If the recent days with temperatures in the 50s got you a little excited for blooming daffodils and more time outdoors, you’re not alone.
If you’re aged 50 and older, you might be envisioning time in the park with your grandkids on the swings, walks with friends and sitting outdoors at a cafe for lunch afterwards, all things to look forward to next season.
With a change of the new year coinciding with sporadic unseasonable temps, it equates to a good time to get some things on the books on a frigid day when you’re likely to have some time to kill at home.
Maybe it’s the planning of a family vacation you’ve had on your mind, a new weekly class at your local gym or senior center you’ve been wanting to try out or getting tickets to a concert or show that has come out that you’ve had your eye on.
Mapping out some things to put on your to-do list that can be something to look forward to can offer you much more than filling up spaces on your calendar.
“Having things to look forward to can provide a sense of purpose, enhance emotional well-being and promote social connections,” said licensed counselor Jeff Laubach, who is based in Berks County. “Engaging in and looking forward to meaningful activities helps prevent feelings of isolation, boosts overall happiness and health.”
The process of planning, the excitement of something to look forward to and the people you get to spend time with are all things that bring more texture to life.
“People who plan vacations or trips are generally happier, even if they don’t get to take them, than people who don’t,” Laubach said.
Going out of your comfort zone to try new things can also work to your benefit in many ways in addition to vacation planning.
“If older adults can combine this with trying new things, it also promotes mental sharpness and provides a sense of fulfillment which can help maintain cognitive health and can lead to greater life satisfaction,” he said.
It’s a good time to take advantage of looking forward to getting some movement in during the winter season and all that it has to offer before springtime blooms are officially here.
Maybe you’re in need of polishing up your ice skating skills or want to feel a sense of nostalgia by putting on some rollerskates.
Also, now is the time when local senior centers have refreshed their calendars with new offerings, all ready for the taking in the new year, so there is no loss of things available to do in our community to look forward to.
Plan ways to get your body moving more so that you don’t become sedentary this winter. Here are some places that offer opportunities for adults to have fun while moving.
Ringing Rocks Roller Rink, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County: third Saturday of the month, adult skate, 18+ only, http://www.ringingrocksrollerrink.square.site
Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, Spring Township, Berks County: Learn to ice skate program or open skate for all ages, http://www.bodyzonesports.com
Bear Creek Mountain and Resort, Longswamp Township, Berks County: If you are age 70 and older, you qualify for a free season pass. http://www.bcmountainresort.com
Berks Community Hiking Club: Join in on weekly hikes at varying degrees of difficulty. All ages and abilities are welcome, but check each hike’s description to see its degree of difficulty to determine if it’s a good match for you. https://tinyurl.com/4bzesxx2
