New year, new you – this is the most exciting time of the year for seniors because it can be a great way to start thinking about goals. After all, no one is too young or old to achieve their new year’s resolution!
Here are 15 easy New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors!
Eat Healthier
Eating healthier is a great New Year’s resolution for seniors to have. Did you know that one third of adults 20 and over consume fast food on a given day?1
Here are a few ways seniors can eat healthier:
- Cook more at home
- Replace soda with sparkling water
- Eat wheat bread instead of white bread
- Limit sweets and desserts to once a week
- Fill half your plate filled with fruits and veggies
Start a Journal
For seniors who love to write, journaling can be one way for them to express their thoughts and unlock their creativity. A journal can be about anything – life, your surroundings, or fiction.
Getting in the habit of writing every day can be one way that seniors can get creative and organize their thoughts. A notebook and a pen are the only things required for someone who aspires to start journaling every day!
Explore a new hobby
Many seniors have dreams that they might not have had the time to explore when taking care of their kids and other responsibilities. Now is a great time to consider picking up a new hobby, especially if there is something that you’ve always wanted to do.
Some ways seniors can explore a new hobby:
- Take a class in your local community
- Join a group that is dedicated to the hobby
- Find friends who have similar goals and explore together
- Pay for an online course
Make a New Friend
Making a new friend is always a great goal for anyone to have any time of the year! Friends can help seniors get through good times and bad, as well as support them through their goals and dreams.
Seniors can make friends in their local community. Some ideas include talking to people in the neighborhood, getting involved with church or volunteer efforts, meeting people in local classes, or talking to people when you are out at the park and other places.
Exercise More
It is recommended by most health professionals for adults to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Exercise can help keep a senior’s body healthy as they age, as well as help them to strengthen their muscles to protect themselves from health conditions.
Some easy exercises seniors can get into include:
- Walking
- Running
- Yoga
- Biking
- Dancing
- Swimming
Read More
One New Year’s goal that can help seniors enrich their lives is by reading more. Reading is a great way to experience different cultures, people, and scenarios. There are many books, from fantasy to historical, so you can find a book that best matches your interests.
Since many seniors live on a fixed income, the library is a great place to access many titles. Local libraries can also offer unique opportunities such as reading groups that can help seniors socialize with people who have similar book interests to them.
Volunteer More
Volunteering can be a great way for seniors to get involved in the community and help out with a cause that they care about! There are many ways to volunteer, from donating a few hours to host a drive or helping to run an event.
Many churches, local organizations, and shelters are always in need of extra help. Seniors can go online and look for a cause they care about to find ways that they can become more involved.
Save Money
Many seniors live on a fixed income, with many often participating in a part time job to help pay for some extras. Other seniors are still involved in their careers, whether they decide to give back as a teacher or continue to work in their dream job.
Regardless of how a senior currently is living, saving money is a great goal at any age. Seniors can learn how to budget their life to protect their savings and keep their homes.
Spend more time with family
Another great New Year’s resolution for seniors is spending more time with family. Oftentimes, seniors can be busy traveling and pursing their dreams; however, there’s nothing like spending time with family.
A few ways to spend more time with family include:
- Designing a family day where the entire family meets up and gets lunch once a week
- Planning fun parties and inviting family members as guests
- Going to community events more often
Travel More
Many seniors have always dreamed of seeing the world, and now more than ever, there will be more time for them to travel. Traveling can be a great way to explore other cultures and learn more about how other societies are structured.
However, for seniors on a budget, traveling doesn’t have to be out of the country. There are many local cities to visit, and even driving two hours away to another major city will have different things to sightsee and do. Other states can make a great trip for seniors who have never traveled much outside of where they live.
Limit Screen Time
The average person in the world spends 6 hours and 38 minutes per day on screens.2 With that in mind, that’s a lot of time people spend in front of their television, phone, and other devices.
Seniors can make limiting their screen time a New Year’s Resolution for this year. A few ways seniors can limit their screen time include:
- Using an app to track screen time
- Turning off cell phone when doing activities that do not require a screen
- Doing different hobbies instead of watching Tv
- Go outside more often, which will limit the temptation to use electronic devices
- Plan more time with friends to avoid excessive screen time
Learn to Bake
For seniors who love food, baking is a fun skill that can help them enjoy treats all year long! There are many different fun recipes to try, and baking can be a great way for seniors to enjoy different flavors.
To start baking, check out the equipment in your home and purchase any items you might be missing. You should make an ingredient list every time you go shopping. If you’re brand new to baking, it is always helpful to have someone more experienced help you to avoid rookie mistakes.
Master a New Language
Many seniors are interested in other cultures, and learning a new language can be one way that they can become better immersed in another country’s media. Seniors can start learning a new language with language books and materials such as movies that can be played back in other languages.
There may be local classes that offer different languages in your area as well. Many community colleges and universities will offer discounts to seniors as well, which can help seniors continue their education at an affordable price.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most important skills that seniors can work on in the new year. It can be a good way to focus on the good things in their lives, even though the world has changed since they were young.
Some things seniors can practice gratitude for include:
- Family and friends
- Good health
- A warm, comfortable home
- Their belongings
- Delicious meals
Attend More Events
There are so many fun events happening in the area, from festivals to holiday parties. One New Year’s resolution for seniors could be to go out and attend more events in the community.
Seniors can grab a friend or two to come to the event with them. However, going alone shouldn’t deter someone from trying to go out; there are many experiences that seniors can have by themselves. They may even meet a new friend along the way.
Recycle More
Recycling is important for keeping the planet green and reducing unnecessary waste. Many seniors may know the basics of recycling, and getting used to recycling can be a great way to continue the habit.
Here are some easy ways to recycle more:
- Make a habit of throwing paper into the recycle bin
- Clean out all jars before recycling them
- Taking time to throw plastic bottles into a recycling bin instead of the trash
- Set up multiple bins for different products (paper, glass, etc).
- Take electronics and other hazardous materials to facilities that can process them
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