“Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey
It’s a time for new beginnings and a time to dream big. Oprah says it’s another chance to get it right. No matter what getting “it right” looks like for you, we can all agree there are things we can do better in the New Year. At Leisure Care, we are committed to helping all of our residents achieve their life goals – all year round. This is the perfect time of year to reflect on your own life goals and create a game plan for making those goals a reality!
Tips for Setting Life Goals
New Year’s Resolutions are notorious for being broken. In fact, nearly 50% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions but only about 8% actually achieve their resolution. But, it doesn’t have to like that. Set a SMART (specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic, and time-based) goal and hold yourself accountable to meet your goal.
Additional guidelines for setting life goals include:
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- Knowing your “why” behind your goal
- Ridding yourself of negative thoughts and think positively about your achievement
- Breaking large goals into smaller goals and celebrate each time you hit a smaller goal
- Setting weekly appointments with yourself or a trusted friend to take an honest look at your progress
- Letting go of perfection and move continually in the direction of your goals, learning from mistakes
- Placing yourself in an environment that encourages you to succeed
- Telling people about your goals and let them help you on your journey.
5 New Years Resolutions for Seniors
1. Update essential documents
Updating (or creating!) essential documents is an important to-do item that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of every day. From living wills to end of life wishes to financial documents and medication lists – it’s all important but can seem unnecessary until an emergency occurs. These documents are often disorganized or left undone and when the family needs them, it’s often too late. Make this year the year you get organized and have those tough (but necessary) conversations with family and friends about the future.
2. Eat healthier and exercise more
Eating healthy and moving your body are key principles to aging well. At Leisure Care, our dining program serves seasonal and nutritious food to keep residents healthy and well-nourished while our PrimeFit program is specifically designed to help seniors move safely and have fun while doing it! Check in with your local gym or senior center and ask about fitness classes to make your health a priority this year.
3. Commit to using one new piece of technology
Technology changes so fast and it is so hard to keep up with the latest and greatest. That’s why we recommend choosing one new technology to learn this year. A tablet is a great place to start and will help you connect with family and friends throughout the year.
4. Start downsizing
This is a great resolution for seniors who want to start thinking about a move to senior living. Many seniors have lived in their homes for decades and have a home full of possessions. If your family is together for the holidays, set aside time to start downsizing.
5. Explore senior living options
The months following the holidays are a great time to consider moving to senior living. Invite family and friends to tour communities with you and write down what you want in a senior living community. What amenities will you need? What kind of location do you want to live in? Start the process now and make this the the year you invest in your future.
Have you decided on your New Year’s resolutions? What life goals will you achieve this coming year? Let us know – we’d love to help you make those goals a reality!
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Better with age, exceptional with us! Come and see how Leisure Care communities are helping seniors rediscover (and sometimes reinvent) themselves.
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