5 Ways to Stay Active This Winter
At The Haven at Lake Oconee, routine care of the mind, body, and soul are essential. Our Nourish program highlights the importance of nurturing our bodies beyond just diet, moving into a holistic approach that nourishes the whole body, mind and soul. Motivation is famously hard to find during the winter months. While we await the return of sunlight and longer daytime hours, darker mornings and evenings can have a negative impact on our energy to participate in everyday activities. If you’re feeling a little more sluggish this season, here are five activities you can try to keep your mind, body, and soul active this winter:
Create art. Whether you like painting, drawing, coloring, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, or collaging, there are countless artistic pursuits that can keep your mind and hands active through the winter months. Perhaps you’re a seasoned fiber artist, but you want to branch out and learn more about drawing, or maybe you’ve been working through a coloring book for some time and want to finish up the last few pages. No matter your skill level, artistic outlets are an excellent way to nurture your mind.
Lift weights. If you have access to small dumbbells, doing a few reps of weightlifting throughout the week is an excellent way to remain active, even if you’re stuck inside during the colder months. This is a great activity to do with a friend or two! Note: only lift what you feel comfortable with; it’s best to have a friend or loved one nearby when engaging in weightlifting activities.
Try a new recipe. A great way to keep up an active mind (and body!) is to try out a new, nutritious recipe. Look for new ways to incorporate these energy-boosting foods into your diet: oats, eggs, sweet potatoes, lentils, avocados, or salmon! You can find more energy boosting foods and recipes here.
Take a walk. Regular walks are a great way to improve circulation, brain health, and more! If it’s too cold to walk outdoors, consider walking around your senior living community campus or a local outlet mall. Looking for a fun way to add a little competition to your activity? Gather some friends or loved ones and start a step challenge!
Solve a puzzle. Puzzles are a great tool to enhance and maintain your mental acuity! Whether you’re working sudoku, a jigsaw puzzle, crosswords, or a word search, regularly exercising these muscles in your brain has great benefits for cognitive enrichment.
When your desire to participate in activities for a long period of time is in short supply, try committing to small activity bursts. Even participating in one of these activities for just fifteen minutes can help to improve your energy levels and sense of motivation this winter!