Senior Snippets

Welcome to the latest edition of our monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Annie Dixon-Dunn of Home Instead Redditch & Bromsgrove.

In this instalment, I will be sharing some tips to help boost your mood. As we begin to enter life after lockdown, it’s more important than ever to keep an upbeat state of mind in order to lead a positive lifestyle.

Eating healthy foods and exercising are obvious ways to remain fit and healthy but there are many other adjustments we can make to improve our mental health and state of mind.

Here are some mood boosting tips:

• Laugh - As adults we often forget to just enjoy ourselves and laugh more. Laughing releases endorphins into our body which increase serotonin levels in our brain, causing us to instantly feel happier. Life doesn’t need to always be taken too seriously. • Practice gratitude - It’s important to recognise what we’re grateful for, acknowledge it, and appreciate it. When you wake up in the morning, try and think of a few things that you are grateful for and notice the difference it makes to your mood. • Talk to someone - Whether it’s a friend from your social bubble, a relative via FaceTime or the phone or a neighbour over the garden fence, knowing you have someone you can turn to can help to put your mind at ease. Don’t forget to be there for someone else too, as this can brighten your mood just by knowing you have helped someone else. Remember the advert - ‘it’s good to talk’. • Surround yourself - With positive scents and sounds. Sometimes when we feel our mood dipping it is good to surround yourself with scents which can lift your mood. Lavender can be seen as relaxing, whereas peppermint can help to soothe your overactive mind. This can work just as well with your favourite perfume. Listen to your favourite music and light a candle; you may find yourself feeling great afterwards. • Take deep breaths - We don’t often concentrate on our breathing because it’s a natural function, but consciously focusing on your breathing and taking deep breaths can relieve stress and increase relaxation. Simply place one hand on the abdomen and one hand on the lower ribs and take a breath that starts in your abdomen and works its way up your body. Control your breathing by breathing in for three to five seconds, hold for the same amount of time and slowly exhale out through your mouth. Do this for three minutes and you will feel the stress melt away.

For more information about Home Instead or if you have a suggestion for a future topic, write to me at annie.dixon-dunn@ homeinstead.co.uk. Alternatively, call me on 01527 810855.

Home Instead because home care is the best care

Providing high-quality, companionship-based, relationship-led care to the local community as they age.  We provide support and encouragement to enable you to maintain independence in your own home.  We always stay for at least one hour, or longer to suit your needs  We match you to local, friendly CAREGivers who you will see on a regular basis and build lasting relationships.  A dedicated and supportive office based team, who will be there every step of the way with you on your care journey.  Every CAREGiver is hand selected for their caring nature, DBS checked and PPE trained.

Dementia Care Home Help Personal Care Companionship We’re here to help find the right care for you and your loved ones. To find out more call us on 01527 810 855 Visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/rb