If you spend most of the day alone as an older adult, here’s a comforting truth: you’re not the only one. According to Pew Research Center, on average, adults 60 years and older pass more than half their waking hours by themselves. But while solitude can have detrimental effects on health and well-being, especially later in life, time alone isn’t necessarily wrong. You can turn privacy into a meaningful stretch that fosters joy, personal growth, and improved health. Here’s how to make the hours alone anything but lonely during the senior years:
Grow Spiritually
There’s no time like the senior years to explore religion and spirituality, and it’s an ideal activity to do alone in the quiet space of the home. The movement will fill time in a deep and gratifying way. Still, you may also reap broader benefits, like increased positivity, improved coping skills for aging challenges, and even longer life. Some convenient and effective ways to practice being spiritual include spending time in prayer, meditating, journaling, and listening to inspirational music.
Rediscover Books
Remember how much you liked books in your younger years? Reading as a senior adult can be just as enjoyable, plus it helps combat cognitive decline, stress, and loneliness. If you haven’t kept up a reading habit through the years, consider starting with a favorite book from the past. Of course, the sky’s the limit in the book world, so choose whatever reading material engages your mind. Large-print editions and audiobooks are ideal options for those with age-related eye problems.
Tend to Health
Aging can wreak havoc on your health if you don’t tend to your body and mind regularly. But solitude offers a distraction-free opportunity to nurture well-being. So dust off your exercise machine, get moving, or walk outdoors and enjoy a healthy boost of fresh air. For mobility-limited, chair exercises are a safe alternative. And don’t neglect activities for the brain, like a jigsaw and word puzzles, memory games, or learning new ways to cook and eat nutritiously.
Silently Serve
Helping and doing something nice for others brings much peace and purpose, and you don’t have to leave the house to serve. Start a knitting project for a grandchild, plot out a fundraising event for a neighbor in need, or prepare food for a grieving friend. You might hone your letter-writing skills by crafting words of encouragement to people in difficult situations, like prison inmates or hospital patients. Find your serving niche and cultivate the gift of giving while spending time alone.
Get Ambitious
Have you always wanted to learn a new skill, dig deeper into a subject area, or explore a different method of thought? Maybe it’s time to forge ahead. Take an independent study course, delve into critical thinking on a topic of interest, or jot down a plan for accomplishing a feat on your bucket list. You won’t just gain knowledge and satisfaction from pursuing your ambitions; you’ll grow your talents and confidence, which can translate to a happier, more fulfilling life.
Daydream
If you like to daydream for fun, there’s even more reason to do it. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that certain types of daydreams promote creativity and a positive mood, enhancing the well-being of older adults. To get the most out of your daydreaming adventure, find a quiet, comfortable place to begin, choose a meaningful topic, and determine what you want to achieve from the session.
Don’t let time alone devolve into loneliness and distress. Instead, use the hours to improve the senior experience. Besides learning to enjoy those periods of solitude, you’ll be more energized and engaged when gathering with friends and family.
To receive more information about Anchorage Assisted Living that encompasses these care ideas, please contact us today!
