Healthy Living and Life
To live a healthy life as we age, it is necessary to change how we feel about our own aging as well as the aging of our family and friends. Here are 14 Steps to Independence that when incorporated into your daily living will help you to be open to the transitions we all must go through as we age.
1. Make a commitment to developing an Independent Mindset and to guiding your family and friends into this Mindset, by sharing these principles with them in discussion and application on a regular basis.
2. Empower yourself by learning more about aging on a personal, professional and national level.
3. Accept, embrace and celebrate your aging and the aging of your family members and friends.
4. Think about what it will take for you to maintain your independence with accessibility and mobility and autonomy in mind.
5. Be proactive about everything – this is how you can avoid living life in crisis mode!
6. Know that you are the one responsible for your own health and that you can, by doing simple things every day, move forward towards better health. Get plenty of sleep, get out in the sunshine for a few minutes on a daily basis, eat right, drink lots of water, focus on having a good attitude and get some exercise.
7. Spend time with God, know and trust that you are important to Him and that He loves you!
8. Learn to be frugal and control your spending habits. Save and make plans for your future. Think about how you would live if there was no social security, retirement money etc. Would you need to live with others, what would you need to do to continue to live independently?
9. Keep your mind active. Do puzzles, read, memorize things – subscribe to the on-line sites that promote mental wellness via games and other techiques.
10. Stay active in your community and with friends who share common interests, people you can serve and people you can have fun with.
11. Connect with a community of professionals who can provide you with the resources, services and support you need to live the best quality of life as you age like the Choices for Healthy Living Community & Marketplace.
12. Think Green. Green saves you money, reduces your carbon footprint and gives you a better quality of life.
13. Take care of your home/living space and help your family members to do the same, with regular termite inspections and maintenance.
Improve your home/living space, or move to a new place where you will have accessibility and comfort by incorporating universal design features.
14. Listen to your body, mind and spirit. Know when you need to ask for help.