How Seniors Can Stay Mentally Fit After Retirement

Last year 28.6 million Americans retired. While for many this is a cause for celebration, some are worried that retirement will spur cognitive decline due to the lack of activity. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be the case for every retiree. In fact, there are many ways that seniors can still keep their mental (and physical) acuity, without having to compromise the relaxation of retirement! Here are a few of them:

Adopt a Pet

Aside from providing companionship, pets have been proven to help seniors stick to a routine that encourages movement and socialization. In fact, a recent national poll on Healthy Aging established that 73% of seniors with pets felt like their lives had more meaning. At the same time, pets have been known to lower anxiety levels and increase serotonin production. All of this helps to keep seniors calmer, happier, and more alert.

Alternatively, if you can’t take on the responsibilities of being a pet owner, you can still enjoy the company of the animals at your local shelter. These establishments are often in need of volunteers, so you’ll be doing them a favor.

Join a Fitness Program

Exercise is important at every age. But in your senior years, the benefits of exercise on your cognitive wellness are significantly compounded. A study on ScienceDaily reveals that even a single session of exercise can improve brain activity in older adults. What’s more, aside from boosting happy hormones in the body, seniors have shown signs of improved memory with regular exercise.

Therefore, retirees should include two to three fitness classes every week. These can be something low-impact like yoga or more cardio-intensive like weight training. To ensure that your exercise is safe and effective, consider hiring a personal coach.

Take Up a Part-Time Job

It seems counterintuitive to keep working after retirement. But there are plenty of perks to taking on a part-time job as a senior. In one of their guides for older adults, finance publication AskMoney outlines how part-time work can provide seniors with motivation, purpose, and enhanced independence. Depending on your previous career and how much time you can dedicate as a retiree, you can find work in various industries like retail, education, and childcare wherein your life experience will be valuable.

Aside from padding your pension, part-time work helps you retain the hard and soft skills you’ve picked up over the years as well.

Join a Social Group

Featured research from the National Institute on Aging states that retirement is one of the most common reasons for senior loneliness. This, in turn, has been shown to cause cognitive issues, depression, and even heart disease.

To prevent this, make time to socialize. You can do this by joining gatherings or signing up at your local senior center. This consistent social interaction will keep your mind actively engaged. Since you’re also likely to be swapping stories at these meetings, your memory will be regularly exercised. If you have mobility or transportation issues, you could also host video calls with loved ones.

Although it’s understandable to be afraid of cognitive decline, we at Find Continuing Care advise that you shouldn’t let it cast a dark cloud over your retirement. Instead, try to adopt these healthy habits that can keep mental concerns at bay while ensuring that you enjoy your golden years to the fullest.