Working Caregiver- Health - Stress
Be Mindful and Reduce Senior Stress
Mindfulness Training Busts Stress
Stress. It's something we all deal with, as much as it's a word that none of us would ever like to use in our vocabulary to describe our lives. Stress doesn't go away with age either; we dream of a retirement that consists of nothing more than a margarita and a sandy beach in a beautiful destination, but that's not always so easily attainable. Maybe we can get ourselves to such a destination, but with age comes stress that relates to health, grief and far too much uncertainty about what's to come today and tomorrow, and these are elements that a tropical drink and beautiful surroundings just can't cure. Learning how to cope with stress and its effects is crucial at all stages of life, but once you reach your senior years, it should be an opportunity to enjoy yourself and do everything you've dreamed of but never had the time or the means to accomplish earlier on in life, so deal with the stress that way it doesn't keep you from reaching your goals.
Whether you're a retired, you're still in the workforce, or you're involved with the care of family members like grandchildren, you're likely to have a busy life that involves managing multiple responsibilities. While you might pride yourself on the ability to multi-task, this actually doesn't do you any favors in managing your stress which is why learning techniques in mindfulness can actually give you a better quality life. Mindfulness means just focusing on one thing at a time, and really gaining an appreciation for the task you're completing, no matter how routine it may seem. When you learn mindfulness techniques, you learn how to gain a greater awareness of your mind, body, and emotions.
Practicing mindfulness can be as simple as eating a favorite food, and allowing all of your senses to focus on the experience while clearing your mind from all other thoughts. However, other activities that incorporate deep breathing techniques and focus like yoga, tai chi, and meditation all rely on elements of mindfulness, which is based on the teachings of Buddha.
Mindfulness techniques can help reduce stress by allowing seniors to focus on just one thing at a time, and it can help to relax the body and mind, even reducing the physical symptoms of stress, like high blood pressure, through deep breathing. By eliminating the symptoms of stress, seniors will find that they have improved overall health with not only allows them to enjoy life to a more greater degree, but mindfulness does also provide a more positive outlook and general appreciation of what it means to live.
Via: CNN Health
