When it comes to healthy, active ageing, it’s all about making simple adaptations. This is especially true of outdoor chores, which can put a strain on wrists and hands. Here are three simple tips to help you tackle your tasks — and maintain your favourite hobbies — with vigour as you age:
Go Low-Maintenance
A few smart landscaping choices can make maintaining your home’s curb appeal much easier to manage. For example, by selecting native plant species, your lawn and garden will more easily thrive with less intervention from you. You can also eliminate some upkeep by using groundcover plants in certain places instead of grass, or by landscaping with succulents that require minimal watering or even with decorative stones.
Seek Out Ergonomic Tools
Stock your tool shed with items created to make your life easier. Fortunately, some product manufacturers understand the needs of older adults and are designing products accordingly.
“We should never count seniors as ‘down and out’ from life’s activities. Instead, they’re continuing to thrive at home, as well as fueling their passions of boating, motorcycling, jet skiing and other activities,” says Daniel Marshall, vice president of marketing and business development with Scepter in the US.
Stretch, Strengthen and Rest
As with any exercise that puts strain on a particular area of the body, while doing outdoor chores it’s important to both know your limitations and to take steps to keep yourself healthy. Yoga and stretching exercises that target your hands and wrists can improve mobility and boost strength, aiding in injury prevention. And remember, it’s okay to stop for breaks or to divide your chores up over multiple days.
By making a few tweaks to your outdoor chore routine — including seeking out products designed to be easy on hands and wrists — healthy aging and an active lifestyle can go hand-in-hand.
