As exciting as it is to buy a new house and move, it’s hard on senior health and well being. I can personally attest to the fact that packing and moving are major risks to aging well. My husband Rob and I moved to Arizona this year after living in Mexico for 15 years. We found out how much moving is one of the biggest pitfalls to aging well.
We’re recuperating, but we are both feeling the pain in joints, backs, and muscles. It strained our usually optimistic and positive attitudes. Our sense of humor took a big hit. This is what they mean by “getting old isn’t for sissies.” But sometimes, you can’t avoid moving. You can, however avoid the pitfalls to aging well.
There are many reasons older people pack up and move. Sooner or later, we decide to downsize, move to warmer climates, or buy into a fun resort community with like-minded healthy compatriots. No matter the reason, here are some tips for avoiding heart attacks, mental melt downs, physical injuries, and divorce or homicide. Especially now, during the pandemic, it’s important to minimize stress and promote aging well.
Hormesis: What Doesn’t Kill You…
On the plus side, the physical challenges of packing and hauling boxes are good for your muscles (hoping you still have some after sarcopenia lays waste to your body). Also, you needn’t worry about going to the gym, you get plenty of cardio and strength training at home. The body thrives on challenges. As long as you don’t injure joints, especially the back.
The problems start with picking up boxes that would have been easy to do a few years ago. If you’ve been an active senior, lifting weights regularly, you don’t back down from challenges. Until a box falls on your foot. Or you scrape the skin off a shin…and then lose balance and fall which leaves bruises.
Pitfalls to Aging Well: Not Eating Right
You may not need to worry much about diet during the packing up and clearing out of boxes in the garage. The added physical exertion means that any excess calories are burned up. However, seniors still need to pay attention to quality of caloric intake.
The problem come with ignoring meal times and just snacking. When you grab something packaged or already prepared, you ingest unhealthy fats and sugars. That means that in addition to the exertion of muscles, your body must deal with empty calories and an excess of Omega-6 oils that are pro- inflammatory. Good nourishment during the packing phase will mean you get less tired and have more stamina.
Pitfalls of Aging Well: Dealing with Loss
The reasons you are moving contribute to whether stress is experienced in positive or negative ways. The death of a partner is one reason seniors decide to move. This entails sorting through a loved one’s things, deciding what to keep, what to give and to whom, and dealing with the emotional loss.
This is where reaching out to others for help comes in, and many seniors aren’t adept at asking. Don’t go it alone. Even if you have to pay a professional, get help to process the grief.
Even without losing someone, sorting through personal affects can be emotionally draining. Decide what things to keep, but get rid of unnecessary clutter. If it’s really important, trust your memory or those of your close ties. One friend discovered boxes of her fathers’ souvenirs from 50 years ago. She worked with a friend to help sort out what was valuable to keep, and what could really be tossed. She couldn’t have done it on her own, she was too sentimentally involved.
Aging Well: Express Gratitude
When working with a partner, remember to keep conversations positive. It’s not the time to remind anyone that they didn’t like their high school years so why hold onto the yearbook. KYMS: keep your mouth shut.
You and your partner have differences and there’s nothing like a move to bring those out. This is the time to work with each other and reinforce your shared good points, not to correct faults. For example, one of you may be organized, the other not so much. Decide to compromise, there’s no perfect way to pack (or unpack).
Stick to Basics for Aging Well
Here are a few basic guidelines for handling the stress of moving so that it doesn’t destroy your health. Particularly now, during the risk of the Corona virus to seniors, protect your immune system (and your relationships!) by remembering these daily healthy habits.
- Start your day by stretching muscles. If you’re familiar with a system like yoga or tai chi, use it. Stretch from your head, neck, shoulders, arms, waist, hips, legs and feet. Do this before starting any of your moving tasks, but especially before picking up and carrying stuff.
- Remember to stick to real food and avoid processed or packaged food. You may have to prepare things in advance, like salads, carrot sticks, and stock the fridge with fruits and veggies. Don’t drink sodas or sugary juices. Avoid alcohol. Stick to water and drink more than you think you meed.
- Some people start their day with meditation, and if you don’t have that skill, you can find some helpful “tapes” online. Just sit back, breathe, and let an expert guide you through de-stressing and relaxation. It will help your focus and attention, and prevent emotional flare ups.
- Express gratitude. Keep your focus on the good parts of moving, what you’re looking forward to, and what you appreciate about this event. Remember to verbalize positive comments, and dismiss the tendency to complain.
- Every night you have an opportunity to eliminate toxins (garages and storage units have a lot) through quality sleep. But during a move, you may find it difficult to “turn off” your “to-do” lists. If you haven’t optimized your sleep routine yet, do so now. Make a gratitude list of the positive things that were experienced during the day.
If this sounds too pollyann-ish, remember that Harvard and Yale and other centers of research have validated evidence of the power of positive thinking. You can make your moving experience better by following these basic lifestyle guidelines.
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