Everyone experiences some level of stress. It’s the body’s reaction to what it perceives as dangerous situations. That said, chronic stress is not normal and can have potentially devastating physical, mental, and emotional health consequences.
Many working Americans assume that, once they’ve entered retirement, stress will become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case, and older Americans are just as prone to stress as their working-age counterparts. There are, however, some ways retirees can minimize stress so they can enjoy their golden years.
1. Maintain a Sense of Community
As people age, they tend to become more isolated. Some seniors have trouble with mobility, while others lose vision, hearing, or mental acuity. All of these factors can contribute to elevated anxiety levels while simultaneously making it harder to maintain the social connections required to cope with stress in healthy ways.
One of the best ways for retired adults to maintain a sense of community is to look into Assisted Living Near Me. At an assisted living facility, seniors can form new social connections and engage in meaningful activities with others, giving them access to a social safety net that will make handling stressful events much easier.
2. Practice Mindfulness
Getting caught up in memories of the past or worrying about the future can compound problems with anxiety. Mindfulness exercises like meditation can make it easier to live in the moment. They may also increase brain plasticity, helping older adults maintain cognitive function and making it easier to learn new coping mechanisms for managing unavoidable stressors. For those that are wanting to experiment with other methods of treating their anxieties, it might be worthwhile looking into the use of CBD and research how the products from somewhere like Gold Bee could help ease moments of anxiousness.
3. Get Plenty of Exercises
Getting exercise can help to reduce stress levels at any age, but it’s especially important for older adults. Even modest aerobic exercise performed three days per week can boost brain health and reduce stress.
Exercise may also be the best way to manage acute anxiety, as it helps to calm the nervous system and alleviate the physical symptoms of acute stress. It reduces levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in the brain and stimulates the natural production of endorphins, which elevates a person’s mood.
4. Try Body Manipulation
Body manipulation isn’t a replacement for aerobic exercise, but it can form an excellent complement to regular walks. Alternative therapies like yoga, massage, tai chi, reiki, and craniosacral therapy may all reduce blood pressure, release endorphins, relieve physical symptoms of stress, and enhance cognitive function. They also encourage mindfulness and, when performed in a class setting, can encourage a sense of community. The combined effects of all these benefits can be quite powerful.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
A poor diet plays a direct and several indirect roles in stress. It can increase inflammation in the brain, making people more prone to experiencing depression and other mental health disorders. Eating foods that are nutritionally poor and packed with sugar also makes it harder to maintain a healthy weight.
Also, consider adding in natural supplements. There are so many things that I add to my daily intake. However, you do need to make sure you are properly dosing. One way that you can make dosing simple is by getting your herbal supplements capsulized.
Instead of eating processed foods, try to focus on nutritionally dense options that are packed with healthy nutrients. Eat plenty of vegetables, fish, lean meats, nuts, and eggs, and avoid added sugars completely whenever possible.
The Bottom Line
While it’s normal to experience stress after a troubling event, it’s not normal to be anxious all the time. Physical, mental, and social factors can all contribute to anxiety, or they can reduce stress and make life feel more meaningful. Follow the advice above to reduce unnecessary anxiety and develop better coping mechanisms for dealing with stressful events that can’t be avoided.
Girl on Fire
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