Anneliese Peterson | Jun 23, 2022
Too much time spent indoors can negatively impact your health — and science can even prove it. A lack of sunshine and natural vitamin D will naturally quickly diminish a person's mood. For anyone living in the Midwest, or anywhere prone to rainy or snowy weather, that makes staying active while indoors all the more important for both your physical and mental health.
So what are some good ways to stay busy in your home? We recommend trying these activities.
1. Play games
Get together with a couple of friends and enjoy an afternoon or evening of board and card games. Make it a fun occasion and enjoy a nice lunch or dinner, or just stock up on plenty of healthy snacks. Have your house to yourself? No problem — Solitaire is one of the best games to play alone. Not only will a game make the time pass faster, but it helps keep you sharp.
2. Read a good book
Reading is mentally stimulating and helps reduce stress. In fact, people over age 50 who read regularly have been shown to have increased lifespans. Keep a stack of your favorite books close by, or grab a book from the library when the forecast for the week ahead looks gloomy.
3. Visit a friend or family member
Older adults who maintain close friendships have been shown to increase happiness and improved well-being. The same goes for spending time with family. The closer you stay to the people you love, and the more time you spend with them, has a direct impact on your overall health.
4. Challenge yourself with a crossword puzzle
Find a challenging crossword puzzle and exercise your mind. Puzzles can help pass time, get your mind off a gloomy day, keep your brain healthy, and build your confidence to boost your mood.
5. Watch a favorite TV show
TV is an easy way to kill time and relax when the weather outside is less than ideal. In fact, it can even be good for you. Psychologists have found that watching old TV shows that feed nostalgia can have psychological benefits, including helping you feel safe and secure. So put your feet up, grab your remote, and tune into your go-to show.
6. Work on a knitting or crochet project
Knitting, crocheting, and crafting are common pastimes for all ages. But what many people don't know about knitting is that it has hidden health benefits, including reducing blood pressure and improving mindfulness. It also is an easy way to get ahead of birthday and holiday gifts to give to your loved ones (or yourself).
7. Enjoy some indoor sunshine
You don't have to miss out on sunshine just because it has gone into hiding. Sun lamps may help some people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), vitamin D deficiency, or sleep issues. Many people find that just 30 minutes to an hour each day near a sun lamp can improve their mood.
8. Plug into social networking
If you're feeling alone and are unable to visit with a friend or loved one in person, why not get social with social networking? If you have a social media account such as Facebook, say hello to a friend or two and catch up on life. Best of all, you can see pictures of where they are today, no matter where they live.
9. Take a nap
Grey days naturally make us sleepy, so there's no shame in taking a cat nap. In fact, naps have been shown to decrease stress, reduce fatigue, make you more alert, and they can even help with faster memory recall and reaction times.
10. Tackle a puzzle
Puzzles are fun to do on your own or with a family member, spouse, or friend. Best of all, they're versatile — pick out a puzzle with fewer pieces for a quick activity, or get one that's more complex that you can work on over the week or on the next grey day.
Senior living communities make grey days easier
Senior living communities can offer residents emotional, physical, social, and spiritual activities to help them remain healthy and upbeat. Common social activities we offer include shopping outings, game nights, movie nights, crafts, writing groups, spiritual groups, evening snack hours, and so much more.
The communities at Walker offer everyone peace of mind while residents can enjoy the active social life they enjoy both physically and mentally. Learn more about life enrichment opportunities.
