Regardless of your age, it’s always a good time to learn something new. Fun hobbies or academic classes can introduce people to helpful new ways of enjoying their lives, but many people forget that mindfulness is an excellent resource, too.
A mindfulness practice may be especially beneficial for older adults who struggle with challenges that don’t always have upfront solutions. If you’re a senior, here’s how practicing mindfulness can make your life better.
It shines new light on your routines
People who don’t live mindfulness-centred lives rarely check in with themselves. They fall into routines that get them through each day, but may not benefit their mental, physical or spiritual health.
Mindfulness will immediately improve your daily experience by shining some light on how you currently live. Once you reflect on how each part of your day makes you feel, you’ll better understand what problems you can tackle in order to experience greater joy.
For example, attempting to be more mindful about your thoughts may shine a light on how negatively you think about yourself. This is something that would’ve otherwise seemed like a normal, unaddressed part of your life.
It addresses anxiety
Anxiety affects people at every stage of life. It can come from your career, the people you know or the social activities you start during retirement. Fortunately, practicing mindfulness will allow you to address anxiety and keep it at bay in a few different ways.
Many people start their mindfulness journey by learning how to slow their heart rate through breathing exercises. Slow breaths will reduce your heart rate, ultimately slowing the fight-or-flight response that’s often initiated during tense situations.
Mindfulness routines also include new activities that make anxiety attacks or symptoms less frequent. Taking an evening walk, engaging in a calming hobby or staying away from electronics are all great mindfulness-based techniques for older adults to try.
It improves sleep
Many people take sleeping for granted, but it might become more difficult to wake up feeling rested as you get older. Research shows that more than 50 percent of older adults have insomnia related to their age and their changing physical health. It’s a frustrating problem that can be challenging to address.
Add some mindful meditation to your nightly routine when you feel like you’ve tried everything else to fall asleep. Many older adults choose to start the body scan technique after turning out the lights. This technique combines slow breathing with telling your body parts to relax with each exhale. Working through them one at a time will ground your mind and calm your body, making it much easier to fall asleep and stay that way.
It helps people grieve
People lose loved ones during any stage of life, but older adults will more commonly encounter loss. It can be helpful to lean into a mindfulness practice as you grapple with your family and friends passing away.
Mindfulness teaches people to embrace their feelings, rather than running from them or boxing them away. Sitting in a quiet space and giving yourself 10 minutes to turn inward is an excellent place to start. Think about how your most recent loss has affected you and process those heavy emotions by sitting with them.
Bring your mind back to a place of balance when your 10 minutes end. Repeating this short practice as often as you can comfortably handle it will encourage your mind to process your grief healthily, so you won’t have to live with overwhelming depression, anxiety or anger.
It stops depressive thought spirals
Depression affects people of all ages, and it can become more severe when you’re older because life is constantly changing. Typically, your career will come to a close, people you know will pass away and you may not know how to find your identity in retirement.
No matter what influences your depression, starting a mindfulness practice can help. It’ll ground you in your thoughts, which will make your stream of consciousness more apparent. You’ll be able to actively spot negative thought spirals before they trap you in a depressive episode.
Mindfulness also teaches people how to replace negative thinking with positive thoughts. By practicing mindfulness, you’ll reinforce those feelings every day and eventually turn them into a healthy habit. Thinking good things won’t completely erase depression, but it’s an excellent tool that can improve your daily experience, alongside any recommended treatments from your doctor.
It makes meals more enjoyable
Your preferred foods will likely change with age. Taste buds are always shifting, so some people find that the meals and snacks they used to love become less enjoyable as they get older.
Mindfulness brings each flavour to mind as you take a bite, which leads to a greater enjoyment of food in general, and it’s also helpful if you’re encountering more digestive problems as you age. Savouring each bite encourages additional chewing, which means food will be broken down into more digestible portions when it enters your stomach.
When you’re mindfully attuned to your eating patterns, you’ll also recognize when your stomach starts getting upset at a specific time during your meal. This may help you figure out if you’re more lactose-intolerant or sensitive to high-fibre foods than you were when you were younger.
It facilitates friendships
Meeting new people is challenging for adults at any point in their post-graduate lives. You’re no longer jumping between different classrooms of people like you were in high school or college, and you’re likely stuck in the same social circle at work and at home.
Luckily, the umbrella of mindfulness includes numerous activities that make it easier to form relationships as an adult. You could join meditation classes during the week or sign up for Yoga sessions on the weekend. Maybe you’d love to try mindful hiking with a local group once a week. Even a book club would be considered a mindful activity, because you’ll focus your thoughts on one book while learning what you like or dislike.
It connects people with their spiritual side
Many people also connect their mindfulness practices with their spirituality. Meeting together in a place of worship and singing is a common grounding activity. Discussing spiritual topics and praying for each other is also affirming.
Spirituality can be comforting as you age, whether you’re interested in a major religion or simply connecting with the universe. You’ll feel more fulfilled and even reassured about whatever your future holds. Focusing on your values and beliefs to make spirituality a foundational part of your life, while participating in your mindfulness group or activity, can be extremely beneficial.
Mindfulness and older adults
These are a few common ways a mindfulness practice benefits older adults, and you may discover even more once you get started. Changing your routine with simple adjustments like eating more slowly, trying a new, quiet hobby or breathing deeply throughout your day will enable you to connect more deeply with your inner self and make life more fulfilling as you age.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians. Please refer to the full text of our medical disclaimer.
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