Senior Living News

It's important to make goals specific enough that you can actually achieve them. Here are some potential goals older adults may want to consider for 2025.

1. Make One Healthy Food Swap a Day

Instead of making a resolution to eat healthier, lose weight or improve your nutrition, make a more specific goal that's easier to keep and track. You might decide you'll commit to one healthy food swap a day, for example.

This is a great option for older adults who are struggling to curb a sweet tooth or who like salty snacks after dinner. If you regularly drink soda or enjoy sugary treats, you can commit to swapping out one serving with unsweetened tea or a piece of fruit, for instance.

Other versions of this goal might include choosing a salad instead of a high-fat, high-calorie meal a few times a week or only drinking beverages with sugar in them on weekends.

2. Get 10% More Daily Steps Each Month

If you want to move more in 2025, consider a goal that will help you ramp up efforts over time. To measure your steps, you'll need a wearable pedometer or smartwatch. Figure out how much you walk per day on average by tracking your steps in December. Multiply that by 1.10% to get a daily goal for January. Repeat this every month.

If you walk 3,000 steps a day on average in December, here's what your daily step goal will look like through the year:

• January: 3,300 steps
• February: 3,630 steps
• March: 3,993 steps
• April: 4,392 steps
• May: 4,832 steps
• June: 5,314 steps
• July: 5,846 steps
• August: 6,431 steps
• September: 7,073 steps
• October: 7,781 steps
• November: 8,550 steps
• December: 9,415 steps

3. Learn One New Skill This Year

Commit to learning a new skill in 2025. You might sign up for classes at a local library in Sun City or see if there's an activity that interests you on the LifeStream independent living activity calendar. You can learn new skills by watching YouTube videos or asking someone you know to teach you.

4. Clean Out a Space That's Been Cluttered Forever

Make it a point to tackle a specific space where clutter has annoyed you the past year. Your goal might be as simple as cleaning out and organizing the junk drawer or as complex as downsizing from your current home into an independent living apartment.

For larger decluttering goals, consider making a plan and breaking down the effort into smaller jobs. You might do a little bit a day or handle a different aspect of the project every week until you're done.

5. Make a Commitment to Sleep Consistency

Sleep can be a challenge for many older adults, and simply making a goal to achieve better sleep in 2025 may not be a good idea. Some components of your sleep may be out of your hands. Instead, make a goal related to what you can control: consistently approaching sleep. Consider setting goals to go to bed and get out of bed at similar times every night and morning. You might also make goals related to better sleep habits, such as turning off screens at least 30 minutes before bed, not having caffeine after early afternoon and reading something relaxing before bed.

6. Write a Memory Each Day or Week

If you've always wanted to record your memories to pass on to loved ones in the future, 2025 is a great time to get started. Make a goal to write down one special or interesting memory every day or week. By the end of the year, you'll have a nice journal of memories to share with others.

You could also type the memories into a document that can be shared digitally or printed. Those who aren't enticed by writing down their thoughts might consider sharing them via audio or video recordings.

7. Do Something New to You Every Month

Add a bit more adventure to your life by committing to a year of doing new things. Set a goal to try something new to you every month in 2025. You can make a list of possibilities so you can choose something each month that fits your budget, location and personal preferences. You might try a new book or movie genre or a new type of restaurant. You could cook something you've never cooked before, try out a new hobby or visit a nearby small town or attraction you've never been to.

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