“Believe it or not, some of the smallest actions can have the most significant impact on your overall health. Improving and maintaining your whole-body health may be as simple as making a few basic changes to your daily routine. Instead of revamping your entire life, adopt some of these healthy habits and see how good you feel!

1. Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Before you do anything, take a moment to make sure the air in your home is clean. Did you know indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than outdoors? Poor indoor air quality can cause coughing, sneezing, fatigue, dizziness, and asthma. Indoor pollution may even contribute to depression and cardiovascular disease. Since most sources of indoor air pollution are unavoidable, one of the best ways to keep your home’s air clean is to change your furnace filters regularly. Choose filters with a MERV rating of 6 or higher to filter out microscopic mold spores, pet dander, and other extremely fine particles from your air.

2. Take a 20-Minute Walk Every Day

The CDC advises that older adults get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Broken down, that’s only about 20 minutes every day. Walking is one of the best exercises for seniors — it’s easy to adjust your pace and session length to match to your fitness level.Walking reduces pain, lowers blood sugar, boosts your mental health, and keeps your heart healthy. Older adults can also benefit from flexibility and balance training to help reduce their risk of falls and remain independent long into their golden years.

3. Focus Your Diet on Vital Nutrients

Seniors have to pay special attention to their nutrient intake since a declining appetite can make it difficult for the body to get everything it needs to function optimally. Try to eat a balanced diet of nutrient-dense foods rather than filling up on foods that provide little to no added value, like soda, baked goods, salty snacks, and pasta.

4. Attend Routine Dental and Vision Checkups

Most people go to their general doctors for regular checkups, but not enough of us have our dental, vision, and hearing health evaluated on a regular basis. Dental health is especially important for seniors since gum disease can contribute to heart conditions, pneumonia, and diabetes. Likewise, eye doctors will check for signs of eye disease so they can be treated quickly and stop preventable vision loss. According to the National Eye Institute, seniors have a higher risk of glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease.

5. Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Your skin can be damaged by the sun in any weather, increasing your risk of skin cancer. Unfortunately, a senior’s skin is more vulnerable to damage. Use large amounts of high-SPF sunscreen when you go outside. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats will also help you stay protected. Finally, try to avoid being outside during the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest.

6. Engage in Stress-Busting Activities

Did you know stress can have a negative effect on your physical health? Stress can cause digestive issues, contribute to hair loss, prevent you from sleeping, and lead to risky high blood pressure. Try to keep your stress levels down by participating in enjoyable, relaxing activities. Yoga and meditation are wonderful options that have been shown to alleviate stress and help reduce the body’s fight or flight response.

Even if you feel completely in control of your health right now, taking preventive steps to avoid illness and injury will help you enjoy your health for many years to come. Don’t let disability sneak up on you and keep you from enjoying your golden years. Although these healthy habits are so simple, they can have a huge impact on your life.”

-Karen Weeks