Aging is inevitable, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. In fact, there are many ways to stay active when you're older.
From cooking healthy meals and going running with friends, to taking up a new hobby like painting or playing bridge — there are plenty of ways to stay active and healthy as you get older. I'm here with some tips on how you can make sure your body stays strong as well as your mind sharp!
1. Work on strength training
Strength training is a great way to improve your overall health, and it can also help you sleep better and recover from injuries. In addition, strength training can improve your balance and coordination, which will help prevent falls in the future. Strength training has been shown to reduce the risk of certain diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer as well as increase life expectancy.
2. Be more Active
You can be active in many ways. You can walk, go on a hike, or swim. You can play golf or tennis, ride a bike with your grandchildren, garden, and even enjoy games of checkers and chess.
Whatever activities you choose to do, remember that regular physical activity is important for everyone—and it's particularly crucial for older adults who want to stay healthy, active and independent. What's more: the more you exercise regularly as you age (and the stronger your core muscles become), studies show that your risk of falling will decrease significantly!
3. Try new activities
You probably already know that you should try new things, but how do you get started? What if you don't like them? How can you be sure that the activity is right for your personality type, goals and interests? Identify what kinds of activities interest you (art, sports). Once you've identified some possibilities, narrow down the list based on which ones are feasible (i.e., cost-effective and time-wise). Finally, rank the remaining choices based on how much they appeal to your sense of adventure. Then set a goal to try one of those things this week!
4. Reduce stress levels
Stress is a very real part of life. It can cause high blood pressure, decreased resistance to disease and illness, sleep problems, digestive problems, mental disorders like anxiety and depression (which can lead to physical pain), headaches or migraines (which are often brought on by stress), back pain and other musculoskeletal issues.
5. Eat healthier
Eat healthier. You'll live longer and feel better.
Make sure to eat more fruits and vegetables, less red meat, less sugar, less processed foods (like chips or cookies), more whole grains like brown rice or quinoa, fish at least once a week, nuts at least once a day, seeds sprinkled on yogurt/cereal/salads daily and beans with every meal you eat (and maybe twice!).
6. Stay social
If you’re an extrovert, social interaction is probably your favorite thing. If you’re an introvert, well...it might be your second-favorite thing. Either way, staying social is important for your health—and that of the people around you. Here are just a few ways that being social can help:
It reduces stress (and cortisol levels)
It keeps our minds active
It keeps us physically active and able to move around easily
7. Manage medical conditions better
If you have a condition, whether it be heart disease or depression, it’s important to manage it better.
You should talk to your doctor and make sure that you understand how to manage your condition. He/she may want to adjust or change any medications or treatment plans that are currently in place.
You can also consider joining an online support group for people with similar medical conditions as well as reading up on current research and new treatments online at places like the National Institutes of Health website (NIH).
Take care of your body and mind
Take care of your body and mind.
Get enough sleep. Sleep is important for many aspects of health, including stress management and immune system function. Studies also suggest a connection between lack of sleep and impaired cognitive functioning.
Being active as you age isn’t just about staying healthy or looking good. It’s a way of life that can help you enjoy all your days on Earth to the fullest. And who knows? Maybe it will even make those days longer than they would have been otherwise!
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