As an older adult, you may feel that you have a lot of time on your hands most especially if you are retired. This makes it the perfect time to learn new things, rekindle old connections, and explore places you have never been to before. 

 

Here are some hobbies that you may find interesting that you can consider adding to your daily routine:

 

• Gardening
  What is amazing about this activity is that you can start your own healthy indoor garden. The produce you grow can be harvested to be used in your home made dishes. Another benefit to gardening is that it relieves stress and keeps you active.  
• Cooking
  Learning to cook your own food can inspire you to create your very own healthy meal plan. Cooking is an activity that can stir up creativity and quick thinking that is good for your mental health.  
• Learning a new Language or Instrument
  Learning something as complex as a language or musical instrument can be fun and fulfilling. The journey of this learning process requires focus, creativity and memorization, all important in stimulating your brain and keeping it healthy.  
• Group Sports
  Sports are a great way to maintain a healthy body. What makes this even more fun is playing with a friend or a group of friends. The social interaction makes the games more fun and will encourage you to play with more vigor and enthusiasm. In a state of having fun, stress is reduced and negative emotions are washed away. Some sports you can learn to play are swimming, golf, tennis and bowling.  
• Community Activities
  These activities are a great way to give back to the community. Community outreach, joining charity events, advocating a noble cause are some examples of activities that bring positive change to our community. The act of helping another human being has a positive effect on your emotions and mental wellbeing. Try to reach out to your community or a non government / non profit group and find out what their community programs are.  

Having a hobby you enjoy not only keeps you busy but makes you happy as well. A positive disposition in life can work wonders for your mind and body. These are reasons why you need a hobby during your senior years: 

 

• A healthy body
  Having an active lifestyle can make your body stronger and more flexible. This will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of falling due to imbalance.  
• An active mind
  Mental exercises help stimulate the neural pathways in your brain. Keeping these pathways active helps prevent memory loss that can lead to Alzhimer’s Disease.  
• A social life
  Like they say, no man is an island. Life is fuller with those who are close to you. Being around people can bring out the dopamine that can lessen stress and prevent depression.  
• A holistic life
  A positive mindset and a healthy lifestyle will make your senior years lively and amazing. There is a lot of time to fill with new and wonderful memories with your friends and family. Enjoy life!

 

There are many other hobbies out there for you to explore. Find out what piques your interest and always remember to have fun while doing it. Hobbies can be exhausting even if you're having a good time. Always remember to nourish your body with Birch Tree Advance - the Adult Nutritional Supplement Powder Drink, specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. Drink Birch Tree Advance today!

Congratulations - you’ve reached 60 years old and you’ve attained your senior citizenship. You can now get your official senior citizen ID card and get plenty of perks and discounts in various participating establishments. 

 

You’re also nearing the official Philippine retirement age, and that can be very good for you! You can now start doing new activities or pursuing the things you are truly passionate about.

 

Want some inspiration? There are plenty of stories of seniors who didn’t let their age stop them, such as:

 

1. The grandfather from Cebu who graduated with a degree in AB Political Science from the University of the Visayas-Dalaguete at 78 years old, and planned to pursue law immediately after. When people asked him why he went to college at such an old age, his reply was very simple: “It’s never too late.”

 

2. The senior association that has been undergoing training from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding pricing, marketing, and the development of entrepreneurial mindsets. This particular association is one of the important stakeholders of the developing bamboo industry in their area. Not bad for seniors, eh?

 

3. This senior citizen turned into an entrepreneur and started selling healthy cold-pressed juices made from fresh fruits and vegetables.  From creating juices specifically for her daughters who just gave birth, she is now catering to the juicing needs of many people, including a bunch of well-known celebrities who are her regular customers. She has even been featured in ABS-CBN’s My Puhunan and interviewed by Karen Davila!

 

4. Another grandfather who recently applied to a call center in Cebu. At 73 years old, he figured he had nothing to lose if he tried to apply, and so he did. He lined up at a job fair and went through the whole recruitment process. And the best part is, he passed! He is now one of the newest agents at that BPO company.

 

5. This 66-year old breast and colon cancer survivor that is vision impaired finished online marketing courses in Digital Marketer while working freelance and writing emails for different clients. She almost wasn’t able to get to enroll in her courses because she wasn’t techy, but that didn’t stop her from getting her certificates in four different courses.

 

As an older adult, the time you once did not have is now very much available to you. Now, you can fill your soul with a wealth of love and experiences. Being a senior also means that you now have plenty of experiences that you can draw on to help make the world even better.

 

Of course, do not forget that a healthy mind and body can get you going in your day-to-day living. Make sure to nourish yourself with Birch Tree Advance - the Adult Nutritional Supplement Powder Drink, specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. 

 

Do more with Birch Tree Advance!

Everybody grows old eventually; however, many people still associate this as something undesirable. For every disadvantage there is to old age though, there are many more advantages to becoming a senior citizen in today’s society.

 

Here are some reasons why being a senior citizen is awesome: 

• More Time
  Being retired from work frees up a lot of your time that can be used doing things you have yet to try. Explore new places, do new activities and enjoy the company of family and friends. Activities that can have a positive impact on your wellbeing include gardening, sports and travel. You can also enjoy your retirement by starting your own business. Now that you are working for yourself you can pursue the type of business that are aligned with your dreams or passions.
  
  Another way you can spend your time is giving back to the community. Being part of a noble cause can be fulfilling and rewarding. By participating in activities such as community outreach projects and charities, you are paying it forward to the community you have been part of all these years. Having these new experiences while keeping yourself healthy will make the years ahead a delightful journey.

• Enjoy your life savings
  By now your life savings, retirement plans and/or investments have reached its maturity or growth target. It is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and use them to make your life comfortable. Now that you have your free time too, you can spend on the things you want to learn or the activities you have dreamed of doing.

• You are prioritized
  Many business establishments like banks and groceries have special lanes that cater exclusively for senior citizens. Even if there are no senior citizen lanes available, the establishment generally still prioritizes the elderly.

Even getting vaccinations is easier since senior citizens are considered as one of the top priorities alongside our frontliners. All this is thanks to our laws, more specifically R.A 9994, that grants special privileges to senior citizens.

• Enjoy Discounts and Freebies
  From exclusive lanes to exclusive discounts and perks, senior citizens in the Philippines get to enjoy a 20% discount and are exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT). Some of the goods and services that you can get discounts from are medicines, public transportation fees and restaurants.
  
  Senior citizens also get free medical services from government hospitals. This includes medical and dental services, diagnostic exams and doctor’s professional fees.
  
  Some cities also have special perks for senior citizens such as free parking, free birthday presents and cash allowances. Check what perks are available to you from your local city and barangay. 

 

As an older adult, time you once did not have is now free. So nourish your soul with a wealth of love and experiences. Do not forget that a healthy mind and body can get you going in your day to day living. So nourish your body with Birch Tree Advance - the Adult Nutritional Supplement Powder Drink, specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. Drink Birch Tree Advance today! 

 

Being an older adult doesn’t mean you have to worry a lot and can’t have fun. By creating powerful habits to maintain your mind and body, you can stop the hands of time and enjoy your life to the fullest. 

Positive habits are simple activities that can change your life for the better. If you maintain these habits, they become part of your lifestyle - a healthy lifestyle, for a longer life. Here are some age-defying habits you can start for a younger and healthier you: 

 

• Be physically and mentally active
  
  Aging has a detrimental effect on our mind and body. However, it does not have to be that way. By remaining physically active through exercise, you can improve your strength and balance, thus lowering your risk for falls, and increasing your capacity to do fun activities. A time for brisk walking, swimming and dancing  would be activities to keep you physically active.
  
  The same thing can also be said about your mind. The brain is like a muscle where the more it is stimulated, the stronger it becomes. By doing simple mental activities such as learning new things and solving puzzles, you can decrease the risk of memory loss and depression.

• Maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet
  
  Nutrition plays a big part in living a healthy lifestyle most especially for older adults. What you consume turns into the building blocks you need to maintain your mind and body. With the help of your physician or dietitian, find out what foods you need to take to fulfill your checklist of nutritional requirements. 
  
  A well-balanced diet also means that you will have to be wary of some foods that can be harmful. You will have to limit your intake of sugars, salt, fat and alcohol which can be detrimental to your body. And always remember to keep hydrated.

• Get a lot of rest
  
  Sleep is very important to your body as this is the time our body can do its repair and maintenance. It is recommended that older adults get at least 7-9 hours of sleep. A good strategy is following a regular sleeping schedule each night. This means avoiding activities and distractions that can keep you up at night.

• Have fun
  
  Not only does having fun make for a good time, it also has health benefits as well. One of the key benefits to having fun is that it lowers our stress levels. This in turn lowers your blood pressure thus decreasing your chances of cardiovascular problems. The endorphins produced when you are happy also helps lower your risk of depression and anxiety which are main causes of mental stress. So enjoy life and have some good clean fun with your friends and loved ones from time to time. 

So stay young even at 60. It is also important to feed your body with the right vitamins and minerals needed by older adults. Birch Tree Advance is specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. Drink Birch Tree Advance! Stay young, stay healthy starting today! 

Having some good fun in life may sound simple and ordinary, but it may be more important than you think, especially for older adults. Simply by enjoying yourself through fun activities and interactions can play a key role in multiple areas of your life. 

 

Research shows, engaging in fun and playful activities can be one key to living a long, healthy and happy life. It is important to note that the fun you should be having is one where you feel the joy of the experience and not one where you are trying to accomplish a goal like winning a competition or reaching a high score. 

 

Play has been associated with many benefits that can improve the quality of life of older adults. 

 

• Improves Overall Wellbeing
  Having fun releases endorphins that greatly reduce stress and increase your feeling of happiness. Stress not only affects your mental health but your physical health as well. Being too stressed can negatively impact your immune system making you more prone to illness. Being in a state of happiness also lowers your blood pressure which reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems.
• Helps in maintaining cognitive function
  When we play we use our creativity, imagination and logic. This is the type of mental  activity that helps maintain the neural pathways in our brain.  By keeping our brain stimulated we can prevent memory loss that comes with aging.
• Fosters social connections and relationships
  The best way to have fun is with other people. However, with the ongoing pandemic it would be much safer to do this online or if you are fully vaccinated.  Humans being social creatures, we develop our sense of compassion, empathy and intimacy when we interact with other people. The interactions we have with others help us develop our EQ and social skills which in turn makes us better people persons. Having people around can also help lighten our mood and  lower the risk of depression.

Incorporating playful activities in your routine can help you live a happier, more optimistic and even healthier life. Here are the different types of activities you can explore and enjoy by yourself or with a partner:

• Mental Activities - board games, crossword puzzles, video/mobile games
• Active Games and Sports - golf, badminton, bowling
• Active Learning - playing an instrument, learning a new language
• Outdoor Activities - hiking, gardening, bicycling 

 

So start planning out all the things you can add into your routine to add playfulness to your life. Don’t forget to nourish your body as well with Birch Tree Advance Adult Nutritional Supplement Powdered Drink. It contains essential vitamins and minerals for seniors. Be strong and play more! 

As we get older, our body begins to slow down and would need more care. That is why some research suggests that having a positive attitude could influence health-related outcomes later in life, just like exercise and diet. 

A positive attitude could help you become healthier, mentally and physically. However, for some that's harder said than done, especially now with the pandemic still around us. Here are some tips to get you started towards the road of positivity: 

• Smile more
  The simple act of smiling can turn a stressful situation around. Smiling can help calm you down which in turn  slows down elevated heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Like they say, smiling makes you look, and in this case, and feel younger.
• Focus on the positive
  There are many things that can stress someone out. For instance, being stuck at home during a lockdown was one of the causes of anxiety for many people during the pandemic. Instead of stressing about not going out, you can think about all the things you could do at home but did not have time for before like - exercising more often, making healthier meals, and reconnecting with your friends and family online.
• Filter out negative thinking
  We need to be proactive in filtering the negative from our way of thinking. There are a few types such as: 
  • Catastrophizing - where you automatically anticipate the worst even from simple things such as getting caught in morning traffic and viewing it as a sign of a bad day ahead. 
  • Personalizing - this is the mindset of blaming oneself for the bad things that happen. An example of this is when your family or friends cancel an outing, and you quickly assume that it was canceled because they do not want to be with you. 

There are many things that can go wrong on any given day but it is up to ourselves to always see things in a positive light for the sake of our mind and body. 

Once you have built a positive mindset, research shows that you will be able to enjoy many benefits that come for the power of your mind:

• Longer lifespan
• Better physical health 
• Better Immune System
• Lower chance of heart attack
• Less chances of depression

A positive demeanor and an optimistic mindset is good for you both mentally and physically. However, good health cannot happen with good thoughts only. Feed your mind and body. Birch Tree Advance Adult Nutritional Supplement Powdered Drink contains essential vitamins and minerals for seniors. Enjoy life and feel healthier! Drink Birch Tree Advance today!

Playing a game of basketball or  going out dancing with friends are some of the things that never get old. Unfortunately,  our bodies get old and many things that we enjoyed when we were younger we could not do now with the same vigor. What we do for fun and exercise then might be stressful and dangerous for our bodies now that we are older.

 

However, this should not stop you from exercising because keeping our bodies active is as important then as it is now. We just have to be more mindful about which exercises are safe and beneficial for our bodies. 

 

Why is exercise important for older adults? 

 

• Helps improve body functions
  Keeping our bodies active also helps keep our bodily functions in shape such as our immune system and our healing factor. Exercise will help stave off infections and inflammation while also improving the speed our bodies heal wounds by 25%. 
• Prevents chronic diseases
  Exercise is proven to delay or prevent chronic and fatal diseases like diabetes, cancer and stroke.
• Reinforces balance and stability
  Our muscles and bones become weaker with age leading to slips and falls that are dangerous. Exercise helps in preventing this by strengthening our body leading to improved functional reach and balance.
• Overall improvement in our wellbeing
  Exercise not only improves our body but our mind as well. Keeping active helps improve our mood and alleviates the symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

 

It is recommended that older adults should do some form of exercise even if it is a light activity. Here are some exercise activities you can do even while at home: 

 

• Be physically active. Light activity such as walking in your home is already good exercise.
• Alternate aerobic and strength training days.  
• Do your exercises for at least 30 mins a day for 5 days every week
• Lessen time sitting down or lying in bed. Always try to keep moving. 
• Always remember to keep hydrated and properly nourished.

 

Here are some great exercises that can help you get started on your routine: 

 

• Aerobic and bodyweight exercises
• Light Yoga, Zumba, Dancing
• Exercises using Resistance Bands and Light Weights
• Walking, Light Biking
• Golf 

 

Exercise is good for your mind and body. It lightens your mood while strengthening your muscles. That is why it is important to remain active even as we are older. It is also important to be properly nourished  too.

 

It is also important to be properly nourished too. You can supplement your diet with Birch Tree Advance - the adult supplement powdered drink that contains important nutrients your body needs as an older adult, Drink Birch Tree Advance today! 

When we were kids, we learned to play many games growing up. Some of these games involve using memory power such as matching pictures and recalling a list of words or numbers. This important mental faculty was even required to get through our schooling. 

 

Even as we are older, memory still plays an important role in our lives. We use it at work when we memorize the names of our customers and even at home when we need to remember the list of groceries we need to buy. However, growing old takes a toll on our bodies as well as our minds. By taking care of our mind and body we can lessen the decline of our memory. 

 

Eating healthy food is one way to keep your brain healthy. Here are the best foods you can eat to fortify your memory: 

• Fatty Fish
  Fish of this category such as tuna, mackerel and sardines are rich in Omega-3s that are proven to slow down the mental decline of older adults and help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and depression. 
• Broccoli
  This vegetable is rich in Vitamin K that is good for the brain. It also contains a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help prevent damage to the brain.
• Eggs
  This food is packed with nutrients that are good for your brain. It has Choline that is tied to memory and brain function. It also contains B vitamins that are important for brain health. 

 

Getting the right food is important for protecting your brain but it is not enough. The brain is like a muscle and it also needs its exercise. Here are some activities you can do at home to help keep your memory in tip-top shape : 

• Crossword Puzzles
• Chess / Checkers
• Dancing
• Meditation
• Socializing
• Playing a musical instrument

 

The brain, even if it is always active, needs the right stimulation in order to preserve and improve its different faculties such as memory and cognition. Doing these activities on a regular basis will help you prevent age-related memory decline as well as have the added bonus of sprinkling a little more fun in your life. 

 

Memorizing lines can also help your memory, so always remember - Birch Tree Advance is an adult nutritional supplement that contains Omega 3 to help slow down mental decline. Keep your brain fit and healthy. Drink Birch Tree Advance today! 

Remember the days when your phone was as big as a brick and all you can do is make calls? Every year since then technology has made our phones smaller, more powerful, and most importantly, a complete life necessity. Mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches now come with an assortment of tools that can help make your life easier and safer as a senior citizen. 

Smart gadgets now are made accessible to all demographics, from kids to senior citizens and to those with disabilities. Here are some of the features that can make using your phone much more convenient: 

• You can change the size of the text
  If you find that the default text size of your smartphone is hard to read there are accessibility options that can make the letters bigger.
• Make typing easier
  By making the keyboard bigger in the settings menu, you will now have an easier time tapping the right keys when texting.
• Ask your virtual assistant
  Phones now come with a virtual assistant that you can instruct using voice commands. You can call contacts, go to apps and even search Google all by just asking your device. 

 

Once you are familiar with the layout of your device here are some basic tools that can help you in your day to day activities:

• Calculator
  All gadgets now come with this very basic tool. Now you have an accessible calculator in your pocket should you need to do some number crunching. 
• Flashlight
  Lights went out? No need to panic. Your phone has a flashlight that is usually found on the lock or home screen for easy access. 
• Calendar and Reminders
  Now you have an app that can save and remind you of your day to day appointments. You can set reminders such as your maintenance medicine schedules or your doctor’s appointment so you won't forget. 

However, the most important feature your device has for you is its ability to monitor your health. Being able to track your vital information will provide you and your doctor data that could help save your life. Every gadget may have its own version of a “Health” application but here are the common features they offer : 

• It can track your exercise
  Not only can your phone track the steps you take everyday but paired with a smartwatch you can also monitor your heart rate as well. This is perfect if you are prescribed an exercise regimen. 
• You can monitor your sleep
  This feature reminds you of your sleeping hours. It even puts your phone on silent during your set sleeping time. If you need a full night's rest this will make sure you are not disturbed. 
• It also has a food tracker
  You can log the food you eat so that you can keep track of your calorie and nutrition intake daily. This is a good way to find out if you are reaching your recommended daily value of nutrients.

With all the tools at the tip of your finger tip, you are now many steps ahead in living a safe and healthy lifestyle. However, tracking your exercise and food intake is not enough without knowing your nutrition goals. If you visit  www.birchtreeadvance.com you will find a wealth of information on senior nutrition and healthy living. Don’t forget to bookmark our site by going to settings and tapping ‘Bookmark’ so you will always be updated with the latest tips and information. 

There’s a good reason why they call it the “Golden Years”. It is not just any new chapter in life, but a milestone that celebrates new beginnings. However, you can also look at it from another perspective. That these years should be looked forward to and embraced as doors to new possibilities and opportunities await. 

You can finally take chances by doing the things you have always dreamt of. To make all these plans and dreams a reality, it is very important to keep our bodies fit and healthy. So here are some tips as you begin your new adventures:

• Regular exercise.

Exercising is highly recommended, especially in maintaining ease of movement, balance, and a healthy heart rate. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends exercising because “it also reduces the risk of dying from heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes.” In order to get the benefits of exercising,  you do not need to do strenuous exercises that will leave you too exhausted, such as brisk walking or aerobic exercises. 

• Soak in all that free Vitamin D. 

But before you head out for some sunshine, make sure you protect yourself by wearing protective attire, face mask, and sunscreen. Vitamin D is the main hormone of bone metabolism, which also regulates our immune and cardiovascular systems and lacking it poses a greater risk of frailty in older adults. Frailty typically progresses at 10% for those at age 65 and above, and as much as 50% for individuals at age 85 and above. 

• A proper diet. 

Maintain a proper diet that provides all the nutrients that your body needs.As people age, their nutrient absorption diminishes. According to the National Council on Aging, a healthy meal should include lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Food should be high in fiber and low in sodium or salt. So how can you find out which foods are right for you? Well, you can take this fun and simple quiz from MyPlate.gov! Adult nutritional supplements can also provide or substitute the decreased nutrients that your body may lack—helping preserve and strengthen muscle mass, bone density, and heart rate.

• Hi doc! I want to schedule an appointment...

Schedule an annual physical checkup and visit a specialist if you have a chronic illness. Never forget to keep track of your health. If you experience physical changes or symptoms that you never had before, consult your doctor or a medical professional promptly to prevent any potential condition that may worsen over time. 

 

• A healthy mind to go with a healthy body. 

Mental health is just as vital as physical health. Today’s society has shed the stigma of recognizing mental health issues and has gradually progressed in encouraging individuals to seek professional advice or assistance from experts. Seeking treatment for your mental health is much more beneficial and effective than developing coping mechanisms that are destructive such as alcohol, drugs or other harmful addictive habits. 

• Try a new hobby or project that you can sustain and accomplish. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) encourages older adults to continue their passions as well as keeping up with the current times. This also allows us to continue or form social connections and new experiences. 

• Have a strong support system. 

Cherish and nurture your most important relationships. Regularly connect with family and friends even if you are far from each other with convenient and fun communication apps that are perfect for spending virtual bonding time!

This new stage in life may seem intimidating or overwhelming. But it is never too late to care for your health and embrace life to the fullest with the ones we love. Make your golden years your best years to come!