We lead busy lifestyles – even when we’re older. More and more seniors are adding activities to their schedules. While volunteer opportunities, events or other activities are excellent ways to add an interesting layer to our lives, we often let start letting our schedules control our lives rather than the inverse. Time management plans can be necessary – even for seniors
Here are some tips for seniors and their caregivers to consider in developing a good time management plan:

• Make a list of all activities: Try not to leave anything out. Include exercise and rest, because both make us more efficient. If you have trouble coming up with everything all at once, spend a few days putting this list together, jotting down each activity as you prepare for it. Also make note of whether the activity is a regularly scheduled one or whether it occurs only occasionally.

• Prioritize the list: Determine which items on the list are the most important to you. If you’re unsure, come back to this later after you’ve taken time to consider the next item.

• Understand your personal goals: Knowing what you want to accomplish during this stage of your life is just as important as it’s always been. Goals keep you focused and on track and will give you a sense of accomplishment. Knowing this will make prioritizing your “to do” list so much easier.

• Put your schedule in writing: When you put it in writing it’s more difficult to waver from. You’re more likely to follow through and accomplish those things that are most important to you and your goals in life. You can use a planner, a wall calendar or even an online calendar. The point is to write down what you’re doing and when. As each new opportunity presents itself, glance at your calendar to see if there’s time to include it. If necessary, take time to think how the activity fits into your personal goals. If you don’t have time for it and it doesn’t advance or enrich your goals, consider passing.

• Be flexible: The days of living by a rigid, inflexible schedule are over! Never be afraid to change plans when the mood or meaningful opportunity strikes.

As days grow shorter, and daylight becomes scarce in late fall and winter, 4 to 6 percent of Americans experience a form of depression called winter-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder *(SAD). Another 10 to 20 percent have milder cases. Many mistakenly write off SAD as the winter blues or cabin fever, but as a recognized type of clinical depression, SAD requires professional diagnosis and attention, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) advises.

Although SAD is more common among younger adults (75 percent of SAD patients are women, most in their 20s, 30s and 40s), it also affects seniors.

And seniors diagnosed with other forms of depression may have symptoms aggravated by the isolating effect of forbidding winter weather. Treatment for SAD and other forms of depression is especially critical for older adults, who are at greater risk of suicide than the rest of the U.S. population, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While American seniors make up 12 percent of the population they account for 16 percent of all suicides—and white men over 85 are at six times greater risk of suicide than other population segments.

Other means to help seniors elevate mood and fend off the effects of winter and depression include:

• Open curtains and blinds to allow in as much daylight as possible. Sitting near a window can increase daylight’s positive effects.

• As safety permits, spend time outdoors every day. Even on cloudy days the effect of daylight can be beneficial. For the added benefit of companionship, as well as safety, a family or professional caregiver may need to accompany a senior.

• Eat a well-balanced diet that provides recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals to maintain energy. Limit consumption of starchy and sweet foods.

• Get physical activity 30 minutes a day, three times a week. Again, a family or professional caregiver can help seniors achieve this safely with the added, healthful benefit of companionship.

• Stay involved with hobbies, church and social activities and friends to prevent feelings of isolation that winter can bring.

Just as we make plans to retire from work—possibly transitioning from full-time to part-time employment before full retirement—it is important to look ahead to retiring from driving. In fact, many seniors choose to limit their driving as they encounter physical and cognitive changes. For instance, they may decide to drive only in daylight when vision impairment makes night-time driving difficult. Or they may decide to drive only in town when high-traffic situations become stressful.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported in a recent study that more seniors are self-limiting their driving and surmises that this could account in part for another finding: Fewer drivers 70 and older died in crashes and fewer were involved in fatal collisions from 1997 through 2006 than in years past, even though this segment of the population grew 10 percent.

It is essential that family and friends of a senior approach with compassion a discussion about driving —being sensitive to the senior’s need to maintain independence. Also approach the subject from a concern for the senior’s and others’ safety. Have you discussed retiring from driving with an elderly loved one recently? Feel free to comment and let us know how the conversation went.