To live a full life in old age isn’t exactly a walk in the park. It’s more like doing an obstacle course in wobbly legs, dimmed eyesight, and creaking joints.

On top of those physical difficulties are psychological and mental issues that can affect our decision and sense of direction.

But must we just stay on the sidelines as plain spectators in the drama of life Can we no longer jam it up with the rest of humanity Or give life one last “GO”?

No way, as far as I am concerned. And you should feel the same way, too. No matter how old you may be, you are never completely out of juice; you can still live life as fully as you want to.

And this is what this article is about – show you some of the secrets in living a full life.

But before diving deep into it, let’s have agree on what “full life” means.

What is a full life?

One time, my younger sister remarked how lucky I was to have children who are taking good care of me

On the surface, she was right. But things are not always rosy between me and my kids. Just like any family, there are bumps I need to steer clear from.

Just like any other live alone senior, I have bouts of bouts of self-[pity, depression, loneliness, and feelings of living a meaningless life. There was a time whe I had meals with my wife and two kids. Now I eae alone and wash the dishes right after – a thing I many never get used to.

These negative thoughts, often get into my nerves and make me want to give up and give in. were I to disregard their potential catastrophic results. But I can’t. So I make lemonade from the sour lemons life has dealt me with. I chose to live a full life.

And this brings us back to what it is…

A “full life” means “being in the moment, awake and alive and enjoying things now, right this minute. It is not worrying about the past, or postponing happines for the future.”

It is the joyful acceptance of one’s lot – regardless of the abundance or scarcity of the material resources at one’s disposal.

It is to cherish each moment of each day, free of the guilts of yesterday or the anxieties of tomorrow. It is having someone or something to love, do things you love doing, and having something to hope for.

Having a full life is not to be free of imperfections but to ride out each one with a grateful and brave heart. It is to have a perfect balance of one’s spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of one’s existence.

And this article willshow you to do that.

DIY Tips in Living Fully

We all want to live a full life, to enjoy enjoy each moment of our remaining days  We want to be free of any worries, cares or apprehensions all too common in our younger days.

We want to try something new and different spices things up. We want to explore we’ve never been to before, lounge on a beach in some tropical island, or go on a safari.

For most, however, these are just wishful thinking. Old-age related issues and illness hamper our desires of stop us all together. .

Most of us are hobbled with issues such as insufficient funds, failing health, estrangement with children or separation from spouse. All these can dampen or desire to live life to the fullest.

But not hopeless. With these DIY tips, you can still a joyful and meaningful life. A life that sweeps all your cares and worries under the rug.

And under these trying situations, these DIY tips are very handy. They are easy to do an don’t cost much or anything.

1. Keep busy

Being busy can help you live your life to the fullest. Puttering around the house, doing some repaires of gardening gives you the satisfaction of having done something insead of moping or wallowing is self-pity

I know it too well as a live-alone senior. I strictly follow a daily routing to survive. Though with trepidation, I do household chores, prepare my own food, wash the dishes, and buy my housefold necessitaties. I don’t like to do them but I must. They keep me busy and productive.

After lunch, I take a short break, then get on with my online writing business well until early evening.

You need not  have as hectic a schedule as mine, but keep moving. Activity keeps your mind off your age-related issues and gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

Being busy is good for the body and mind. It is fulfilling to know that you have spent your day doing something worthwhile, interesting, and useful.

2. Eat Well:

Eat well to make you funtion normall every single day. ingle day. Eating well means eating a well-balanced diet so you can maintain a healthy weight, and be energized. Get the right nutrients you need to lower your risk of developing chronic healthconditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Get an expert advise from your physician so you can be guided accordingly.

Go easy on food that can exacerbate arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure if you are suffering from any or all of them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a very informative article about elderly nutrition. Read it instead of getting tips from your friends or barber.

Stay hydrated always. Dehydration is one of the major causes of elderly hospitalization.

3. OBSERVE HOME SAFETY:

In the U.S., an elderly is admitted into emergency rooms every 11 seconds due to falls, and every 19 minutes, one dies from the accident, according to National Council on Aging (NCOA).

Ironically, falls are not age-related but are caused by unsafe conditions at home. When you walk on wobbly legs or dimmed vision, a frayed rug or a loose floor mat is an accident-in-waiting.

To accident-proof your home, have a family member or home-safety engineer go over it to eliminate all potential hazards. Staying in a hospital due to a home accident is hardly living your life fully.

4. have enough sleep

Nothing can ruin your day more than lack of sleep the previous night. It makes you irritable, dizzy, and lazy.

Don’t hang on to the common belief that elderly people need fewer hours of sleep each night. You must have at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night to make you feel energetic and refresh the following morning.

I go by 6-7 hours but I take mid-day naps.

5. Don’t Isolate yourself

Don’t shy away from the world. Get out and mingle. Keep in touch with family and close friends. With the Internet, it can still be done even with the prevailing lockdown due to the Covid19 pandemic.

But do keep a circle of “healthy” friends – those that can help you boost your self-esteem. This kind of friends reduces stress and anxiety. They can improve your overall well-being and may increase your longevity.

6. Mind your physical and mental health

The majority of seniors 65 and above have, at least. one chronic medical condition. But modern science has treatments and interventions to all these that can help you live a happy and productive life.

Do follow your doctor’s instructions and always stay on the safe side. Don’t take unnecessary risks that may result in undesirable consequences.

Exercise your body as well as your mind.

Some studies show that a healthy lifestyle can slow down mental decline. Stimulate your mind by reading, doing crossword puzzles, or watch educational videos. There are tons of it on YouTube.

7. Be grateful

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

It is important because it helps generate more positive emotions and relish good experiences which, in turn, improve your health. It allows you to better deal with adversities and helps nurture strong relationships.

Gratefulness creates happiness – the trademark of a full life. Amy Collette sums it beautifully when she said, “…It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.”

I am now on Cloud 9. But getting here wasn’t easy for a worrier like me; one who tends to over-think. I got here after taking a long and serious look inwards and resolutely deciding to get rid of those things that stopped me from enjoying life more fully.

You can do the same, though maybe in a different route. But you must. You owe it to yourself after years of slaving to build a career and supporting a family. Now it is time to soar, to reach for the clouds, and live your life as fully as you can – while you still can.

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Image: One More Cup of Coffee

~oOo~

The post How to Live a Full Life in the Face of Difficulties first appeared on Age With Charm.

Preparing meals is not just to appease hunger, but to serve a nobler purpose. The food you prepare defines you over the long haul – either glum and sickly or bouncy and healthy.

In meals preparation, always think nourishment, not just to fill an empty stomach. Your health and well-being depend on it.

While this may seem a no-brainer, a lot of seniors fail to clear the bar.

Here’s why…

Old age induces some changes that not only affect your ability to prepare nourishing meals but also your body’s capacity to absorb them.

First, mobility problems and budgetary concerns may hamper you from getting the right foods and ingredients;

Second, because of slower metabolism, the food you eat may not be efficiently absorbed by your body.

For example, old age slows you down a little bit. This change in pace needs adjustment in your daily calorie intake. On top of this, you may also have appetite problems due to oral health issues, or other illnesses that affect your eating habits.

In effect, you may either become undernourished or overnourished.

Either way, a case of malnutrition could set in –   a condition of having a less, excessive or imbalanced intake of energy or nutrients.

Read more…

Malnutrition is bad for people of any age. More so for seniors, because it affects the immune system, making them susceptible to the flu or the common colds.

In addition to that, malnutrition also affects:

–   Body organs such as the eyes, liver, kidneys, and the digestive system;
–   Brain functions like memory, cognitive ability;
–   Management of chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and dementia;
–   The immune system in promoting proper healing of injuries and illnesses;
–   Bone and muscle health for mobility, strength, posture, and flexibility.

It is a serious concern among government health workers and professionals because it is a huge and chronic problem. Of the millions of American seniors hospitalized each year, about 33% are malnourished.

Those affected may suffer a string of illnesses their entire life. And since it can have lasting physical and mental effects, it is imperative to recognize it early in order to avoid it.

How to avoid malnutrition:

Avoiding malnutrition is not as difficult as it seems. It does not require subscribing to expensive diet plans, either. In fact, you may go on eating the regular foods you have been used to all these years.

It does require recognizing that your stomach could no longer digest nuts and bolts like it used to, and you need to adjust your diet to compensate for this deterioration.

To do that, always have, in your regular meals, protein-rich foods such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and beans. Having a serving of low-fat dairy products like milk, yogurt or cheese will be of much help to promote healthy bones.

Don’t forget your vegetables and fruits. These are rich in dietary fibers which help keep cholesterol levels down. Fibers also help in preventing the formation of certain types of cancers like the colorectal, control blood sugar levels and prevent constipation.

Then, reinforce your diet with vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, and vitamins D, and B12.

Potassium helps in maintaining blood pressure while Calcium and vitamin D, for bone health. Vitamin B12 helps keep your nerves and blood vessels healthy.

While all these are contained in the foods in your kitchen, in one way or the other, you may take them as food supplements to assure you get the right nutrients on a daily basis.  But take them the supervision of your physician.

The bottom line?

Nobody knows you better than you. You have reached this far and can reach a few more years provided you take care of yourself and be more conscious of the meals you prepare in your kitchen.

Please share so other seniors won’t take the food they eat for granted.

~oOo~

The post Don’t Prepare Your Next Meal Before Reading This first appeared on Age With Charm.