the workout is done. This is especially true when you work out outdoors. So, the next time you’re feeling like you want to create a masterpiece, head out into the woods for a walk beforehand. Doing so can help you be your most creative self.

Conclusion

We’ve always known that exercise is good for your body, but it’s becoming clear that it’s pretty beneficial for your mind, as well. Exercising can do everything from stimulating weight loss to boosting memory, increasing problem-solving capabilities, helping you get better sleep, improving creativity, and reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. While there are not many things in today’s world that truly “cure it all,” exercise may be one of them!