UNLOCK THE POWER OF BOOKS How Reading Keeps Your Mind Sharp
The written word has a way of moving us. Our imaginations can soar as we envision the descriptions in our minds. If we’re lucky, our reading can also give us something to use in our daily lives. That’s why getting lost in a book is an enjoyable hobby for anyone — especially older adults. Whether you enjoy romance, poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, here are three benefits you can experience through reading. IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION AND MEMORY Daily exercise is recommended to retain muscle and mobility in your body. The same applies to your brain. When reading, you’re technically exercising and flexing your mind — it helps improve basic brain functioning and memory retention. According to a study posted on Neurology, participants who engaged in mental activities (like reading) reduced their rates of memory decline by 32%. Their short-term memory also improved, making it easier to recall daily events. SHARPENS DECISION-MAKING SKILLS As you age, making decisions and solving problems can become more challenging. Fortunately, reading can improve your analytical and reasoning skills! When you read, you stimulate areas of your brain responsible for empathy and emotion, both of which enhance your ability to keep an open mind while processing information. That means making decisions, solving problems, and choosing between options can become easier. REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY You may go for a walk, listen to music, sip your favorite tea or coffee, or turn on your favorite show when you want to relax. However, reading is an even better way to decompress. In a study at Minlab International at the University of Sussex, participants took only six minutes to decrease their heart rate and relax their muscles after they began reading. Another study from the University of Toronto found that those who read often are less likely to make impulsive decisions; they think before reacting and are more open to change. Because frequent readers can process information and prepare for uncertainties more easily, their anxiety levels tend to be lower than those of nonreaders. In honor of National Book Lovers Day this month, take some time to curl up with a good book. What are some of your favorite reads? We would love to hear from you!
When parents become empty nesters, they have much more time on their hands — more time with their spouses, after work, and more time to focus on what they want to do! But for many empty nesters, all this extra time can invoke loneliness — especially if they don’t have friends to share it with. The truth is that having kids and raising a family takes focus. For example, a survey by Action for Children found that 68% of parents felt they had become “cut off from friends, colleagues, and family after the birth of a child.” Another study from Demographic Research found that “the strength of friendships typically decreases after people become parents.” So, it’s unsurprising that many empty nesters feel lonely and isolated after their children leave; friendships have taken the backseat to parenthood over the previous 18 years. Research, however, shows that a lack of social connections as individuals age can lead to a higher risk of depression, poor sleep, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and a weakened immune system. Even though making friends can be challenging for empty nesters and older adults, these three tips can help you find new friends! GET OUT AND PRACTICE! Unfortunately, new friends won’t just show up at your door. Look for events in your community and attend them! It may feel nerve-wracking initially, but most events typically only last an hour, and you can try as many as you’d like! You’ll be around people with similar interests, making finding new friends easier. BE INTENTIONAL. If you attend an event or find yourself out and about, make a concerted effort to make friends, not just idle chit-chat. If you notice someone else sitting alone, strike up a conversation! Or, if you start talking with someone and really click with them, ask for their phone number or email to stay in touch. STAY OPTIMISTIC. Not every person you meet will want to be friends, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Even if all of your efforts only result in one new friendship, that’s one new person you didn’t have in your life before, and sometimes, that’s all it takes to make a difference. FRIENDS WANTED! An Empty Nester’s Guide to New Connections
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