Everyone wants to be happy. We spend our lives looking for things that bring us happiness. We want to spend as much time being happy as we can while experiencing as little of its opposite – sadness – as possible.
Browsing the aisles of a bookstore or library, looking for a new podcast, or a simple search on the internet and you’ll find countless self-help resources all about happiness. There are so many it can be overwhelming. Sometimes it might even seem like the information from one source contradicts the information in another.
Especially as Americans, happiness is a central element of our lives. The “pursuit of happiness” is part of our Declaration of Independence. The Founding Fathers thought happiness was so important it should be a right for all citizens.
Exploring Happiness
But what is happiness? Why do we all find happiness from different things? Is happiness important to our wellbeing? These are questions that researchers have been trying to answer for decades – and possibly even centuries. In fact, Harvard has been running a famous study on happiness for more than 80 years. Their study explores not just what makes people happy, but what makes them thrive.
Generations of researchers at Harvard have followed the same participants – and eventually their descendants – for more than eight decades. The research has uncovered a lot during that time. But they have found one common factor for happiness. Relationships. When we have good relationships with the people we love and those around us, we feel happier about our lives.
Tips to Improve Happiness and Boost Your Mood
Everyone wants to be happy. It would be odd if someone said they didn’t want to be happy. But wanting to be happy and actually being happy aren’t always the same. Sometimes happiness takes work. Here are some tips for ways older adults, and everyone, can improve their happiness and boost their mood.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
You’ve heard the saying “you are what you eat.” While this is an exaggeration, there is some truth to it. What you eat can impact the way you feel. This goes beyond just how you feel physically though, and includes how you feel mentally. Eating a healthy diet can help you feel your best physically which can also help how you feel mentally.
That doesn’t mean you should only eat a healthy diet though. We can get a lot of happiness from the taste, smell, and social aspects of food and sharing a meal. Find a balance between eating healthy foods that make you feel good and less healthy choices that you enjoy.
A healthy lifestyle goes beyond diet. Exercise is also key. You probably already know that exercise can be good for your heart and your overall physical health. But did you know it’s good for you mentally, too? When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, also known as feel-good neurotransmitters. They boost your mood and can even help with pain relief. This is sometimes referred to as a “runner’s high.” Thankfully, you don’t have to run to benefit from the endorphins. Walking and stretching can also be great, especially for older adults.
Keep your mind active
They say muscles are “use it or lose it,” meaning you have to keep working your muscles to keep them. The brain isn’t technically a muscle, but the same principle applies. Your brain operates using neural pathways. If a part of the brain goes unused for a long period of time, the neural pathways or connections can be broken. Depending on the part of the brain, this could lead to things like memory challenges or decreased reflex speeds.
It’s important to focus on the “use it” part of the equation. Keeping your brain active can help the neural pathways stay strong. There is not currently anything that can be done to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, keeping your brain active can help when it comes to normal, age-related memory changes.
Pursue a purpose
Boredom kills happiness. We’re wired to have purpose. For many years, your purpose may be work or raising a family. But what about when your kids are grown and you retire? It’s important to find a new purpose that keeps you busy and engaged. Your purpose may be traveling the world, volunteering, golfing, or sewing.
Senior living is a great way for many older adults to pursue purpose. Most communities offer a plethora of activities for residents to be involved in. Everything from happy hours and dinner outings to art classes and woodworking studios.
Strengthen social connections
Like the Harvard study has shown, relationships are extremely important to happiness. This includes deep relationships like with a spouse or close friend, but it also includes relationships with acquaintances or neighbors. Making connections with people and socializing can go a long way to boosting your mood and happiness.
Find Happiness in Senior Living
For older adults, senior living can provide a lot of happiness and has mood-boosting benefits. To start, moving to a senior living community means no more house upkeep and maintenance. That’s a big reduction in stress which can be a great mood boost.
Senior living also makes a healthy lifestyle easier. Most communities offer dining programs that may include a dietitian and a chef who make sure there are always healthy and delicious meal choices available. Plus, most communities also offer a gym and fitness programs to help you stay as active as possible while being as safe as possible.
You can also keep your mind active and pursue a purpose while living in senior living. There are many activities and events designed to do just that. Things like intergenerational day camps, museum lectures, cooking classes, and fundraising committees all contribute towards an active mind and purpose.
The best benefit of senior living when it comes to happiness is the way it strengthens social connections. At a senior living community, you never have to be alone. There’s always something to do or someone to talk to. If you’re willing to put yourself out there, you may find some of greatest friendships are formed with new neighbors.
At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we want everyone to experience happiness and thrive. If you want to learn more about how senior living can help you or a loved one find happiness, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here. We have three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio.
I feel like explore made for a more catching section title than research – so I updated the heading here, let me know what you think!