Stress Management for a Happier, Healthier Life

How do you handle stress? The way you answer this question can have a big impact on your overall well-being. Though it’s easy to assume you eliminated stress when you left your 9-to-5 routine, nothing could be further from the truth. Stress is a natural part of life, so stress management for seniors can help you improve your health and lead a more active, enjoyable life.

What Is Stress?

The World Health Organization describes stress as the body’s response to any type of change: physical, emotional or psychological. We commonly think of stress as arising from difficult situations we encounter in our work or in our relationships. Divorce, grief, illness, trauma and financial strain are familiar sources of stress. But the things that cause stress can also be positive, such as getting married or moving to a new home.

How Stress Affects Seniors

Everyone experiences stress. Short-term stress is normal, but when stress is intense or occurs repeatedly over a longer period, it can overwhelm your ability to cope. That’s when stress changes from a helpful impulse enabling you to react to a situation and becomes a problem with far-reaching health effects. For older adults, stress can result in you experiencing:

• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Disturbed sleep
• Changes in eating patterns
• Increased risk of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Heartburn
• Higher blood sugar levels and/or diabetes complications
• Anxiety and depression

Ways to Reduce Stress

You can’t always escape the cause of your stress, but you can focus on self-care activities to help alleviate the body’s reactions to stress. Try these stress management ideas:

1. Physical Activity: Regular exercise improves overall physical health and boosts your mood. Try a daily walk or add strength training exercises to your routine. If you’re not sure where to start, speak to your doctor and/or a fitness trainer or your personal wellness coach at Fellowship Village.

2. Eat Well: Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet helps your body become more resilient. Avoiding overly processed foods and stimulants like caffeine can also help you avoid spikes and dips in energy that can have a rollercoaster effect on your mood.

3. Practice Mindfulness: Meditation is a great way to calm the mind and help you cope with stress. Try journaling your thoughts or devoting time to an engaging activity that requires concentration. Learning a new language, completing a puzzle, or playing an instrument are all excellent ways to avoid focusing too much of your time and energy on the source of your stress.

4. Strengthen Connections: Spending time with people is a proven way to reduce stress. Whether you schedule a daily phone call with family, eat dinner with a neighbor, attend religious services, or engage in volunteer work, regular interpersonal connections help you see beyond your immediate stress.

5. Get Adequate Rest: It’s a myth that you need less sleep as you age. Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Develop a healthy sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and avoiding naps when possible.

Stress management for active, older adults works best when it’s personalized. Begin with the stress-relief activity that is the most attractive to you. If it doesn’t help, gradually add other options to your routine. Most importantly, when you struggle with stress and feel anxious or depressed, reach out to your primary healthcare provider or a mental health professional for help. And if you’d like to speak to a qualified healthcare provider, Fellowship Village offers a full range of services through our Medical Practice Group.