Written by Amber Bowman
What drives you to wake up and conquer each day? As we age, we may lose our sense of purpose and as a result our physical and mental well being suffers. Setting up your day with purposeful activities promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Below are some ways you can cultivate creativity and bring purpose back into your life no matter what stage.
Learn A New Skill
One sure way to inspire a sense of purpose is to set goals to learn new things. Don’t focus on what you can’t do but, what you CAN do and can learn! Learning a challenging skill puts you into a flow state-where you are energized and completely in the present moment. Introducing a hobby that puts you into flow will make getting out of of bed everyday a little easier.
Look to your past interests for ideas in finding your flow inducing hobby. Some examples include: meditation, yoga, gardening, writing, painting, nature walks, reading, playing games or puzzles, cooking a new dish, and learning a new language.
Everyday Schedule
Its important to come up with a schedule and practice this enjoyable activity everyday. It will become second nature and your body and mind will slip into flow while you are engaged and having fun. With a set schedule you can also watch your progress and feel accomplished. Set up your day so you have things to look forward to in between times of rest or chores.
Get Connected
It is now easier than ever to stay connected in the world. With your new hobby it is beneficial to include others and it makes it easier to be present. You can start a book club, aqua aerobics, or join a group for pretty much anything virtually as well as in person. For instance, if you are writing poems about your grandchildren share them on a forum with fellow writers. Doing your hobby with others will also help prevent isolation and depression.
Stay Active/Time Outside
It is not always easy to stay active as you get older and have limited mobility but it is possible- and a great way to step up your purposeful activity. It can be as small as having a family member or caregiver assist you outside to water your flowers or setting up a puzzle to do on the porch. Get creative with ways to stay active. One example is laughter yoga—it combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques to increase oxygen and make you feel energized!
The Synergy Effect
Synergy’s care professionals help their clients get into flow with “The Synergy Effect”. Popular games can be modified for seniors who have limited mobility or cognitive function. Our care professionals encourage these games that keep you coordinated, fit, and socially engaged. The benefits of these activities is that they promote exercise while having fun! Some examples are bowling, playing catch, and balloon volleyball. All can be done from home and are a great way to add fun into a daily routine.
In conclusion, research shows that those who maintain a purpose in life are happier and healthier. Goals and dreams will change through the years and as long as you keep learning, creating, and moving, you’ll continue to look forward to getting out of bed and getting into flow.
