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As you age, so do your eyes. It is a simple fact of life, however, age related vision problems don’t need to be a lifestyle changer. Knowing what’s to come and how you can maintain your vision for the long haul is an essential first step, according to the American Optometric Association.

As you approach 60 years young, it is vital to pay more attention to the warning signs of age-related vision issues. Vision problems as you get older can be acute or chronic, but knowing how to steer clear of them is probably at the top of your list.

Making significant lifestyle choices and getting regular eye exams will help keep you focused on your eye health. Let’s face it, visiting your optometrist is more fun than seeing your dentist or primary physician. Let’s take a look at a few ways you can keep your vision strong, no matter your age.

1. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly for Optimal Eye Health

There are some pretty unfavorable eye diseases you may be at risk for, especially if you skip your eye exams. In order to keep your vision as keen as a 20 year olds, visiting your optometrist regularly is vital.

In fact, an article published in academic journal, American Family Physician (1999) found several common causes of vision loss in the elderly. The vision debilitating eye diseases you may be at risk for include Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, and Diabetic Retinopathy, among others. Seeing your eye doctor will help you avoid these chronic vision loss conditions.

2. Eat Right to See Right

What you eat directly affects your health. And the same applies for your eye health. Eating the healthy nutritious meals at least three times per day is one exceptional way to keep your focus on great vision.

Food loaded with nutrient rich vitamins and minerals, such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamin C, and vitamin E may help keep your eyes in superb shape. Those greens, eggs, nuts, and salmon are a great place to begin. You may even see a few pounds shrink away from your waist.

3. Focus on Eye Health and Quit Smoking

Saving your lungs from smoking is also saving your vision from acute and chronic vision issues in the future. In fact, smoking increases your risk for cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration.

If quitting your attempt to quit smoking continues to happen, don’t give up. Your vision as you age may depend on it. And if you quit smoking, you will most likely live longer, making it even more imperative to have great vision to see your grandchildren blossom.

4. Look Cool and Protect Your Eyes with UV Sunglasses

If keeping your eyes healthy aligns with your fashion, even better. Wearing UV sunglasses may help protect your eyes from the sun’s powerful rays. Research suggests that too much UV exposure will increase your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.

Pick up some sunglasses with 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Protecting your peripheral vision is also important, so wraparound shades may be even better. There are even contacts with UV protection these days. However, sunglasses with UV block are best.

5. Limit Your Screen Time for Better Vision Later in Life

Limiting your screen time is nothing new. In fact, mothers have been saying television ruins eyes for decades. If you want to protect your eyes, taking a break from so much screen time is essential.

This also extends to tech devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation suggests that the blue light emitted by these tech screens may trigger macular degeneration, among other health issues.

Protecting your eyes today may pay off big time as you begin reaching those golden years. And it is never too late to start living healthy to improve your vision. Most of the suggestions made by professionals can also make a big impact on your overall health. Stay focused when it comes to eye health, because seeing is an important sense to maintain forever.

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When working at home, it’s easy to neglect your physical and mental health. You have little access to the gym, and even biohacking your wellness is barely possible. If you want to continue being productive, optimizing your work from home activities can help maximize your wellness.

Working from home can be the root of all kinds of health issues if you don’t have enough discipline. Here are x tips you can do to take care of your physical and mental health.

1.  Eat Healthy Meals

Eating healthy isn’t hard, but not many people know where to start. It’s all about planning and having fresh ingredients ready, and knowing what to prepare. Eating healthy is not simply salads, veggie smoothies, and icky stuff. You can incorporate your favorite meals while being healthy.

The fridge and the pantry are your best friends. Prepare yummy, locally-based meals made with locally sourced meats, veggies, and fruits. Meal prep is the key if you think you don’t have enough time.

A simple way to eat healthier is to plan your meals and cook yourself. Batch cooking can also save you a lot of time and give you quick access to something when you’re feeling peckish. Try keeping your fridge and cupboards stocked with healthy foods. Eat your favorites in moderation to help control your weight.

2.  Take Frequent Breaks

Let’s be honest: working from home can be rewarding and frustrating. Sometimes, you get stuck and can’t move forward until you reach that brick wall. When you come to this point, take a step back and take a break.

Whatever you do, don’t sit at your desk for hours. Take short breaks every hour or follow the 20-20-20 rule, where you look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of screen time. This will help relieve the tiredness of your eyes after long hours of working.

When you take regular, quick 5-minute walks, you’ll feel more energized and productive. Every 30 minutes, get up and move around. Stretch your legs and get some circulation on your legs to prevent atrophy and having fat develop on your belly.

3.  Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Physical fitness plays a huge role in your productivity. If you stay fit, you’ll have more energy, sleep more soundly, and be more productive.

You can’t just lie in bed all day and expect to lose weight or improve your overall health. You need to exercise and stick to it. You’re probably thinking, “But I don’t go to the gym.” You don’t need to leave the house to exercise.

Find an exercise that you can do daily. Maybe it’s yoga, weightlifting, or stretching. If you hate going to the gym, then do it in the comfort of your own home. There are a ton of YouTube workouts you can do without leaving the house.

You can easily do strength training, cardio, or yoga if you have a home workout room. You can always use bodyweight exercises or resistance bands if your home doesn’t. Do heavy chores if you have to, just to get good cardio.

4.  Go Outside

When you work inside, you get less exposure to sunlight. This causes vitamin D deficiency, which can cause many health problems. Lack of vitamin D causes depression, fatigue, muscle pain, and seasonal affective disorder.

Your mind and body need fresh air. If you live in the city, there are endless options of where to get some fresh air. You can take a walk in your neighborhood and breathe in some much-needed oxygen.

When you go outdoors, you improve your mood, sleep better, and have more energy. Go outside and take a walk. Take a break and go to the nearest park; it’s even better if you’re near a lake or beach. Go to the beach, swim, then relax under the sun.

If you work in an isolated area, turn your home office into a mini garden. Plant some herbs and vegetables, flowers, or even trees.

5.  Find a Hobby

Hobbies are not simple pastimes but rather a way to release your creativity. If you don’t find a hobby that brings you joy, you may become depressed, especially if you don’t use it as an outlet for your stress.

Having hobbies helps you relax and reduce stress. Hobbies are a way to unwind and recharge after a long workday. It can be anything that stimulates your mind. It can be anything, from writing short stories to working on your art.

Choose something that you like. If you love writing, start a blog, start writing early in the morning, and finish your articles before working. If you like photography, join a local group. Join a book club, anime club, or volunteer organization. And if you’re a gamer, join a guild and chat with other players.

6.  Meditate and Practice Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness are not just ways to relax but also ways to practice self-control. These practices can lower your stress levels and keep you focused. Meditation clears your head and lets you focus on your breathing and the current moment, helping mitigate anxiety and give you a sense of well-being.

If you’re new to meditation and start building a habit of doing it, start with 10 to 15-minute sessions. Gradually increase your meditation time and increase the length of each session. You can meditate anywhere, even in your office or bedroom.

Start meditating before you go to bed. This will prevent you from tossing and turning and trying to fall asleep. Meditating will calm you down and help you have a peaceful night of undisturbed rest.

7.  Get Enough Sleep

When you don’t get quality sleep at night, your brain won’t be functioning at its total capacity. It can cause fatigue and affect your mood and behavior. When you sleep well, you wake up refreshed and ready to face the day the following day. If you’re awake for 18 hours straight, it’s almost the same as being up for 24.

Your quality of shut-eye affects your mental health. It prevents you from getting happy or sad because of whatever happened the previous day. You can think clearly and make better decisions.

Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. If you have a hard time falling asleep, try taking a warm shower, drinking some chamomile tea, or doing light stretches.

The Bottom Line

When you work from home, the quality of your work matters. When you take care of your health, you become more productive, allowing you to focus more on your work. It’s easy to forget how you have to take care of yourself.

time to exercise or eat right, you become more energetic and happier. You’ll be more creative and have excellent decision-making skills. Good health means a better drive to reach your goals.

You don’t want your physical or mental health to get in the way of your productivity and success.  Apply these tips and stay healthy while maximizing your time and energy at home.

Are you thinking whether you should be taking care of your pet as you age?

When you age, you wonder if you should adopt a pet?

This guide will help you decide on the best choice for you. Studies have shown that having a pet can be advantageous both physically and psychologically for people of all ages. In the case of senior citizens, only 15 minutes of bonding with an animal causes a chemical chain reaction in the brain, reducing rates of fight-or-flight hormone, cortisol, and the development of nostalgic hormone serotonin.

The result: a sudden decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress rates. Long-term relationships between pets and humans can minimize cholesterol levels, fight depression, and even help protect against heart disease and stroke.

Getting a pet or engaging with one will enhance elderly people’s health and wellness, improving both physical health and mood. Get emotional support animal registration for trained animals as per your requirement.

There are a few key reasons why elderly people should keep pets.

Lower blood pressure

Scientists think stroking a dog or cat will help you relax and therefore reduce blood pressure. A 2002 study revealed that dog or cat owners had lower resting heart rates and blood pressure than those who did not have pets.

Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke

According to scientists, owning a dog can relieve stress and anxiety and therefore reduce the risk of heart disease. A study that looked at over 4400 adults aged between 30 and 75, including half who owned a dog, showed that 3.4% had died from a heart attack over ten years. 5.8 per cent had died from heart attacks in the community who had never owned a pet.

Better mood

Stroking a dog can be comforting to both parties. If you stroke a dog, a hormone called oxytocin is released, which is linked to anxiety relief. A study conducted at Uppsala University in Sweden presented at the 12th International Conference of Human-Animal Interactions in 2010, showed that friendly human-dog interaction releases oxytocin in both humans and dogs. It is interesting if you walk down the street with a dog how many people look at him and it brings a smile to their face. That really stimulates a positive emotional response.

Fewer visits to the doctor

According to Pets for The Elderly Foundation in the US, 21% of older people with a pet have fewer veterinarian visits. Owning a pet like a dog will make you more active. Being regularly active is noted for reducing heart disease and the risk of having a stroke, as well as reducing the risk of developing diseases like dementia and some cancers. Experts also agree that post-sickness or surgery pets will help us heal faster.

Better social contact

Walking a dog is more likely to promote social interaction and conversations with others and lead to an increased likelihood of new friendships. When you walk a dog, there is more risk of starting up conversations with pet owners in parks and other public areas.

Less stress

Stroking a pet is thought to reduce the level of stress-related hormones in the blood according to Professor Adnan Qureshi from Minnesota University. Reducing stress can help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rate.

More affection and love

Focusing on taking care of an animal is a great way to give and receive love. Recognizing the treatment and bonding value of owning a dog and focusing emotional energy on a pet is a good thing.

More active

Dog walkers will naturally be active. A 1991 study showed that pet owners typically had higher rates of activity and less mild health issues.

A greater sense of comfort and security

The pets can be their key source of support for many elderly people who lack daily social contact and company. Ninety-five percent of the elderly people talked to their pets in a survey by Pets for the Elderly Foundation, while 82 percent said that their pets support them when they felt sad.

A positive focus and a sharper mind

A researcher noticed a marked improvement in her late mother, who had vascular dementia when caring for her dog. ‘My mother loved her dog and was always happier when she was around. When her dog passed away, mum was understandably distraught, but I also noticed a change in her mood and mental function. Her dementia seemed to get worse – she became less focused, more detached, and more easily confused. Her dog had given her a sense of purpose and focus.’

Animal therapy

Animal therapy is common in care homes, as it has been shown to reduce anxiety and enhance social contact in people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society actively encourages those with dementia to keep pets for as long as they can or interact with them as much as possible. However, if you are taking a pet into a care home or to a person’s home, make sure they have the right temperament and will comfort the person rather than cause more stress. Make sure dogs are unlikely to leap or bark excessively and make sure pets are friendly and unlikely to bite when stroked.

Improved overall health

According to researchers, pet owners look safer than those who don’t own pets. According to pet study Allen R McConnell, a psychology professor at Miami University, people with a strong relationship with their pets are on average happier than those who do not have pets.

Hope this article gave you the reason to keep a pet for yourself or for your elderly loved ones. Spread love!