Senior Living to the Fullest!
12 tips to live your best life, starting today!
_______________________________________________

Tip #3 is all about Creative Expression!

There’s no age limit to creativity. You don’t even need to consider yourself ‘artistic’ or ‘creative’ to enjoy and benefit from the activities that can help you to express yourself in new and creative ways. Creative expression is the ability to understand and express our personal emotions outwardly and to play with our imagination. Outlets like drawing, painting, writing, dancing, playing music, and so on, can have a multitude of benefits for people from all walks of life, seniors especially. As we age, we tend to forget how important it is to keep expressing, challenging, and reconnecting with ourselves to grow and learn new ideas and skills.

Self-expression is a tool that everyone can use differently. It can be an opportunity to get our frustrations and feelings out on a piece of paper, or to have a good time by singing and dancing like no one is watching, or maybe it’s how we communicate and connect with the world around us. No matter the reason, everyone can benefit, and we all express ourselves in one way or another… so why not get creative with it!

Don’t stress! Here are a few ways you can kickstart your creative side:

• Buy a painting kit – We can still get creative while also having a guideline to follow. Challenge yourself with a paint-by-number or ceramic and see what happens!
• Free write – Grab a blank piece of paper and a pencil and go for it. Whatever comes to your mind, allow yourself to freely write everything down and don’t think twice about it.
• Sing & dance like no one’s watching – put your favorite song on, close your eyes, and allow yourself to move freely without any hesitation. It’s harder than you think but once you let go of your EGO and relax, you’ll be surprised how amazing your mind and body feel after.
• Try something new – How do you know you don’t like it, if you haven’t tried it? Join a new activity or program at the Village and see where it takes you. Maybe you’ll love it… maybe you’ll hate it… what really matters is that you tried and learned something about yourself!

*Remember* the purpose of creative expression is to allow individuals to explore the many ways to discover and express their feelings, ideas, cultures, and values. No matter what you decide to do, try not to take yourself too seriously and have fun! Practice does not make perfect, it makes improvement! It’s all about you and what makes you feel good.

Creative expressions have been found to rekindle memories from our youth bringing about that carefree joy that accompanies such activities. Studies show that improved mood, greater overall enjoyment of life, and stronger social connections are a direct result of creative expression. At Harbour Landing Village, we see the value and importance of integrating this into our programming and activities that are offered to our residents every single day. We provide an atmosphere that invites residents to try new things and get outside of their comfort zone. Between the events, programs, clubs, and activities that are available, there’s a great opportunity to get creative in how we express ourselves!

Click this link to our activities page to see all the wonderful programs and events that we provide our seniors OR contact us to book your tour today!

(306)559-5545     |     info@hlvillage.ca     |     4000 James Hill Rd.

Senior Living to the Fullest!
12 tips to live your best life, starting today!
_______________________________________________

Tip #1 is all about movement & mobility!

Being active is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. It comes with many benefits that can help to make us physically and mentally stronger! Studies have shown that seniors who exercise on a regular basis can prevent or delay the cognitive decline caused by dementia and other health problems. It’s important to start slowly, listen to your body, and remember that every step counts and being active doesn’t have to be hard or boring! Simply sitting less and taking the long way to get to where you’re going is a good place to start. Even activities like playing pool, crafting, or coloring can help our hands stay loose and mobile. While you’re making your New Year’s resolutions, consider adding something that will increase your levels of movement and/or improve mobility.

Mobility is defined as your joint’s ability to move freely through a specific range of motion smoothly and pain-free! As we grow, our mobility will start to fade so it’s important to keep listening to our bodies and do what feels good and benefits us. In other words: If you don’t use it, you lose it.

What can I do to improve my mobility through movement and activity?

• Stretching for at least 30 seconds each morning or night can help to loosen our muscles and joints. It’s a great way to start or end the day and a chance to take a moment inward and listen to what our bodies need.
• Take a long way around. Instead of going straight from point A to B… consider stopping at C and D to get in those extra steps.
• Join a class! Being active with a group of people can help to motivate and encourage us to keep going! There’s an endless amount of groups you can join that have a wide range of exercises that improve movement, mobility, balance, strength, and so on!
• Ask a friend to join you! Having a buddy to keep you motivated and hold you accountable is a great way to support one another to get moving! Plan a walk each Thursday afternoon or try a new activity together.

Because physical activity is paramount to seniors’ overall health and well-being, Harbour Landing Village is proud to offer a variety of activities and exercises that can be adapted to any fitness level. We encourage a positive attitude towards physical activity & exercise by providing numerous ways to get active and have fun while doing so. If you’re interested in what the Village has to offer, book a tour today by calling 306-559-5545.

For the month of November, our monthly ‘Pillar of Successful Aging’ was all about financial security!

Why is being financially secure SO important? Everything costs money and we need it to do pretty much anything! Having financial freedom, security and independence is a sure way to keep our stress levels at a minimum. It’s never too late to take control of your financial situation and it’s important to be aware of the financial position you’re currently in. Getting to a point where you feel fully financially stable may take some time and lots of practice. It also differs from one person to the next. Setting goals and boundaries for yourself when it comes to saving and spending is always a good idea, so here are some ideas on where you can start…

Knowing the difference between wants and needs. When we can recognize something as essential or not, we are able to make better choices on what we spend our money on. Although you may really want that brand new handbag or pricy pair of shoes, do you REALLY need them? Stop to think about if this is something you need or just really want. Often, we get caught up in the latest fad and since everyone else has the updated new and shiny things, we want it too. Next month, it will be something else that’s newer and shinier that everyone will want. Be mindful of the difference.

It’s good to know where our money is ACTUALLY going because as we all know, it’s way too easy to overspend and then be left wondering where all our money went. Budgeting is an awesome tool to keep track of what we spend our money on. Start by documenting everything you spend your money on in a month and you’ll be able to see your spending patterns on paper. It might surprise you how quickly a $4 coffee every day adds up. From there, you will be able to make certain adjustments that align with your goals. Yes, money is meant to be spent. And yes, it comes and goes. However, it’s important to take a portion of what’s coming in and save it for yourself. Pay yourself first, lock it up, and save it for later.

Lastly, consider talking to a trusted family member or financial advisor about your financial position. If you haven’t already, think about creating a savings or investment plan. No matter your age, having some type of long-term and the short-term plan is always a good idea. This can ensure that we are able to afford ALL of our needs AND wants. Knowing just how much you save and spend will tell you how much flexibility you may have now and in the future. This is something a professional can help you to calculate and understand. The last thing we want is to believe we have a certain amount of money and then find out the hard way, we don’t! Take some of the weight off your own shoulders and leave it up to the professionals.

Being financially secure is an essential component to live comfortably and freely. It’s never too early or too late to start thinking about how we make better financial decisions and choices for our future selves.

Never Stop Learning!

Making lifelong learning part of the later years fosters a sense of personal empowerment and increased self-esteem. It ensures continued growth and intellectual stimulation, leading to a more fulfilling, enjoyable, and enriched lifestyle. We all associate education with school and college, but it doesn’t just stop there. Lifelong learning is the idea that we never stop learning and every day is an opportunity to learn something new!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Whether you’re 20 or 80 years old, using your mind is essential to your overall health. Keeping our minds sharp is important as we grow and change throughout our lifetime. The perspectives beliefs, and opinions we once had may adapt and change as time goes on. We can think of our brains as one giant muscle that also needs just as much love, attention, and exercise as any other muscle in our body. Like Mom always said, “Use it, or lose it”!

At Harbour Landing Village, we strive to engage our residents to participate in daily activities. Getting socially involved in the Village is a great way to learn new things and connect with one another. By challenging yourself or putting yourself in new environments, you open the door to learning new things about yourself and the people around you. The inter-generational aspect of HLV is unique because we can bring multiple generations together and learn from one another. Through these interactions, stories, lessons, and knowledge circulate all while building better and stronger connections. The beauty of conversation is that everyone has something to bring to the table and we can learn a lot from someone just by simply opening our ears.

Learning something new doesn’t have to be boring and it doesn’t have to mean stuffing our noses into a dry old textbook. Whether it’s a new skill, hobby, or activity, you can make it fun and easy. It can be as simple as starting a conversation with a stranger or playing a game with your friends. One of the best ways to never stop learning is to join a class or club! By joining a group of people who also want to learn new things, you surround yourself with like-minded people.

Have you learned something new today? Here are a few fun facts for the day:

• Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable. They’re technically considered a single-seeded berry, believe it or not.
• Venus is the only planet to spin clockwise. It travels around the sun once every 225 Earth days but it rotates clockwise once every 243 days.
• A chef’s hat has 100 pleats. Apparently, it’s meant to represent the 100 ways you can cook an egg. Wonder if Gordon Ramsay knows that.

Now you have!

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/a33367076/fun-facts-random/