Seniors, like everyone else, need fun activities to combat boredom and promote overall well-being. Engaging in activities for seniors can exercise the mind and relieve stress. Senior living communities, like Convivial St. Petersburg coming soon to St. Petersburg, Florida, will prioritize the happiness of their members. They provide meaningful ways to keep them entertained and healthy. Members enjoy a variety of social activities and engagement opportunities that foster a vibrant, low-stress lifestyle.
Indoor activities are ideal, as they are not affected by inclement weather. Better yet, they are suitable for all physical abilities. Here are six indoor activities for seniors that boost mood, require minimal effort, and provide significant benefits.
6 Indoor Activities for Seniors that Boost Mood
Play Games Alone or With Friends and Family
Playing games reaps benefits for everyone, but especially seniors. Games have the ability to challenge the brain. Board games, in particular, help boost memory and keep at bay the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Moreover, games increase your ability to coordinate and perform many ordinary tasks. When seniors play games together, their mental health and immune systems get a boost. That, in turn, keeps them happy and in good spirits.
Common crowd-pleasers include Sudoku puzzles. Other popular options involve spelling, like crossword puzzles and Scrabble. These games are all-time favorites.
Read Books, Magazines, and Anything You Can Get Your Hands On!
Reading is always a good choice when it comes to getting your mood elevated. Through reading books, magazines, or even journals, the mind gets lost in a fantasy world. This helps you to forget any stressful events even for a short time.
Engaging the mind through reading also has the ability to slow the heart rate and reduce stress, which relieves anxiety.
For these reasons and more, seniors benefit greatly from reading about topics that interest them and spark their imagination. After all, you are never too old to learn something new!
Find New Ways to Get Creative
Creative activities for seniors can help them stay physically and mentally healthy. Artistic endeavors and hobbies keep the mind activated and enhance imagination as well. Some activities that can help to boost creativity are knitting, coloring, painting, organizing family photos, papercraft, and card making. These are just a few examples. The list is long.
In addition, creativity through arts and crafts also has health benefits. For example, seniors suffering from chronic illnesses who have a creative outlet tend to show a decrease in negative emotions. They also record improved responses to medical treatment.
Enjoy Movies, Music, and Other Forms of Entertainment
No matter your age, movies and music are always enjoyable. Watching a TV show or a movie helps keep our minds busy and prevents overthinking. That is why watching a favorite television show or a new movie can elevate your mood. However, it is important to be selective in what you watch. Seek out content that is light-hearted; a comedy or documentary that inspires and educates. This is your time to escape.
Music has its own hearty helping of benefits. It lifts your spirit and improves your mood. Plus, it has been proven to aid in relieving stress and pain while also improving memory and sleep.
Take Part in Low-Impact Exercises
Working out has a way of boosting your mood, and seniors can benefit significantly from low-impact exercises such as dancing and yoga. The Centers for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week for seniors–about 20 minutes a day. In addition to keeping you in a good mood, exercise plays a critical role in boosting overall health, and exercising together allows us to motivate each other.
Find Time for Socializing, Even If It’s Digital!
Interacting with friends is always a sure way to keep stress at bay and create a good mood. Studies show that people who socialize regularly experience less anxiety and stress and are more mentally stable.
Joining a book group, card group, or knitting group is a great way to socialize. Participating in a collective project is another option. These activities help you connect with others. Another social activity that is good for you on many levels is volunteering. Studies have shown that those who volunteer more develop a greater sense of purpose. Simply being in a group atmosphere can elevate your frame of mind and mood.
If you want to socialize with someone far away, there are many free digital options available. Facebook Messenger and Skype are two that popular platforms. They are great tools to help you connect with friends and family who are too far away to visit regularly.
It is important to participate in engaging activities that you enjoy and that spark something in you. It is just as important to maintain those special connections. They are all part of living a fuller and happier life.
At Convivial St. Pete, we know the abundant benefits of a day complete with enjoyable and rewarding activities for seniors. Our wellness program and a full calendar of events will provide members with many fun ways to stay active. We make aging well easy and enjoyable. Learn more about Convivial St. Petersburg independent living community. Just click here or call 941-220-5219 to schedule a private tour.