How to Stay Active as you Age

Aging can make many healthy activities more difficult to accomplish. Anything from cleaning your home to getting daily activity to improve your health can be more difficult. Staying active as you age is even more difficult if you have a health or pain condition that prevents you from getting out and doing the things you want to do. Staying active can improve and maintain your health as you age, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. Luckily, there are many ways for seniors to stay active without putting too much pressure on their bodies or themselves. Here are a few ways you can stay active as you age.

Stay Fit

Staying fit throughout your entire life can help you stay active as you age because your body has muscle and strength that it wouldn’t have if you hadn’t worked out in your younger years. In addition, exercising has been proven to improve your balance and bone health and prevent heart and brain problems that plague the elderly. Working on a cardio and strength training program can help you stay fit as you age, which can help you stay active for longer. 

Address Health Conditions

If you have health conditions that prevent you from being active, talk to a doctor about ways to manage any problems. For example, if you suffer from essential tremor that makes it difficult to accomplish daily activities, you can talk to a doctor about treatments that can reduce your tremors, giving you the confidence and ability to stay active. 

Any health conditions you have should be managed or treated by a professional. For example, if you’re experiencing pain that prevents you from going on a walk with your friends or performing regular daily tasks, you may need a prescription that can help keep you active and improve your overall health. 

Know How Long to Exercise

Staying active doesn’t mean you must exercise for hours every day. Instead, aim for moderate activity for at least 150 minutes per week to improve and maintain your health. You can spread this time out throughout the week to make it easier to fit into your busy schedule. 150 minutes is only 30 minutes a day for five days, so you can start to brainstorm different activities that will be gentle on your body but provide you with enough exercise to reap the benefits. 

Know Which Activities Are Best for You

The type of activities that are best for you will depend on your current fitness levels and health. For example, gardening might not be for you if you experience back pain from bending over. It’s best to mix in different types of stretches and activities to maintain and improve balance as you age. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 

Aerobic Activities

• Walking: Walking is an ideal workout for anyone, no matter their physical limitations. Walking is a great way to start training your body again, whether you have a pain condition or haven’t been active for a while. Walking improves cardiovascular health while strengthening your legs, buttocks, and abdomen. 
• Dancing: Dancing is similar to walking in that it offers the same benefits, but it can also burn more calories per hour than walking because you’re moving your entire body. Dancing is also a great way to reduce stress and improve your happiness. 
• Swimming: Swimming is a low-impact exercise ideal for anyone, especially those who suffer from joint pain. When you get into a pool, you’ll float and reduce stress on your joints, which can prevent you from getting the exercise you need outside of the pool. 
• Running: Running is only ideal for those who are in good health. However, running can be a great exercise for those who like fast-paced exercise. Beware, though; running on pavement can be tough on the joints, so running might not be for you if you have knee problems. 
• Bicycling: Riding a bike is another fun, low-impact exercise. Not only can riding a bike make you feel like you’re young again, but it can also help you get places without worrying about driving a car. 
• Golf: Golf is another low-impact activity that can help you burn more calories. Next time you practice your golf swing, consider how much you walk while on the course. Many people don’t realize that they walk miles playing just one round of golf. 
• Playing with grandchildren or pets: If you have grandchildren or pets, playing with them is a great way to stay active without feeling like you’re exercising. Running around with your grandchildren or pets in the yard or going for a walk together can help support your overall well-being. 

Strength Activities

• Body weight exercises: Using your own body weight to train your muscles is a great way to get back into strength training. Body weight exercises like pushups and planks can help you build muscle. 
• Carrying groceries: Simple chores can also help improve your strength. Carrying the groceries can work your arms and legs to improve your strength. 
• Yoga: Yoga uses your body weight to train your muscles while helping you stretch and maintain your balance. 

Getting More Active as You Age

If you never stopped being active, you can continue working on your cardio and strength training exercises. However, over time, you might notice your body gets weaker and unable to perform the same exercises you once did easily. If you’re unsure what exercises are right for you, consider talking to a doctor or physical therapist. Staying active as you age is essential for maintaining and even improving your health. Luckily, there are many ways you can stay active and even become more active, no matter your age. 

When beginning a new training program, start gradually and increase intensity and activity as your body becomes stronger. Of course, you should evaluate your current level of fitness to reduce the risk of injury before increasing physical activity. However, no matter how old you are, you can find a great way to stay active that will help improve your health. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music.