Holiday Tips from The Healthy Aging(r) Campaign

The Healthy Aging® Campaign offers Holiday Tips for baby boomers on up. The Healthy Aging® Campaign is a national ongoing health promotion designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide information and inspiration for adults, age 50+, to improve their physical, mental, social, and financial fitness. The website, www.healthyaging.net offers free tips and techniques for aging throughout the year. According to Carolyn Worthington, co-editor of the book, Healthy Aging…Inspirational Letters from Americans, and president of The Healthy Aging® Campaign, “mental wellness is just as important to aging positively as physical fitness and the holidays are a perfect time to reconnect with old friends and family members, and solidify your social support system, a proven safety net for those who are happy as they grow older.”

Here are some special positive aging tips from The Healthy Aging® Campaign for the holidays:

PHYSICAL

Kick up your heels! Go out to dance the night way and burn 306 calories per hour. McGill University researchers have discovered that the fancy footwork required to perform the tango bolsters brainpower and improves balance. “Our findings suggest that tango may be better than walking for improving the execution of complex tasks and the ability to move within a restricted area without losing one's footing," says McGill University School of Physical and Occupational Therapy professor Patricia McKinley. So, sign up for a series of weeknight dance lessons now or give them as a holiday gift to your spouse or significant other. It’s a great way to get you out of the house, away from the TV and a chance to rekindle your love for one another.

Shop til you drop – and burn calories too! Walk 10,000 steps a day and you’ll keep those holiday pounds off and feel great! How do you know how many steps you take? Invest in an inexpensive pedometer (a small device that will count your steps found at any sports store or online) and you’ll be surprised to see 10,000 steps is about 1 hour of walking. Walking at a shopping rate (like walking an active dog) for one hour. burns 297 calories (based on a 150 lb person) just enough to compensate for that slice of chocolate Yule cake. (Sources: U.S. Administration on Aging and http://www.caloriescount.org/calculator.html)


Celebrate with a glass of red wine… 4 oz equals 85 calories. After you’ve done all of that walking and dancing you can have that glass of wine. But, let’s not go overboard. Women – say no after one glass and switch to sparkling water, men you can go for two. It’s better for your health and your waistline. Drink responsibly and never drink and drive after a holiday party.

SOCIAL

Empty Nester Holiday Cards! If you are like most people who have sent family photo holiday cards, you weren’t in them! Yes, you just wanted to show off the kids and, my, how they’ve grown. Now that they’ve gone – start your own tradition…a photo of you and your spouse (or significant other) doing something fun and showing the holiday spirit. Send a different photo greeting every year and the next time you see your friends and family they will have seen the changes and think of you just the way you are. www.imagestation.com and www.picasa.com are places to start for card ideas. Forever young!

It’s Better to Give Than Receive… Some of us may forget, but it was first written in the Bible, Acts 20, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” and, today, there is research to back it up. A University of Michigan study found that older people who are helpful to others reduce their risk of dying by nearly 60 percent compared to peers who provide neither practical help nor emotional support to relatives, neighbors or friends. "Making a contribution to the lives of other people may help to extend our own lives," said the paper's lead author, Stephanie Brown, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research.

MENTAL

Make Yours, A Wonderful Life… Enjoy the season by stopping to reflect now what the holidays mean to you. If you continually feel overwhelmed by the pressure of the season, take an hour to plan what you would truly like to do, with whom and when. Mark out your calendar to have at least one luncheon with close friends – no gifts – just a chance to talk. Either go to a favorite restaurant, or offer to host the lunch where everyone brings something to share.

Singing Helps Beat Holiday Depression… Take time to listen to holiday music. Research shows that singing is a perfect antidote to holiday blues. So, turn up the car radio and sing – Keep the windows open if you want to share the spirit!

Smile – It’s Been Proven to Be A Depression Buster… Sure you may think you look silly, but walk around with a smile on your face and you may live longer. A Duke University study of more than 800 heart patients found that those who reported more positive emotions such as happiness, optimism and joy were 20 percent more likely to be alive after 11 years than those who more often experienced negative emotions like sadness and anger. Beverly Brummett, assistant research professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, conducted the study. So smile and wish people happy holidays! You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel about yourself!

FINANCIAL

Shop wisely… Know who you’re dealing with, protect your privacy, order only on secure servers online, guard your online password, advises the Federal Trade Commission. For more holiday shopping tips, visit http://www.ftc.gov

Save 10%… If you receive cash as a gift, put 10 percent in your savings account and forget about it. Then, go out and spend the rest on the post-holiday sales.

For more positive aging tips, visit: www.healthyaging.net

Healthy Aging® is a U.S. registered trademark owned by CWI Productions, Inc. and licensed to Educational Television Network, Inc. for The Healthy Aging® Campaign


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