Too many of us are not morning people. We don’t like to get out of bed, we don’t care to face our daily chores or jobs, and other stresses of the day.
But, having a solid morning routine can have many benefits. In particular, seniors can reap many benefits from a regular morning routine.
Benefits of a Morning Routine
Children, adults, and seniors can all benefit from a consistent morning routine. For seniors, once they are no longer working and raising their families, time can become meaningless.
Sameness Means Stability
Getting up at the same time every morning and following the same routine provides a constant in a person’s life that may have been missing.
Consistency in the morning helps to carry that throughout the entire day. Starting each day the same way builds healthy habits to ensure everything we do is structured.
Less Stress
Knowing what you are doing all day makes each step less stressful. When you know what to expect, there are few surprises and that means you are not stressed over them.
If there is a change of plans when you have consistency, you are far better prepared to cope with snags and obstacles that may pop up. A structured routine gives you a sense of control.
Mental Clarity
Starting your day off with a routine means you can focus on what is coming up in your day. You don’t have to stress about your first activities in the morning, you can concentrate on what is important.
A regular routine can set up success for the entire day ahead. Once you are securely in a routine, you don’t need to think about what comes next.
Depression is a big problem with seniors on their own. A regular routine can give their lives meaning, as they feel that they are accomplishing something each day.
Better Physical Health
We all know that stress can have a serious effect on our mental and physical health. With a consistent routine, you will get up at the same time, eat at the same time, and be ready to face the day at the same time.
This means your diet is balanced, your sleep is regulated, and you can get things done that you need to. When your morning is chaotic, your entire life will suffer.
Control means that you will be able to keep excess weight off, enjoy exercise and fresh air, and even stave off various diseases like heart disease and hypertension.
Better Sleep
Getting a proper night’s sleep is vital for mental and physical health. Once you can take control over your bedtime and when you get up, everything else will fall into place.
Regulating your sleep patterns will regulate your body clock. For seniors, it can be more difficult to get regular sleep, so setting up a routine can help that along.
Self-Discipline
As children and adults, our lives are almost all about routine. But for seniors, things are often looser with little to no structure. It can be difficult to get the things done that we need to.
Self-discipline helps us in many ways. It keeps us from reckless behavior, like eating too much, drinking too much, and engaging in harmful activities.
Happier
Overall, people with a regular morning routine are less stressed and more disciplined. This brings a sense of confidence and security, and this can mean people are just happier and more content.
When you have structure in your life, you are far better prepared to cope when things go a different way. There will always be upsets in our lives, but coping with them can be difficult without structure.
For seniors, it is vital that they have structure and routine. It is even more important if they are living with memory loss. For seniors living on their own, consider a Medical Alert system. This allows them to keep their independence while also having access to help 24/7.
A Medical Alert system is ideal for seniors living on their own who want to keep their independence. Help is available at the press of a button 24/7.