Six Happy Little Things for Seniors to Enjoy in a Changing World

It’s amazing how much the past year has demonstrated all of the things that we take for granted. Small things such as enjoying a coffee with a friend, having someone visit us, and even hugging our grandchildren. 

Now that we can return to many of our daily activities, we can focus on appreciating the small things in life and treating ourselves where possible. We can cherish the relationships with friends and family that we have. 

Here are some activities for seniors that help us appreciate the small things and stay positive. 

Happy little thing 1: Have a spa day at home

If you dread spending time at home, you can turn your home into a spa. There are so many objects that are available to help you relax and destress without leaving your front door. 

This foot bubble spa is a great activity for seniors to destress. There are many benefits of foot baths including relaxing tension in your body and mind. Spa baths can also increase the activity of white blood cells to boost your immune system. This keeps you healthy and feeling great. 

And, as part of our December promotion, we are giving away a free Beurer Aromatherapy Foot Bubble Spa each to three lucky winners. Feel free to enter the competition for your chance to win. 

Massaging areas such as your feet and neck can help you feel calm, relaxed, and rejuvenated. 

Another activity for seniors to help you relax is this neck and back massager. It provides a soothing shiatsu massage. It specifically focuses on your neck and shoulders which can often be hard to reach. 

Happy little thing 2: Get together with friends 

Over the past few months, many of us have realized that we cannot take our friends for granted. 

Now that we can have people in our homes and can relax at a cafe, making plans with friends is a great way to boost our happiness and give us something to look forward to. 

A great activity for seniors in aged care is to get together and play cards. Games such as bridge or canasta are often favourites and games that need (at least) four people to enjoy. 

If you struggle to see the numbers on regular playing cards, consider purchasing these giant low vision playing cards. Or, buy them for a friend as a Hanukkah or Christmas present. 

If you live in aged care, see what activities for seniors in assisted living are planned and try to attend. These could include birthday parties for other residents, pet therapy, or sewing. 

This is always a great way to make new friends or even learn a new skill. It’s never too late!

Happy little thing 3: Spend quality time with family

While the phone and Zoom have been great tools while we were stuck at home, we can now spend time with our loved ones in person. 

Spending time together lets us learn about how people are doing without the barrier of a screen between us. 

Plus, there is nothing that can replace enjoying a home-cooked meal with the people who love you.

Happy little thing 4: Wear Clothes that Make you Feel Good

Children are often told that new runners make them run faster. 

There is some truth to that. Buying new clothes and shoes helps give us a boost in confidence and can impact our mood.

It makes us feel good about ourselves which leads to having more energy and feeling happier.

As well, going out to the shops to find something new to wear is also a great activity for seniors on a warm summer afternoon. 

And, if you want to continue shopping online, that is always a great activity for seniors in aged care. It adds a burst of excitement to your day when your package turns up (especially if it’s early!) 

Happy little thing 5: Keep a positive attitude

It’s amazing how we think affects how we feel. Even if you don’t feel great, smile when you wake up in the morning. This small gesture helps trigger other positive emotional responses in the body to keep you happy. 

Setting goals each morning and checking them off your list when completed also helps you feel productive.

Accepting who you are and everything that you have achieved in your life is also a way to stay positive. While things might be different now, thinking back fondly on what you have done will help inspire confidence and motivation to stay inspired. 

Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is another way to appreciate what you have in life. This can include taking time each day to thank someone for what they have done. An activity for seniors in assisted living can be to reflect and allow you to think about (or write about) what you are grateful for. 

While it is easy to think about the negatives and troubles, thinking about things as simple as being able to see, speak, and connect with others are things to be grateful for.

Happy little thing 6: Record your Memories in a Book

Spending time looking through photos and collecting them into a book is a great activity for seniors in assisted living. It gives you a chance to think about different stages of your life and the people who are important to you.

The book can include pictures, memorable events, and quotes from important or inspirational people in your life. 

It is also an activity for seniors to work on and stay busy. 

The project, as well as the finished book, can be a great conversation starter. Every time someone visits, a great activity for seniors in aged care can be to focus on sharing a different event or time in your life. 

If you enjoy using the computer, you can also create your book in a digital format. Some companies that can help you do that are Memories and blurb. They have templates to get started and provide space to upload photos, stories, and other important memories. 

Research tells us that happiness in life follows a reverse U-shaped curve. Overall, childhood is a happy and fulfilling time for people. As we progress into adulthood the stress of careers and family mean happiness plummets. 

Moving towards the senior years, people tend to be happier again. So, it’s time to take advantage of this special time in your life, enjoy the little things, and don’t sweat the small stuff.