Are you a green thumb or an avid outdoor DIY individual, and entering that phase of your life where you are part of the senior citizen gang? And you refuse to think that aging is some dark, sad way to live life as all your faculties start to decline. You like to be active, and take pride in working in your garden, maintaining an immaculate lawn, or just in the way you keep yourself busy with those outdoor chores. The truth is, however, if you are not careful those tasks can put a heavy burden on your body. And may eventually result in injury and physical pain. Today’s article will explore ways to help you maintain your place as an ace outdoor DIY individual while minimizing your risk of injury and physical pain.
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Stretching
Before working on your outdoor DIY session for the day, do not forget to stretch properly. Doing so will help your muscles relax before you start working. Perform dynamic (aka “moving”) stretches, like jumping jacks and windmills, before you work outside, to loosen up your muscles. Make sure to stretch after you have completed your DIY work for the day. Your post-stretch session will help prevent soreness and enhance muscle repair. It should involve stationary stretches to stretch out your muscles and let your body cool down. Doing so will also help you avoid getting cramps later on during the day.
Exercise
Exercise is necessary for healthy aging. Regular exercise can lessen the pain of arthritis, keep depression and anxiety at bay, and reduce the incidence of injuries and physical pain. When designing your exercise program, focus on strength, endurance, and balance. As an outdoor DIY senior, do not forget to strengthen your wrists, arms, knees, and hips since they play an important role when working outside. Better fitness comes from a well-rounded exercise program that will increase your functional strength, raise your heart rate on a regular basis, increase your lung capacity, and reduce your chances of falling and getting injured.
De-stress
Everyone suffers from a certain amount of stress in their life, but in order to keep the aging process slow and graceful, it is important to keep stress at bay. Practicing relaxation techniques is a great way to de-stress. There are a wide variety of techniques available including meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. Choose the technique that you are most comfortable with and be sure to practice it several times a week on a regular basis. Taking time to relax and de-stress will renew yourself and help you get ready for your next outdoor DIY task.
Modify Your Work Environment
The saying “work smarter not harder” is what this section is all about. Since the outdoors is your work environment, you want to think about ways to adapt the environment and use tools to make it easier to manage your DIY tasks and make it physically less taxing on your body.
For low maintenance ideas, you can check out the article from the site After50Finances.com titled Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Seniors (+ Tips). The article covers such topics as:
- Use of native plants and flowers
- Watering options
- Ground cover
- Seeking outside assistance
With a few adjustments and some thinking-out-of-the-box sessions, you can continue to maintain your interest and passion for working outside as a DIY senior. And moreover, keeping injury and physical pain at bay. Keep on trucking!
To Your Success & Freedom,
Glenn Shimabukuro
