New Year's Resolutions for Seniors - My Segment on Charlotte Today

Resolutions for Seniors

Resolutions give purpose because essentially they provide goals to achieve. That helps you live longer. Studies have shown that purpose is more indicative of longevity than gender, race, or education. More important than decreasing risk of death than drinking, smoking, or exercising regularly.

We need to think deeper about our resolutions and the actions we take around them. So much has changed over the last few years – political divides, financial pressures – that people, I know my wife and I did, started questioning everything. The nature of relationships changed. We realized how much we missed family. It’s a good time to step back. What happened for us is that we realized how great our life was and how grateful we were. I have been with a lot of older adults and have observed eight traits that contribute to them having a quality of life. Gratefulness is at the top of the list.

The other things also point to resolutions and goals you can set. Move naturally. People in Blue Zones, where it has been shown that people live to much older ages than the rest of the world, don’t set exercise goals. They just build movement into their day, achieving the same thing we sweat at the gym to do. Set a goal to be more physically active. If you want, join a dance class or exercise class. Just move. Part and parcel to that is to be eating healthier in the New Year. Laugh more. Laughter has almost the same benefits as exercise and ignites that same chemical reaction in your body. Boost your brain – lifelong learning is key to aging with quality. Having a hobby can help with that. Taking a class in person or online can help too. Reading more can help as well. Social isolation is an epidemic among older adults. 36% of those 55+ live alone. If you are one of them then find ways to break the isolation, perhaps volunteering. And if you are not one of those people, find those who are isolated and strike up a friendship. Finally, having a great attitude can do so much to help you. Meditation, nature walks – these can help you become more centered, grounded, grateful and feeling better about life.