Aging is a beautiful thing. With age comes grace, wisdom and a willingness to try new things. But another aspect of age could be thoughts of uncertainty, stress and unhappiness. Here are some ideas on calming activities and how to combat times when stress is high. Our goal is a return to a natural state of peace so we can continue living and thriving on the road ahead.

What makes you happy?

On a piece of paper, name five things you enjoy doing. Examples might be morning yoga, a water aerobics class, spending time with a friend or family member, going for a walk, talking to your grandchildren on the phone, spending time outside, reading a good book, or having a keen eye for photography. You get the idea.

Now, on the back side of the paper, write five things you’d like to learn more about. Some ideas could be learning a new language, trying a new activity like sewing, learning how to play an instrument, or learning to paint.

Using this list of 10 activities, try to match something you love to do with something you would like to learn how to do. For example, if you like going for a walk, perhaps you can maximize your time by listening to an audio book on a language you’d like to learn. If you like spending time outside, you could ask a friend or neighbor to give you some basic painting lessons and begin with landscapes.

It’s amazing how well activities can be intertwined together to make something new and exciting from something you already love. Keeping your mind active and engaged is the key to success!

Below are several ideas for getting active in mind and body. Remember that it’s important to have a good mix of physical and mental stimulation.

Get Crafty

There’s never a better time than the present to start a new hobby. Engaging the mind in a new activity is both rewarding and fun. Finding a new passion in the arts is a great place to start, like learning photography or how to paint. What about knitting, sewing, or arts and crafts? Let your artistic creativity flow.

Purpose Fairy has 15 ways to stimulate the right side of the brain, the creative side.

Get Moving

Walking is an excellent form of physical and mental stimulation. It increases blood flow, improves circulation and boosts overall mood. If walking seems like an arduous task, there are other ways to get moving. Chair aerobics is a perfect way to exercise with very low impact movements. The goal is to get your heart rate pumping. Exercise 4 Weight Loss has a plethora of tips, videos and demonstrations to help you get moving while sitting.

Get Wet

Water sports and classes are a convenient way to stay fit if you have access to a pool. The low intensity movements with the help of a weightless body make water aerobics a crowd favorite.

Senior Lifestyle offers 5 Simple and Fun Water Aerobics Exercises for Seniors. They note that simple water aerobics can relieve joint pain and arthritis It can also increase bone density and muscle mass to alleviate joint pain and increase overall mobility.

Get Talkative

Staying active in events and meet-ups with family and friends is an that doesn’t require much effort. As we get older, social events tend to be less frequent, which can lead to feelings of loneliness. However, staying connected boosts mental health, increases memory and releases a host of feel-good chemicals to the brain.

Get Smart

What’s more calming than breaking open the pages of a new book? Adventure lies between the lines, and going along for a new journey is quite the ride. Reading actually does more than you think.

According to Bustle.com, “It's been proven to improve people's memories, increase brain power, and even enhance empathic skills. Reading has even been linked to longer life spans.”

Get Vitamin D

In addition to helping the body utilize dietary calcium, vitamin D can have an impact on other conditions as well. It’s produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. So outdoor activities are a must. But make sure you take proper precautions and wear sun screen.

Get Cooking

Cooking and preparing healthy meals is a wonderful way to do something enjoyable and calming for the mind. Learning a new recipe and trying it out with family and friends is a learning experience for you and a treat for the people who enjoy your food.

Get Inquisitive

If reading isn’t your cup of tea, there are other ways to exercise the brain. Brain quizzes and puzzles are an excellent way to stay active and have fun while doing it. The challenge that comes with trying to solve a problem makes the feeling of accomplishment well worth it.

Get Involved

Now that you have some knowledge and experience under your belt, it’s time to pay it forward. Create the Good gives 10 reasons for giving back that can help you gain a better appreciation for the importance of helping others.

For some ways to get involved, try volunteermatch.com. You can browse by type of activity such as Advocacy and Human Rights, Animals, Arts and Culture, and Board Development or by general search.

Get Prepared

Being prepared is the best course when the unexpected happens in life. By being financially fit for the future, you’re setting yourself up for whatever comes your way. Transitions that you may be contemplating like retirement, downsizing your home or travelling will all be made easier when you have a plan in place.

The mature years can be the most exciting time in your life, so embrace all the changes for the good.