Everyone knows how important it is for your health to stay active. This increases the older you get. But far from requiring the senior population to head to the gym if they prefer not to, knowing how best to stay active is vital to ensure ongoing good health and support for your body and mind. With the over 65s spending 10 hours or more sitting down each day, knowing how to stay in tip-top condition is key to a healthier lifestyle as you age.
Find an Activity You Enjoy
Finding an activity you enjoy is critical to keeping your mind and body active. One of the challenges of staying active as you age is that many older people can’t do certain activities due to injuries or conditions. But what if you could remain active and be healthy, even if it’s not your favourite activity? The best way to stay active all year round is to find an enjoyable activity that can be done regardless of the condition of your body. Here are some examples:
- Yoga
- Dancing
- Gardening
- Fishing
- Anything!
Find something you enjoy doing, no matter how little time or energy you have left in your day. This will make it easier for you to stick with this new routine.
Get Social
One of the best strategies for staying active as you age is to get social. This could mean signing up for a dance class at your local community centre, joining an adult sports league like basketball, baseball, or soccer, or even joining a volunteer organisation. All these activities can help keep you active and socially engaged with others in the community.
Mix It Up
The most important thing to do is mix your exercise up. It’s easy to get used to doing one thing day in and day out, but this will breed boredom. If you enjoy working out with weights, make sure you also hit the treadmill or the elliptical machine for cardio workouts. By mixing it up, you’ll ensure that even if you are feeling tired or low on energy, you can continuously tap into an area of exercise that suits your mood.
Doing something different can help lengthen the time your body needs to recover from injury by not overworking one particular area of physical activity. This way, it won’t feel like a chore – only a means to good health! As well as avoiding boredom, mixing up your exercises can help ease injuries too.
Get Support if Required
As we age, our bones become weaker, and we may need some support. This is where the use of a cane or walker comes in handy. Specially designed for seniors and with features like a seat and handgrip, they support those with weak bones and joints. Walking poles are another great way to stay active while enjoying the outdoors. For some, having home 24 hour care can help them be more mobile in some circumstances and as active as possible without the worry of hurting themselves and not being able to get help.
Know Your Limits and Pace Yourself
The first step to staying active as you age is knowing your limits and pacing yourself. Just as marathon runners realise they can’t run as fast as they used to, those over 65 should know their limits and keep up with them. Yoga is a perfect example of an activity that doesn’t involve running or jumping – it’s a workout you can do at any age, as is swimming too.
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