New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors


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Updated: December 7, 2017

new years resolutions for seniors toward better health

New Years Resolutions are a great way to reevaluate your life and situations, so set some goals for the new year!

Bright with promise, a new year is a perfect time to start fresh and establish some new habits. It may be hard to change some habits in older adults; however, it is never too late to try and create a healthier, happier lifestyle. Psychologists recommend that you are more likely to succeed in your resolutions if you keep a few of these tips in mind. So, give these suggestions a try this New Year’s and reap the health benefits!

How to Succeed in Your New Year’s Resolutions

  • Don’t try to go it alone. Share your goals with a friend or relative that will hold you accountable. If you are in senior living, share it with others you live with to see if they will participate too. Everything is better with a friend and they can help you stay accountable!
  • Set goals that are manageable and achievable in terms of your time and finances.
  • Chart your progress on a calendar or have a visual photo of your goal handy.
  • Give yourself some credit for small victories throughout the process and don’t be hard on yourself if you have a set-back.
  • Don’t give up too easily. On average, it takes 66 days to form a new habit.

Below are some achievable goals for seniors, regardless of health problems they may have,  all of which can help to bring you closer to your family members.

Achievable New Year’s Goals for Seniors

  • Do you have some family recipes that you have been keeping to yourself? Has your granddaughter been pestering you to show her how you make your famous apple pie?  Now is the time to share!  Recipes which have been passed down from one generation to the next provide families with a powerful trigger of happy times gathered around the kitchen table and help keep the memories of those no longer with you alive.
  • Set a goal to increase your exercise in the new year. This can be as simple as purchasing a pedometer and vowing to walk a certain number of steps each day.  Include your loved ones in your efforts by asking them to join you on walks around the neighborhood or at the local mall. This will make your health care provider very happy!
  • Pass the fine art of letter writing down to the next generation by writing letters to some of your loved ones. Vow to send handwritten birthday cards and thank you notes throughout the year as well.
  • Learn more about the technology your family is using. Did you know that Fast Company magazine has reported that people age 55 to 64 are the fastest growing demographic on Twitter, with use in that age group increasing by 79% since 2012?  Additionally, since 2012, use by that age group has grown 46% on Facebook and 56% on Google+!  Even if you are unfamiliar with these technologies, you can learn them.  You will bond with a tech savvy family member as they help you set up your accounts, and once you have learned how to use them, you’ll be able to better keep in touch with the younger members of your family.
  • Vow to have some tough conversations with your family that you have been putting off. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to draw up a will, name an executor, and discuss plans for your future with your loved ones.
  • Revisit an old hobby you may have given up if your health allows. If this activity made you happy in the past, it can certainly brighten up your current life.
  • Rekindle a past friendship with someone you’ve lost touch with. Perhaps, they are wishing to do the same.
  • Make healthier food decisions. Perhaps swapping-out your daily dessert with some healthy almond milk once in a while or adding more fruits and vegetables in your diet. It’s never too late to make smart food decisions.

Whichever New Year’s resolution you choose, Medical Alert Advice wishes you much success!