Every year it seems to be the tradition that many people make New Year’s resolutions. So, what is a New Year’s Resolution and why are they made? According to Wikipedia a New Year’s resolution is defined as “a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their life.”
The most common New Year’s Resolutions that are made each year are: exercise more, lose weight, get organized, learn a new skill or hobby, and save more money/spend less money. You may be asking yourself, “What are some of the New Year’s Resolutions that you can set for yourself when living in an assisted living facility?” Here are some ideas to help you set up your 2021.
1. Bring more kindness into the world
Do you remember the last time someone displayed a kind gesture and how it made you feel? As humans we rely on emotional connections and interactions with others to help us develop social behavior. Though 2020 has been a different and tough year with the pandemic and adjusting to the “new” normal of social distancing; kindness is something that everyone can use in the New Year! Each week write a nice note to someone. This note can be thanking someone for being a good friend, words of encouragement, or recognition for a good deed. Be a part of lifting the spirits of others.
2. Become a proud plant owner
Owning a plant(s) will benefit your health and well-being. Being a plant owner will help boost your mood and productivity, reduce stress, reduce fatigue, help clean the indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity, and producing oxygen. Flowers generate happiness with increased levels of positive energy to help you feel secure and relaxed.
What plants are great indoor plants?
- Best Low Maintenance Indoor Plant: Marble Queen Pothos
- Best Indoor Plant for Low Light: ZZ Plant
- Best Plant for Small Spaces: Snake Plant
- Best Flowering Indoor Plant: Anthurium
- Best Indoor Plant for Pet Owners: Bird’s Nest Fern
What plants are the best if you do not have the “green thumb”?
- Spider Plant
- Philodendron
- Boson Fern
- Jade Plant
- Snake Plant
3. Get a New Hobby
Hobbies are not just activities for one to do for their own enjoyment. Having a hobby has many benefits for seniors, such as: keeps you busy and engaged, improves self-esteem, improves thinking ability, and improves motor skills. Find the hobby that most interest you and that you enjoy! You want to be excited to set aside time for something that you enjoy. Having trouble with figuring out what new hobby to start? Well, here are a few ideas for you:
- Join a Book Club
- Crafting
- Crossword Puzzles
- Crocheting/Knitting
- Journaling/Writing
4. Read at Least One Book a Month
Need an escape? Ready to travel without leaving your living space? Read an exciting new book each month to explore the world around you. There are so many books that will take you on an adventure, give you the thrill of a mystery that you love, make you fall in love with romance, or give you the taste of life that you have been craving with a good cookbook! Reading will help you relax, reduce stress, improves your memory and concentration along with improving your imagination.
5. Invest in Your Health
Help exercise your mind, body, and soul by staying active this year! Staying active help with mobility by keeping the body flexible, strengthen the heart by keeping the heart muscles in shape, and is a benefit for mental health by being a natural mood enhancer.
What exercise can be done to help you stay active?
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Walking
- Tai Chi
- Chair Exercises
Are you ready to leave 2020 behind and bring in the New Year? Be ready with your New Year’s Resolutions and a smile! Be ready to leave the 2020 mindset behind and ready to spread kindness and happiness to the world in 2021.
At Culpepper Place we are ready to bring in the New Year with love and with a smile. You may be wondering how Culpepper Place of Olive Branch is celebrating the New Year with their residents? Contact our assisted living community to see what we have planned!
