We all want to enjoy an active retirement, but when the temperature drops it can be tempting to curl up inside for the long, cold winter months. However, our natural inclination to withdraw may not be good for our overall health. Choosing a retirement community that offers many social activities and opportunities to get outside, can help boost your overall mood and your enjoyment of the season.
What are some great ways to lift your mood and stay active during your retirement? Here are five great ways to do just that:
1) Get outside! Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean that you can’t be active outside if you dress appropriately. Go ice skating, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing at a designated park. Even just a brisk walk that gets you out of the house and into the open air and light can lift your mood and improve your overall health.
2) Spend time in the fitness center. If it’s just too cold outside, consider making everyday fitness a part of your routine by visiting your retirement community’s fitness center or joining a gym. Active living is key, however you manage to work it in.
3) Turn on the lights. Getting a light box and sitting in front of it for 30 minutes a day while you read or do other activities can be as powerful to lifting your mood as exercise. If possible, you may also want to consider swapping out your existing light bulbs with energy efficient, fell-spectrum LED bulbs that mimic sunlight.
4) Enjoy more social activities. Spending time with others – whether sharing a meal, playing a game of cards, or joining a book club – can help you beat the winter blahs. Those with fulfilling social lives have been known to live longer, healthier lives than those who feel socially isolated.
5) Engage in activities outside your home at least a few times a week. If you aren’t feeling social, you should still make it a point to get out of the house several times a week to keep active during your retirement. Go out for a massage, attend a sporting event, or go on a shopping trip.
Choose just a few of these activities every week to stay active this winter season, and you too may just beat the winter blues!
