I was asked by Porch.com to be an ‘expert’ contributor to one of their articles. The overarching topic… Creating a Positive Environment at Home: Tips from the Experts. The question they posed to me was, what are your top 3 habits to practice at home to promote positive aging?
I sat with this question for a few days thinking… and thinking…and thinking…
Positive aging is a big job, right? How do I sift it all down to 3 habits one could explore while at home?
After much contemplation, the following three are what I came up with.
Incorporate more movement!
It’s true, if you don’t use it, you can lose it AND you can also train to regain and enhance movement, so, incorporate more movement into your life!
Some activity is better than no activity. If you have a chronic condition, begin by doing what you can, and then incorporate a little more as you become more comfortable in your strong body. Honestly listen to yourself and you will know how much (or how little) to do. And, of course, if you need help, partner with an Active Aging Specialist.
Movement comes in many forms. Household chores like lifting laundry baskets, vacuuming, reorganizing shelves, dusting, gardening, or mowing the lawn count as physical activity. You can incorporate exercise to get your heart pumping, like dancing, resistance training or bodyweight high-intensity interval training too!
Stand up and breathe.
If you are not in the habit of purposefully breathing, you are missing out! Re-learning to stand up and breathe deeply can shift your whole perspective.
Try standing in front of a mirror, what do you see (besides an incredible person)? Be brave and look closely at yourself. Can you feel the ground below you? Notice how you use your strong legs to support your whole body. Check how your torso stacks over your hips. What do you notice about your overall comfort as you stand? Now, notice your breath. Do you use your chest or your belly? Is your breath slow and easy, or is it forced and sharp? Do you breathe with an open or closed mouth? Take time to notice.
Place your hands gently around your rib cage to bring awareness to how it moves as you breathe. At first, you may only notice your hands at the front of your ribs move. What happens when you shift your focus to fill up the back of your lungs, so your back ribs expand and contract too?
Be Kind to Yourself.
Talk to yourself like you would a dear friend. When you can be kind to yourself, you are loving yourself. You are doing the best that you can, and you are more than enough. And you are loved.
If you were asked the same question, what would you have come up with?
Drop a comment below to share your habits to promote healthy aging.
You are loved, Nicole
ps. Click the button below to read the full article.
Nicole A. Vienneau MSN, RN, NC-BC
Active Aging Specialist
Nicole Vienneau achieved a Master’s in Nursing Science from the University of Arizona, a board certification in Integrative Nurse Coaching from the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, and is Senior Faculty with the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy.
She is a Functional Aging Specialist, personal trainer, yoga teacher, and group fitness instructor and a retired Reebok-sponsored Fitness Athlete. When she’s not coaching clients or writing blogs, or hosting the Integrative Nurse Coaches in ACTION! Podcast, you can find her teaching active older adult fitness classes, volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association, lounging in the sun with her cat babies, or on a hike with her awesome husband.
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