How to Keep a Positive Mindset When Life Brings Big Changes
Learning how to keep a positive mindset may benefit your health and overall quality of life. Exercising, socializing, and engaging in hobbies may help build emotional flexibility in aging seniors.
According to research conducted by YouGov, 70% of Americans believe that positive thinking can change outcomes in life. About 71% of seniors aged 65 and older are optimists.
Optimistic people tend to live longer. Optimism may combat stress, which can reduce your risk of chronic, age-related conditions.
Unsure how to keep a positive mindset? What is the link between optimism and aging well in Temple, TX? Read on to find out!
Why Is Emotional Flexibility in Aging Important?
According to the American Institute of Stress, over 50% of adults say stress is the top lifestyle factor that impacts their mental health. About 44% of seniors aged 50 to 80 feel stressed. Stress can cause inflammation, which is associated with health conditions like:
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Alzheimer's disease
- Certain cancers
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
Developing emotional flexibility and resilience may help you navigate stressful situations.Lowering your stress levels may help reduce your risk of developing these chronic conditions.
Stress can also lead to self-isolation and loneliness. Seniors face a higher risk of self-isolation and loneliness, which may cause:
- Early death
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer's disease
- Cognitive decline
- A weakened immune system
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Anxiety
- Depression
Strengthening your emotional health may improve your physical and mental health. It could help reduce your risk of developing age-related diseases. Improving your overall health may enhance your quality of life and retirement in Temple.
What's the Link Between Optimism and Aging Well?
Gaining emotional strength may help reduce stress. You can develop emotional resilience by staying optimistic and seeing the positives in stressful situations. According to two studies funded by the National Institute on Aging, optimism is linked to longevity and wellness.
Staying optimistic and gaining emotional flexibility in aging may help:
- Improve your cognitive health (executive functioning, memory, etc.)
- Extend your longevity
- Encourage you to make healthier lifestyle decisions (diet, exercise, etc.)
- Make you more approachable (leading to friendships and reducing your risk of loneliness)
- Reduce stress
- Improve your physical health
How to Keep a Positive Mindset
Staying positive could benefit your overall health and quality of life after retirement. Here are a few tips to help build emotional flexibility in aging seniors.
Healthy Habits
Try adopting healthy habits like exercising and eating healthy meals. Exercising can boost the production of brain chemicals like endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can improve your mood and outlook on life.
You can find fun exercise classes through your senior living community's fitness program, including:
- Yoga or chair yoga
- Tennis or pickleball
- Weight lifting or resistance band training
- Swimming or water aerobics
- Aerobics classes
- Tai chi
- Pilates
Ask friends to join you. Exercising alongside friends may push you to work out harder and more often.
You can find healthy meals through your senior living community's dining program. Eating with friends may help:
- Strengthen relationships
- Reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness
- Relieve stress
- Increase happiness and your sense of belonging
- Improve your communication skills
- Encourage healthier decisions and mindful eating
- Encourage laughter
Engage in Hobbies
Discovering new passions could increase self-reported happiness and life satisfaction. You can find fun hobbies through your senior living community's events and activities calendar, including:
- Scrapbooking
- Sculpting
- Drawing and painting
- Knitting and crocheting
- Sewing and quilting
- Card games and poker tournaments
- Dance classes
- Cooking and baking classes
- Movie or book clubs
Attending these group activities can enhance your sense of belonging.You can meet like-minded seniors who share your passions.
Engaging in hobbies may help:
- Improve brain health and function
- Lower blood pressure
- Relieve stress
- Reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
- Enhance sleep
Stay Social
Socializing can enhance your sense of belonging within your Temple community. To connect with other seniors, explore your community's events and activities calendar. Otherwise, consider:
- Volunteering
- Attending exercise classes
- Visiting the local library for senior events
- Taking classes to continue your education
- Attending excursions with other seniors
- Joining a support group
Joining a support group can offer comfort while you're adapting to new routines. They can validate your feelings and offer coping techniques as you adjust.
Mindset and Senior Transitions
The transition into a senior living community can feel stressful. Try maintaining a positive mindset. You can also:
- Ask the staff members for help
- Make new friends to enhance your sense of belonging
- Personalize your living space
- Get to know your new neighbors
- Establish a routine
- Explore local events and activities
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Negativity?
There's no one cause of negative thinking. However, potential root origins that may contribute to negative thinking include:
- Your upbringing and childhood experiences
- Societal pressure, expectations, and norms
- The impact of past traumatic events
- Personal relationships (including toxic or unhealthy relationships)
- Life challenges and setbacks
- Mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, and personality disorders included)
- Cognitive distortions (irrational thoughts or beliefs that distort your perception of reality)
The next time you encounter a negative thought, try to shift your perception. Use self-care strategies like mindfulness and journaling to explore your thoughts and feelings. These methods can help you reframe your thought patterns.
What Are the Six Steps to a Positive Attitude?
The six steps to a positive attitude are:
- Starting your day off right with a positive thought
- Expressing gratitude
- Surrounding yourself with positive people
- Learning from setbacks
- Practicing self-care
- Staying curious to continue learning
If you encounter a negative thought, try to remain patient with yourself. Reframe the situation by focusing on the positives. Remember, you can find more helpful resources for mindset and senior transitions through your community.
Discover Resilience Over 70
Learning how to keep a positive mindset may benefit your overall health and longevity. Improving your health will allow you to make the most of your retirement in Temple. Remember, you can find more helpful resources through your local senior living community.
Morada Temple is a member of the Discovery Senior Living family of management companies, which proudly ranks number one in customer satisfaction among assisted living and memory care communities in the J.D. Power 2025 US Senior Living Satisfaction Study. Discover our exclusive lifestyle programs for abundant senior living. Contact us now to schedule your tour.