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5 Tips To Help Your Elderly Parents Fight Loneliness

Most elderly parents prefer to live in the sanctuary of their homes. However, family members may feel unease with that idea, especially if their senior loved ones have no one to look after them. Not only do we feel like it’s not safe for our aging parents to live by themselves, but the fact that loneliness can affect both their mental and emotional well-being.

We only want what’s best for our elders, and there are a couple of things you can do to help ease senior loneliness.

Always find time to interact with them.

There is nothing better than having quality time with your loved one. For seniors, since they are now retired and have lots of time to spare, social isolation becomes quite common, so make sure to make it a point to interact with them as often as you can.

Set up dinner dates and family days, and don’t forget about special occasions. Call, text, or message them as often as you can. Our hectic schedule should never be an excuse.

Take them to events they would surely enjoy.

You know what your senior wants, and if you don’t, you can always ask them. Getting them out of the confinement of their homes to do things they love doing will lift their spirits and take the loneliness away, even for a couple of hours. Make sure that all activities are safe and that they can handle whatever event they are about to attend.

Give them a wonderful gift of life.

What’s the best way to combat loneliness? Get them an excellent pet they can handle and take care of themselves! Is your aging dad a dog lover? Why not get him a dog? Is your mom a fan of cats? Then maybe it’s time to give her a cat of her own.

Pets are capable of giving humans a sense of purpose. If you get your senior family member a pet of there, they will have something to look forward to every day. Make sure to pick an appropriate pet – like a well-behaved dog, and they can enjoy the many benefits that are both fun and rewarding.

Teach them how to use gadgets and the internet.

With all the technological innovations we have nowadays, you can do many things with just a couple of taps and clicks. Consider introducing your older loved to social media and teach them how to use gadgets. It can be a great distraction, plus they can easily maintain a connection while opening up a whole new world to them.

Also read: 5 superb reasons why ASUS ZENFONE 2 LASER 5.5S is the best gift for your mother

The Takeaway

If you, as a young and robust adult, can feel lonely sometimes, imagine how much more can your elderly parents must be feeling right now. Don’t let them experience loneliness and isolation when you can do something to ease their pain. If only we take some of our precious time to call, visit, and get someone who can take care of them while we are away, they’ll be a lot happier, healthier, and safer.

Do’s and Don’ts During Weight Loss

Weight loss isn’t that hard than most people think it is. In fact, in most cases, you need to exercise more and eat better. Saying you want to get fit is one thing, but doing it is another thing. Shedding excess weight means a more energized and healthier you. However, there are wrong and right ways to go about weight loss and dieting.

Not sure where to start? Here are the do’s and don’ts to keep in mind to help losing weight easier!

Do’s of Weight Loss

1. DO keep a food journal

You may have read this one before, but it is one of the most important things. Keep a log of the kinds of food that you eat. It will help you control your daily calorie intake and help you avoid eating snacks and other unhealthy food.

2. DO cut out refined carbs and sugar

Added carbs and sugar has no place in a diet that’s aimed for weight loss. They are not filling and are only full of empty calories. They tend to start cravings and spike up your insulin and blood glucose. These things can halt your fat burning.

As an alternative, it is better to eat vegetables, whole grains (in moderate amounts), and fruits. Just make sure you steer clear of refined and processed carbs such as white rice, white pasta, candy, white bread, processed foods, soda, and even cake. These foods are lacking in vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

3. DO exercise

Just as I mentioned above, losing weight means exercising more. You need to combine increased physical activity with a reduction in calories to lose weight faster. These types of events can be simple. You can go out for a walk for half an hour, ride a bike or go on a run. As long as you get your heart pumping with some cardio every day, your body will burn off some fat.

4. DO drink sufficient amount of water

Your body needs water to function correctly to metabolize fats. If you are trying to lose weight, make sure that you drink lots of water. Just as what every doctor says, drink a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. To help your body burn those extra fats, be sure to drink an extra glass of water for every 25 pounds of excess fat.

5. DO eat your meals from smaller plates

If you want to lose weight, eat less, and eat better. However, what makes this task so hard is that the moment you see your small portions on regular plates, your brain automatically sends signals saying, “this is not going to fill me up.” In response, you will feel hungry after you’re done eating. Try placing your food on smaller plates to make your food look bigger than before. It will surely help you feel fuller than the last time.

6. DO have a proper hygiene

To pair with your healthy diet, it’s best also to keep proper hygiene. Maintaining a healthy bowel movement ensures that whatever you eat will come out properly. Bowel movement-related diseases such as diarrhea can take a massive toll on your healthy diet and can even ruin your exercise.

Also read: 4 popular weight loss role models to follow

Don’ts of Weight Loss

1. DON’T buy what you are not going to eat

If you purchase something, you eat it. If you purchase food that is not on your diet, you will eat it. Solve this issue by clearing your house of junk food and only buying the ingredients that you need for pre-planned meals. If it’s not there, you can’t eat it.

2. DON’T skip breakfast

You will eat more if you skip breakfast. Eating breakfast starts your metabolism and stops you from getting hungry later. Time and time again, several studies have shown that people who lose weight never skip their breakfast.

3. DON’T crash diet

Don’t diet only when you need to lose weight quickly. Instead, make it a part of your everyday life. Crash diets can cause fluctuation in your weight. Staying focused on living a healthy lifestyle will help you see the results that you want. Plus, it will more likely help maintain your healthy weight.

Don’t ever consider your diet as a short-term fix. It may have taken you years to gain those unwanted fats and weight, and it can take only a little less time to lose it again. Make haste slowly as rapid weight loss can cause rapid weight gain. Losing weight is not a sprint. Instead, it is a marathon, so don’t rush if you want to lose the fats.

4. DON’T deprived yourself of food

Starving yourself is not a valid weight loss plan. It is not healthy and may even lead to further complications. Eat food at regular intervals, and have a healthy light meal to give you a boost. Don’t deprive your body to achieve your goals.

5. DON’T give up

At one point, you may feel like you’re not improving or losing weight. Don’t give up. Willpower is a massive help in losing weight. Don’t let up on your exercise, don’t give in to your cravings and you will lose weight.

Don’t worry if you periodically go off your diet. Just be sure not to do it often. When you get thrown, don’t stay off the horse. Everyone can make the wrong choice at some point, but don’t use that as an excuse to give up.

Don’t say, “I messed up,” then not go back to your healthy diet at all. You are only one workout and one meal away from being on track. If you fall off, learn from your mistakes and get back on track. Losing weight can be a pain in the neck, but if you stick with your plan, you will see results.

These simple and straightforward rules are a great start to your weight loss plan. Be sure to stick with them, and you’ll surely see results. Losing weight doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a healthy and clean diet.

Effective Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle is not the easiest thing to do, primarily if your lifestyle was once poor for a long time. Of course, people have different definitions of what a good and poor lifestyle is, but the critical thing to remember is you have to feel alert and stable most times to say your lifestyle is grounding and ultimately beneficial for you. ‘To each his own’ as the saying goes, however, there are general things we must do ensure a balanced lifestyle whether you are always functioning on a strict or flexible schedule every day, here are some effective lifestyle tips to improve your physical and mental health.

Never Skip a Meal, Especially Breakfast

Mornings tend to make us feel sluggish, for some anxious, this is because it is during mornings that people prepare for a long day ahead. To avoid overeating during lunch and/or dinner, always eat a healthy breakfast composed of fiber, protein, and carbs as fuel for the rest of the day. You can get a balance of these through eating fruits, vegetables, healthy breakfast smoothies, and nuts. Always remember that skipping a meal might lead to low blood sugar and glucose levels that might make you feel sluggish and irritable throughout the day. As for lunch and dinner, ensure that you are getting a balanced meal through preparing a meal plan suitable to your health condition and health goals.

Make Time for Exercise

Although it sounds completely impossible given your tight and hectic schedule, exercise is vital for a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can be low or high intensity based on your health condition. Squeezing in any activity that makes you move your body, burn calories, and strengthen your muscles will make you reap great results in the long-run. Jogging, cycling, hiking, and trekking are good cardio workouts, while pilates and yoga are great for toning your body.

Practice Self-Care

Always know and gauge your body and mind’s breaking point. Never go past this breaking point as this will make you, and you will not like that. If you feel like work or the house is being too much, feel free to take a break and clear your mind to calm your body. Without proper self-care, anxiety and depression may spring up as a result of pushing yourself too much or being too hard on yourself. Always do things that make you feel genuine happiness and pick that above anything else.

Also read: Minimize aging skin problems with these simple tricks

Do Something Therapeutic

Like the previous point, make it a habit to de-stress and calm your mind regularly is always a good idea. Finding a hobby or any activity that serves as a creative outlet would ensure your peace of mind and serenity in everything you do. It could be painting, sculpting, gardening, anything that makes you feel happy and relaxed.

So those are the essentials in balancing your lifestyle. These principles are often advised by anyone who has mastered the art of a balanced lifestyle and peace in life.