With women more likely to be left widowed in their later years, it’s important for them to maintain mental and physical health, especially without the encouragement or attention of a spouse. Don’t let this go unsaid between you and your mother, your sister, or your friend. Remaining active, physically and intellectually, is one of the best ways to stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other mental deterioration.
These simple tips are just a few of the everyday-ways to stay on track:
Be Socially Active. The easiest way to stay on point is to visit with friends and relatives regularly. Any group activities, or contact with the outside world at all, will engage the brain (especially in social butterfly girls!) Bowling, lunch, and movies with friends activates your thinking skills even if you don’t know it. Think about--a few weeks cooped up alone would drive anyone crazy!
Exercise. Keeping the body active is always a good idea, but studies show that regular routines (especially socially engaging ones, like aerobic and yoga classes) can increase cognition. Plus, it’s better for your body’s overall function if you can stay flexible and fit, so you can go out and enjoy yourself for more than one exhausting hour.
Do weekly puzzles, games, and articles. If you think about, engaging your brain is easy. Stimulation is all around us these days. The internet is a great resource for games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and other timed or strategy-driven exercises. It never hurts to increase your vocabulary with a good word game! And don’t forget to regularly read about topics that you care about. Set news alerts to email you every time an article is published that contains a specific keyword. Not only will you keep up with what interests you, but reading is an excellent way to keep your mind moving.
Try new things. Even if it’s just a different route to the grocery store. Deviating from the regular will keep you fresh and newly stimulated each day. Switch up the type of music you play in your car, prepare a new recipe for dinner, or sign up to learn about something you know nothing about. If you’re brave, volunteer for a needy organization. Or, for the less mobile, join an online community that operates a special interest forum, needs expert advice, or has work-from-home job opportunities.