Emotional Self Care Ideas That Become More Vital With Age
Emotional self-care is important at any age, but it is paramount for seniors to thrive in retirement while practicing mental wellness in aging. By incorporating emotional self-care into your everyday routine, you can find yourself more mentally balanced and improve your overall outlook on life.
If you are a retired senior living in Carroll, IA, you may believe that there is no need to work on your mental health. After all, self-care should come easily when you no longer have to worry about a career, children, or other stressors.
In this article, we will explore emotional self-care ideas and self-kindness tips to equip you on your mental wellness journey.
What Are Some Emotional Self-Care Practices?
Are you new to the idea of emotional self-care? You may be wondering where to begin. Here are some self-care practices to try as you structure your life around emotional wellness.
Practice Emotional Awareness
Simply being aware of your emotions is crucial to understanding how to change negative feelings and thought patterns. When you feel a strong emotion, take a moment to recognize it and sit with it. It may seem daunting to fully feel your emotions, especially powerful ones such as grief or anxiety, but the feeling will pass.
How to Improve Emotional Awareness?
Once you learn how to navigate emotional awareness, you will be able to effectively regulate your emotions. While it is uncomfortable at first, try to withstand your organic feelings for as long as possible. Writing down your emotions may also help you see patterns and break down your feelings into distinct categories.
Work With a Therapist
It is never too late to start working with a therapist. In fact, seeing a therapist later in life can have unique benefits. Many therapists specialize in treating seniors and have experience helping clients through major life transitions that occur in retirement.
Your therapist will help you identify negative thought patterns and work through how to deal with potential triggers. They may also dig into your mental health history to see if there are connections to your current problems.
With the advent of technology, online therapy through video or phone has become even more popular. You can cast a wider net when searching for therapy providers and meet with a mental health practitioner in the comfort of your own home.
Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can lead to increased feelings of satisfaction and boost your self-esteem. Comparison is the thief of joy, while actively being grateful for the positive aspects of your life has the opposite effect.
When you experience a positive emotion, make a mental note and connect it to something that you can be thankful for. For example, if you love watching your grandchildren, transform that feeling into a gratitude exercise.
Writing down your gratitudes is a great way to track all of the good things that occur in your life on a day-to-day basis. Some gratitude journals even have prompts, which help you further engage with your emotions. Whether to begin your day with a journal entry or write down your thoughts before your head hits the pillow, it is a valuable exercise.
Improve Your Sleep Hygiene
Though seniors do not need as much sleep as other demographics, good sleep hygiene is essential for maintaining optimal physical and mental health. Not getting enough shut-eye may lead to excessive daytime tiredness and irritability, along with other issues like increased appetite and decreased motivation.
Improving your sleep regimen will help regulate your emotions. You will be more likely to have emotional stability, rather than feel as if you can be triggered by simple actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can Seniors Cope With Emotional Fatigue?
Even as a senior, emotions can feel overwhelming at times. Emotional fatigue, also known as emotional exhaustion, occurs when individuals feel drained or depleted from constant emotional strain. Symptoms of emotional fatigue can be both physical and psychological, and include:
- Feelings of powerlessness
- Headaches
- Nausea or lack of appetite
- Muscle tension
- Decreased or interrupted sleep
- Lack of motivation
Mindset changes in later life can be a good solution for emotional fatigue. Work on letting go of complex emotions, and find a therapist to help, if needed. Negative thoughts are incredibly powerful, but only if you allow them to be.
What Is the Connection Between Aging and Resilience?
It is important to understand the difference between physical resilience and mental or psychological resilience. For many seniors, physical resilience tends to decline as they age, due to the body's natural breakdown process. Health problems become more prominent, and it takes longer for the body to heal.
However, emotional resilience can remain the same or even increase as the years go by. The more life experience that you have, the more likely you are to weather the next emotional storm.
Can Diet Influence Emotional Wellness?
Absolutely. While the occasional treat when going through a tough time does not hurt, it is crucial to avoid using food as a coping mechanism for difficult emotions.
If you find yourself turning to unhealthy foods when you begin to experience negative feelings, you may be developing a binge eating disorder or another type of unhealthy eating habit. Feeling the unpleasant effects of a processed diet, along with the potential weight gain, can have a spiral effect on your mental health as well, causing it to worsen.
Emotional Self-Care Ideas for Seniors at Addington Place of Carroll
As a senior, your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being. With this guide to emotional self-care ideas, you can ensure that you feel your best, so you can enjoy your retirement years in comfort.
At Addington Place of Carroll, we take the utmost pride in providing our residents with a calming and encouraging environment that stimulates positive mental well-being. We offer assisted living and memory care programs, and amenities such as chef-prepared dining and senior-focused fitness options encourage our residents to maintain active lifestyles.
Would you like to learn more about all that our beautiful community has to offer? Reach out to us today at Addington Place of Carroll, or visit our campus in Carroll, Iowa, to see it all in person. We can't wait to hear from you!