While it’s important for people of all ages to stay active in order to be healthy and fit, this is something that people often struggle with as they get older. Especially as your body ages, it can be challenging to find the energy and physical abilities to stay active. But with the right plan and attitude, you can find ways to still get your body moving without putting too much pressure on yourself.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for staying active as a senior citizen.
Reassess How You Think About Exercise
As you get older, you may need to start thinking about exercise a little differently. Even for those who may be living in assisted living facilities and need help with their daily activities, you can still find ways to “exercise” on a regular basis.
Along this way of thinking, HelpGuide.org shares that you can think about cleaning, shopping, stretching, or walking as exercise. You can also add more movement into your everyday routines by dancing more, trying out yoga poses, doing yard work or gardening, or taking your pet for a walk. So even if you’re not putting on workout clothes or breaking much of a sweat, anything that you do to get your body moving, your muscles working, and your heart pumping just a little faster is going to be great for staying active as a senior citizen. Also, keep in mind you should wear comfortable clothing while you are doing these activities. Senior women can choose bras with back support or wireless ones (https://seniorsjoy.com/best-bras-for-older-ladies/) to be comfortable all day.
Work On Your Balance
One part of physical fitness that many seniors struggle with is their balance. If this is something you need to improve upon, this can be counted as part of your attempts to be more active.
To do this, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that you try things like standing on one foot while holding onto a stationary object, going from a sitting to a standing position, or trying to do some yoga stretches or positions that require a bit of balance.
Learn How To Work With Your Body
Being active generally gets harder as you age because your body doesn’t work as well as it did when you were younger. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find ways to work with your body and your current capabilities so that you can get more physically fit.
According to Dennis Thompson, a contributor to Everyday Health, sometimes all you have to do is think of ways that you can adapt to your new body and injuries. For example, you may want to take up swimming or other exercises that are easier on your body and any aches or pains you may be experiencing.
If you’re unsure of the best ways to stay physically fit as you get older, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you come up with a plan for getting more active despite your age.