Nobody can promise that a habit will protect memory. Still, several ordinary routines may support brain health in older adults and contribute to healthy aging.
Senior Helpers North Raleigh shares six simple habits you can incorporate into your weekly routine.
1. See People on a Schedule
People come first on this list, since long stretches alone can affect mood, sleep, and health. Make regular plans to meet friends for a meal or join a club or choir. A weekly family dinner can also give you something to look forward to.
2. Keep Moving Most Days
Choose activities you enjoy, such as walking around your neighborhood or dancing at home. Both are simple ways to stay physically active. The CDC's physical activity guidance for older adults covers aerobic activity, muscle strengthening, and balance.
A doctor can help you determine which activities are safe for you. Build up slowly, and look for flat, well-kept paths or indoor spaces to start.
3. Learn Something That Feels Awkward
Familiar activities are pleasant, but trying something new gives your brain a different kind of workout. Choose something you’re not yet good at, such as a new language, an instrument, or a craft. Starting small and allowing yourself time to learn can make exercise more enjoyable.
4. Sleep on a Steady Schedule
Going to bed and getting up around the same time can help you feel more rested. A dark, cool bedroom and a screen-free hour before bed may help too. Sleep problems deserve attention. Talk to your doctor about snoring, insomnia, or daytime drowsiness.
5. Eat More Plants
Vegetables, beans, and fish turn up often in advice on healthy aging. No strict plan is required. Add a vegetable to your meal for more variety. You can also choose baked foods instead of fried ones.
6. Keep Up With Checkups
Routine appointments may feel unexciting, but blood pressure and hearing both connect to how well you function day to day. Regular visits help your doctor identify potential health concerns early. Addressing vision or hearing changes can also make daily activities and conversations easier.
How Social Connection Supports Brain Health in Older Adults
Social contact can support several of the other habits at once. Exercising, learning, and even healthy eating can be easier to stick with when you do them alongside someone else.
The National Institute on Aging offers a tip sheet on staying connected, including joining a group built around an interest or volunteering. Libraries, community centers, and faith communities are good places to look for classes and clubs.
Volunteering is another way to spend regular time around people of different ages. And if memory changes worry you, bring them up at your next checkup.
Keeping Routines Going in North Raleigh and Wake County
Having someone by your side can make it easier to stick to habits that support brain health in older adults. A caregiver can walk with you, drive you to a class, or help prepare a healthy meal. They can also remind you about upcoming appointments.
Senior Helpers North Raleigh offers companionship and everyday help through in-home care for families in North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Rolesville, and Knightdale. Contact us and tell us which of these habits you'd like company for.