How Mindfulness Can Protect You as You Age
Wait… where did I leave my car keys again?
In recent years, there has been a surge of academic interest in the subject of mindful aging.
Study after study has proven many mental, physical, and emotional benefits of mindfulness for older adults.
This infographic from Be Independent Home Care offers an easy-to-understand, yet incredibly informative guide to mindful aging.
What Is Mindful Aging?
Many western societies solely emphasize the negative aspects of aging.
The practice of mindful aging encourages people to accept rather than fear the realities of getting older.
Mindful aging aims to tackle pessimistic attitudes by reframing older age as a time of new opportunity rather than one of decrepitude and decline.
There is also a physical aspect, as a key part of mindful aging centers on engaging in regular activity and exercise.
A holistic approach to your health will provide better results in the long run, as you strengthen and deepen the bonds between bodily and mental systems.
The Effects of Mindfulness on Older Adults
Numerous research studies have established clear links between mindfulness and improved wellbeing.
In fact, mindfulness has a diverse range of positive physical and emotional outcomes among those aged 65+ such as:
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Improved memory retention
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Reduced stress and anxiety levels
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Lower blood pressure
How to Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Day
Here are three simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine:
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Try to meditate for at least 10 minutes a day (if you need some help learning how to meditate, check out the services I provide!)
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Change your language surrounding your aging, instead of saying, “I’m too old for this…” try “this might be harder for me, but I want to try anyway!”
Language shapes the way we view the world and can be a powerful tool towards changing your point of view.
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Find a community of like-minded people.
Everything is easier when you feel as though you are part of a group, especially growing older!
Find Out More About Mindful Aging
If you are interested in learning more about how mindfulness facilitates positive aging, then you should certainly take a closer look at this infographic and even do your own research into the topic!
This useful guide provides a good introduction to the subject and offers up a wealth of science-backed pointers on how to practice mindful aging.
If you need a little extra help meditating, or aren’t sure where to start, check out some of the services I provide!
From my home studio in Tampa Bay I offer yoga and meditation classes (both personal and corporate), as well as workshops for MBSR.
If you’re not in the Tampa Bay area I have several online classes available through Zoom Meeting.
Be sure to follow me @lotusheartmindfulness on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more mindfulness inspiration!
