Top tips to help you remain positive

Recent research has revealed that positive thinking could help us to live longer.

The study suggests people who are more optimistic may find it easier to regulate emotions and behaviour. It might also be easier for them to bounce back from stress and difficulties.

It was also revealed that they tend to have healthier habits, which could help extend their lives. These include being more likely to exercise and less likely to smoke or consume excess alcohol.

We like to keep things positive in our offices, within our care teams and among our service users too. Here are our top tips for remaining positive:

Keep moving

Moving and exercising regularly is great for reducing stress and improving your mood. You don’t need to be doing a full round of the gym either. Depending on mobility, your daily exercise could be a light walk or a few stretches. Check out our blog posts on exercising for the elderly here.

Keep a gratitude journal

Each day write down three things that you’re grateful for. Keep a note of kind things you do for others or they do for you. Refer back to it when you need to, and it will certainly help lift your optimism levels.

Sleep well

Getting enough sleep is extremely important to functioning well throughout the day. A bad night’s sleep can mean a bad mood for the day and a dip in positivity. Read our helpful blog on getting a good night’s sleep here.

Avoid negative people

It can be difficult, but try not to surround yourself with negative people or limit your contact with them if possible. Their negative mood can rub off on you. You might even want to pass on some of these tips to them.

According to the study, optimists are not only likely to live longer but could also achieve ‘exceptional longevity’ by reaching 85-years-of-age or more. So, make sure you always look on the bright side of life!