In later life we tend to do too little. When we do rest, we can give it added value by learning a relaxation technique such as yoga, tai chi, meditation or prayer. These help to lower blood pressure, produce alpha waves in the brain (the mental state of relaxation), slow the heart and breathing and even enhance the immune system. This kind of deep relaxation is especially helpful for dealing with stress and anxiety.

A good night's sleep

Sleep patterns tend to change as we age - sleep is more broken and we may need less. But lack of sleep - or sleeping at the wrong time - will still damage our quality of life and our health.

Try these simple measures to improve the quality of your sleep:

• Keep to a good daily sleep/wake routine.
• Don't go to bed until you feel you can't stay awake, but always get up at the same time each day, including weekends.
• Maintain vitamin D exposure by getting outdoors each day.
  Avoid heavy meals, alcohol (it helps you doze off but disrupts your sleep pattern), tea, coffee and stimulating activities in the four hours before bedtime.
• Get up and do something dull, like cleaning shoes, if you wake up in the small hours.
• Write down your thoughts to deal with later if you wake with your mind racing.
• Have a short nap (up to an hour) after lunch if you feel sleepy, but never nap after about 5pm as this will prevent you sleeping at night.
• Get some exercise. Nothing improves sleep so much as being healthily tired.