It’s National Senior Citizens Day and Next Day Access wants to help you keep your mind and body young. By keeping your mental and physical health in check you can prolong your health and make life more enjoyable. With just a few adjustments, you can keep yourself fit well into old age.

Most people don’t think about staying mentally fit. However, keeping your mind engaged as you age is vital to your overall health. One of the biggest things you can do to combat those “senior moments” is continuing to learn and exercising your mind. You can actually build and maintain brain cells by incorporating challenging tasks that stimulate your intellect.

Fun Ways to Celebrate National Senior Citizens Day

  • Try out a new hobby: Who says you can’t learn a new trick when you’re older? Picking up a new hobby like needlepoint or checkers will keep your brain muscles moving. Continually motivating your mind will prevent the deterioration of brain connections keeping you sharp year after year.
  • Give your memory a boost: One of the easiest ways to stimulate your mind is by giving your memory a workout. Try something simple, like writing down a list of words. An hour later, how many words from the list can you remember? Doing this exercise and testing your ability to recall items will stimulate your mind and boost those neural pathways.

Another more obvious way to keep yourself fit is by staying active. Some will find it much easier to jump right back into an exercise routine while others might struggle with the new activity. However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Regular exercise reduces the risks of falls and bone fractures, lowers the risk of blood clots and heart disease, and can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

  • Go for a walk: Taking a quick walk can drastically improve your health. A short 20-minute walk around the neighborhood can improve your overall balance by strengthening your legs and hips. To increase the health benefits of a walk, invite a friend. Studies show that having a chat with a friend can drastically reduce stress levels and promote overall health.
  • Sit and build strength: It’s also important to note that not everyone can get up and out of the house. Thankfully, there are plenty of exercises you can do from the comfort of your bed or chair. Work on upper arm strength by simply curling a dumbbell or heavy object. You can also work your thighs and knee flexors by doing leg lifts.

Next Day Access hopes you will keep your mind and body active this National Senior Citizens Day and every day. We hope that you are inspired to get out and try something new today. Whether you join a friend for a brisk walk around a park or you try out checkers for the first time, there is no better day than today to give your health a boost.