Aging is not always picture-perfect. When you age, many factors can cause a downfall in your mental and physical health, such as declining health conditions or the loss of loved ones. While aging is unavoidable, sadness and despair do not have to be part of the experience. Simply being grateful can make a difference. Here is why practicing gratitude is important in your senior living communities!
Improves Health
Many of our loved ones are plagued by chronic sickness, insomnia, or depression. By practicing gratitude, it can lead to lower risks of depression, improved sleep, and aids in the treatment of chronic illness. It relieves pain, lowers headaches, and is an excellent stress reliever. When you feel grateful, you are more willing to exercise and eat better meals. To start, try writing down three things you are grateful for each day in a diary.
Strengthens Relationships
Gratitude enhances present relationships and increases social connections. Those who practice gratitude search for positive qualities in others rather than focusing on their flaws. They are more likely to greet a stranger in the store or volunteer where assistance is required. As a result, you may feel less lonely and isolated. Try writing a gratitude letter to a friend or family member as a present of appreciation.
Expand Life’s Meaning
Many aging adults struggle to find meaning and purpose in life after retiring and/or after their children have left the nest. Gratitude cultivates your ability to see the larger picture. You can obtain a sense of the broader life’s purpose by choosing to be appreciative of the small things. Practice appreciation by expressing “thank you” to the people you meet in your daily life. Make it personal by expressing a specific thought.
Improves Memory
Most aging adults are concerned about their mental health. Gratitude can help you remember things better. Grateful individuals are much more likely to remember happy memories from their past. They appreciate the good times and are better prepared to deal with adversity. To do so, start your day off right with a memory game. Take a few minutes pondering on the previous day as you drink a cup of coffee. Make a list of ten things for which you are glad that occurred yesterday.
Builds Self Esteem
Gratitude boosts confidence. Our elderly loved ones may suffer from poor self-esteem in their later years, much as how they experienced a lull in their lives after retirement. Changes in appearance and feeling overlooked by their family members due to their busy schedules might contribute to this. Gratitude helps to keep us grounded and reminds us of our worth. To start small, try purchasing inspirational or gratitude paintings or words to encourage you to be grateful every day.
Why Choose Independent Living at TerraBella Riverplace
When you reside in our independent living community, you are provided with a worry- and maintenance-free lifestyle. With our various exclusive senior living programs and resort-style amenities, you are sure to feel as though you are on vacation while enjoying the freedom and fun that comes with it. For more information, do contact us today!
