SanGenLife

These tips for a healthy life are brought to you by guest contributor, Hazel Bridges. Check out her website at agingwellness.org.

Staying young at heart doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg!

The new year is a great time to implement new low- and no-cost routines that focus on creating a happy and healthy life. Whether your goal is to implement an affordable yet tasty new eating routine, get more exercise, or spend extra time with your loved ones and grandkids, pathways to living in a positive and exciting new year abound. 

Eating Healthy

Food isn’t just fuel for our bodies, it also represents an opportunity to bond while planning, preparing, and enjoying meals together. All of the generations in your family can come together — live or virtually —  to share recipes that feature fresh fruits and veggies and nutritious whole grains. 

Get creative in finding affordable ways to incorporate new eating patterns that taste great and make everyone look and feel their best. Browse online for free recipes and online cooking tutorials, and commit to trying new things. Involve extended family and friends to create interactive group meal times. You might even consider making a collective family recipe book with new meal prep ideas and cost-saving tips that multiple generations can enjoy.

Making New Moves

While many people equate exercise with boring routines they need to power through, there’s no reason why physical activity can’t be fun and enjoyable. According to LiveAbout.com, walking, biking, and playing good, old-fashioned games like catch, frisbee, or badminton are all ways to increase your heart rate and get your blood flowing. And they’re free! 

Playing tag or hide-and-seek with grandkids represents an opportunity to be active and have a fun bonding experience at the same time, as do nature walks, bird watching, and wallet-friendly downloadable arts and crafts projects. Having a good time and entertaining yourself and your family doesn’t need to mean going out and spending money — you simply need to find enjoyable pursuits that meet your budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences.   

Nurturing Family Connections

According to Focus on the Family, spending time with loved ones is a great way to feel emotionally uplifted. Whether in person or via electronic means, education-disguised-as-fun activities can be entertaining and affordable and serve as powerful brain boosters. Put together a puzzle, play cards or board games, or devise clues for a scavenger hunt to create the feeling of connection. 

You can find interesting and engaging projects from various retailers for less using online coupons, like this KiwiCo promo code. You can also make your own personalized projects. For example, a grandchild interviewing a grandparent about their early life can be a heartwarming project that the whole family will enjoy being part of.

Maintaining Mental Health

Having a healthy life isn’t just about family connections and healthy eating and exercise. It’s also important to keep your mental and emotional health in a good place. Practice mindful meditation, employ an attitude of gratitude, and focus on the positive elements of life, rather than dwelling on the negative aspects you have little control over. Start and finish each day with a list of things you’re grateful for, and encourage your family and close friends to do the same. Journaling can be a lovely self-reflective way to aid in this journey.

The new year is a great time to create new habits and implement new routines that have the potential to have a positive impact on the way you live, learn, and love all year long. Remind yourself that you don’t have to spend money to enjoy the great outdoors, share a joke, read a book, or listen to your favorite music. As the saying goes, the best things in life are free!