Seniors Can Try These Goals for Improved Quality of Life

How can you improve your quality of life as an older adult? For many seniors, the answers lie in taking control of their mental and physical health, and this process can be easier than you might think. Finding ways to feel better starts with assessing your current well-being. How well do you sleep? Do you have periods of isolation? Have you been feeling uninspired lately?

There are several places to start when it comes to boosting your overall wellness, including seeking out resources that can help you get involved in the senior community. Here, Satori Acupuncture of Knoxville presents a few simple things you can do to feel better.

Take a Chance and Start a Business

Whether you’re already retired or are just looking for something that will rejuvenate your creativity and fulfillment, starting a business is a great option. It’s much easier to become an entrepreneur now than it was even 10 years ago, thanks to advancements in technology that make business resources more accessible to everyone. You might sell handmade items, or start a pet-care business as a groomer or sitter. No matter what your goals are, it’s essential to do some research on how to get started in your state and write out a solid business plan.

You can also look for helpful tools that will make the entire process easier, such as a formation service that will assist in filing paperwork to start an LLC in Tennessee. A limited liability company is greatly beneficial to new business owners in that it provides tax benefits and offers protection in the event of a legal issue.

Consider Alternative Therapies for Pain and Anxiety

It is hard to be happy when your body hurts or your mind is anxious, and it’s complicated to rely on medication for everything. Try some alternative techniques to help with both. Acupuncture has a long history of helping people reduce pain, recover from illnesses, and calm their minds. You can schedule a session at Satori Acupuncture of Knoxville to see how it makes you feel.

You can also try yoga, meditation, and mindful breathing techniques. Stretching is great for our bodies, especially for people with limited mobility or who are mostly sedentary for various reasons. Yoga also helps with balance and strength training. Meditation and mindfulness breathing are used to focus your mind and calm both your mind and body. They can be done easily in most places, and the more you practice them, the easier it is to get yourself into a better mental state.

Volunteer Your Time

Not quite ready to start your own business? Consider volunteering time at your church, or at a local shelter or assisted living facility. There are many ways to get involved in your community, and doing so can boost your self-esteem while allowing you to feel productive and part of something positive. If you have grandchildren, consider helping out at their school. Many schools allow family members to get involved after undergoing a background check and/or training session, and it’s a great way to spend more time with your loved ones.

Increase Your Physical Activity

There is a lot of research that ties mental health with physical health, which means that staying active will help your body and mind as you age. You don’t have to train for a marathon or even join a gym, but keep your body moving. Try some chair exercises at home or, if you live in an area with a high walk score, then make the choice to walk more places instead of driving. You can even get friends or neighbors involved with an evening walk after dinner. Or meet up with friends for coffee or drinks somewhere that is walkable from your home. Little changes can leave you feeling much happier and healthier overall.

Learn Something New

Continuing to learn as we get older is so important, as it keeps our minds sharp and active. Whether you want to learn a new skill so you can volunteer, take a yoga class, or go all-in and go back to school for a degree, there are many ways you can continue your education.

Not only can learning something new increase your self-esteem, but as Firsthand notes, it can also create a lot of opportunities for you down the road, whether you choose to start a business with your newfound skills or just want to stave off boredom. It can also improve your physical health, especially if you combine learning with an activity like dancing, yoga, or participating in a sport such as tennis.

Improve Your Well-Being with Better Sleep

Learning new things can really open up new worlds for you, but only if you’re in the right mindset to absorb the knowledge. If you’ve been feeling overly tired lately or experiencing brain fog, you might benefit from a better night’s sleep. Your bedding (including the mattress), lighting, meals, devices, and even the room temperature can all have an effect on your ability to get good rest, so it’s important to take control of those details. Choose soft but supportive bedding, and EatingWell suggests making it a point to eat and drink only specific items after a certain time of day. Create a haven in your bedroom that minimizes device use and allows you to relax and unplug.

Find Ways to Enjoy Your Life More

Taking control of your mental and physical health can improve your overall quality of life, and there are many simple lifestyle changes you can try that will make a difference. Consider starting a business, volunteering, or learning something new when you’re ready to feel better. And care for your body and mind through acupuncture, mindfulness, and physical activity. We only get one life. Enjoy yours to the fullest!

Photo via Pexels

How Acupuncture can Benefit Your Mental Health

Although we live in a time where vast amounts of information are readily available at the tip of our fingers, most people still know surprisingly little about what exactly acupuncture is and what it can do for their overall health and general wellness. While it has been a tried and true medical practice for thousands of years in eastern medicine, for many patients in the western world it is still a fringe or “alternative” form of therapy.

The many people who have given the practice a fair try with an open mind, however, swear by the results as both highly effective and long lasting. Many of them also seek out this treatment for other health conditions that they may develop later on, too, because it can help with so many different issues. That might be surprising to hear, of course, because so little is actually known about this ancient form of medical care in the West, but it offers incredible mental and emotional health benefits.

What is Acupuncture and How Does it Help Me?

The practice is actually what many might expect. Tiny, thin needles are placed in strategic spots in the patient’s body to stimulate or de-stimulate various pressure points that have a direct impact on certain functions or activities of the body. While this treatment has long been associated with physical conditions such as smoking, obesity, arthritis, back pain, and headaches, as well as several other issues, it can also be used to help boost mental health.

The Connection Between Acupuncture and Mental Health

There are numerous ways that this type of therapy can benefit a person’s mental state and health, both directly and indirectly. You could, of course, opt for treatments that deal directly with a specific issue or condition such as depression or anxiety, but this doesn’t preclude acupuncture care. In fact, there are a few different ways that acupuncture can complement more targeted medical care.

Acupuncture helps mental health issues indirectly through sessions designed to address insomnia or sleep disorders, for example. Improving one’s sleep patterns and getting better rest on a regular basis can have an astounding effect on mental health and wellness. Other mental and emotional issues that can be dealt with through this medical practice are:

• ·     Panic disorders
• ·     Depression
• ·     PTSD
• ·     Grief

These, in addition to numerous other psychological issues, can be treated using this time tested method of therapy.

A Few Final Thoughts

No one should have to suffer from crippling or chronic mental health problems that leave them feeling helpless and alone. We live in a time when we are finally beginning to understand the depths and severity of many emotional issues, as well as how to properly and effectively treat them. The long-term stigmas that have been attached to multiple disorders are finally beginning to be erased and people are embracing a wider range of potential treatment options to live healthy and happy lives.

Consider giving acupuncture a chance as a complimentary treatment to more traditional care. You might be surprised at just how much it helps.

Photo by pexels