Active Aging Presented by Public Health Seattle King County
Keeping your mind and body active all year round is essential to staying healthy, especially as you age. But when temperatures drop and winter winds blow, getting outside can become difficult and even risky.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to beat boredom, train your brain and body, and lift your spirits when Jack Frost arrives. Try these fun and challenging indoor activities this winter.
knitting
Knitting scarves and blankets to keep yourself and your loved ones comfortable in winter weather has multiple health benefits. increase. It can also lift your mood, making you feel calmer and happier, according to a study by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
scrapbooking
Fill your scrapbook with photos, news clippings, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia to help you remember important people, places, and events in your life. Organizing these items on the page and recording thoughts and captions around them evokes memories, requires focus, and encourages creativity. These cognitive functions use brain power. A study in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences found that craft reduces anxiety and reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
listen to music
Listening to your favorite tunes in the snow will warm your heart and take you back to college days, wedding dances, or lullabies your parents sang to you. Additionally, according to Johns Hopkins, studies have shown that listening to music “can reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain, and improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness and memory.” So relax, relax and enjoy some tunes.
dancing
Dancing with others or by yourself is a fun way to pass the time and a stress reliever. Dancing works on your bones, muscles and joints and is also aerobic. Whether you’re sitting in a chair or standing on your feet, you can dance anywhere, so let the boogie begin.
drawing, painting, coloring
According to the Mayo Clinic, engaging in the creative arts has many mental, emotional, and physical healing benefits. The sight and smell of paints and crayons as you paint, paint, and color bring back fond memories of your childhood. These art forms also spark the imagination and allow you to visually communicate your thoughts and feelings.
do a jigsaw puzzle
According to Baylor College of Medicine, solving puzzles reduces stress, strengthens problem-solving muscles, and improves cognition and short-term memory. Building jigsaw puzzles with family and friends is also a great way to catch up, bond and create memories.
cooking
There’s nothing quite like enjoying hot, delicious comfort food on a stormy day. Whether you’re baking a mouthwatering batch of cookies or a bubbly pot of homemade soup, cooking will whet your senses of smell and taste. Preparing different dishes according to recipes will keep you mentally and physically active.
write cards and letters
Writing cards and letters to loved ones is a great way to stay connected. In today’s busy digital world, receiving a handwritten note is often more meaningful, and that note can be a special keepsake. The physical act of sharing a story in a letter is like writing a diary and can improve your mental health.
cards and board games
Gathering with others to play cards and board games can help soothe loneliness and ease winter depression. is also required. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these skills may boost brain power and lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
exercise with a resistance band
Doing any form of doctor-approved exercise has multiple physical and mental benefits. Resistance bands can be used at home, standing or sitting, for a low-impact workout. Lightweight and highly portable, it offers a full-body workout to improve muscle, dexterity and balance.
These simple and engaging activities will help you get out of the chilly weather slump and stay physically and mentally fit.
Active Aging was announced by the Seattle and King County Public Health Departments. Public Health – Seattle and King County recognize the important and untold stories of innovation, service and sacrifice by Black communities, supporting efforts to improve equity and achieve social justice. We want everyone to have health insurance and access to healthcare.visitwww.kingcounty.gov/health Health insurance, flu and COVID-19 testing locations.