Setting Goals in the New Year for the Elderly
New Year Goals > New Year Resolution
You obviously don’t have to wait until a new year to positively change your life. However, it can be easier to initiate goals and resolutions when a time frame is in place as it can help you to focus your efforts. Setting goals in the new year can give you a boost that the coming year is going to be different and that you can achieve the things you want to achieve. But is it worth making resolutions when you’re older? According to Columbia University, it is. “There is no wrong age to make a New Year’s resolution. In fact, looking forward to the future is a hallmark of good mental health.” We can all find it hard to motivate ourselves sometimes, and it can be even more difficult if you’re living with age-related frailties or a condition that makes daily life more difficult. But making some plans and resolutions, even on a small scale, can make the new year seem like a new start and an opportunity for personal growth.
Why Is It Better to Have a Goal to Work Towards?
Having a purpose and wanting to look forward is a good way to prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation from manifesting into depression, according to Columbia University. “Promising to make an improvement is something you can look forward to for yourself…Having something to look forward to is vital for mental health at any age.” Everyone has periods in their life when they feel demotivated, which is why having something to look forward to or a specific change in mind can be beneficial.
What Are Some Good New Year Goals For The Elderly?
Age UK tells us that “29% of us plan to make New Year’s resolutions” this year, which is a significant number of people. However, is it worth it? The answer can be a resounding ‘yes’, but only if you set realistic goals. “If our resolutions are too vague, it might feel difficult to put them into practice,” says psychotherapist Georgina Sturmer in the same article. If they are unrealistic, we might struggle to know where to start.”
Fitness Related Goals
It’s important to check with a healthcare practitioner before embarking on a new exercise plan, but becoming more active can be beneficial to physical and mental health. Even just walking around your home or garden more than usual can help and give you confidence to walk a little further. Joining a low-impact class online or in person is also an option.
Social Related Goals
Group activities can be valuable for everyone, as we all need social interaction at times. Crafts shared in a safe and friendly environment, a choir that sings in a favourite style or a book group can be enjoyable ways to meet new people or share activities with existing companions. Even if you just enjoy having a chat over a coffee, it’s still valuable socialisation.
Family Related Goals
Sharing time with precious family members can be very enjoyable, and pledging to spend more time with them can be a positive change. Making sure that you are all on the same page about what you expect is important though; for instance, you may be presuming a family member is going to stay all day, whereas they’re planning to pop in on their lunch hour.
Food Related Goals
Eating a healthier diet is probably one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but it’s one that can be achievable once all the Christmas nibbles are finished! Cutting down on saturated fat and sugar will undoubtedly do us all good, so ask your GP if you can chat with your surgery’s health coach about making better food choices this year.
How Helping Hands Help You Achieve Your Goals
Helping Hands offer adults of all ages the expert care and support they need to live independently at home. We deliver visiting and live-in care designed to your specifications, creating a bespoke package that will ensure you receive the very highest standards of care and support at all times. We’ll work with you and your family to help you achieve your goals, whether that’s beginning some exercise, making the most of your local area or starting a new activity. Because we’ve been delivering exceptional home care since we were established in 1989, we are the natural choice for care in your home across England and Wales. We have family values at our core, and because all of our care is endorsed and regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, you’ll always be in the very best hands. Looking after loved ones means everything to us – and we’ll care for you as if you’re family. With such values at the heart of everything we do, it’s no wonder we’re one of the most respected home care providers in the UK.
