As we age, staying active becomes more imperative for our overall health. Regular physical activity can positively benefit various areas of our health, including our whole body and mental and social health. Physical activity is often easy and more regular when we’re younger, thanks to the energy associated with youth and childhood. But as we get older, finding a balance between managing your responsibilities, taking care of yourself, and staying active can become more challenging.
Staying active as we age can help enhance our quality of life as well as prolong it. It’s not about being in top physical shape or having extremely defined muscles, but rather having a body that’s able to move with you and guide you into every stage of life. Staying physically active can promote flexibility, strength, and stamina to perform daily tasks and make aging an easier transition. With physical aptitude, you’ll also be able to maintain more independence as you age.
At Senior Industry Services, we believe that promoting an active lifestyle for seniors is essential for overall well-being, so we thought we’d share some practical tips on the benefits of staying active and how to get started.
5 Reasons Why Staying Active is Important for Seniors
- Improved Physical Health
Staying active can help maintain healthy joints, muscles, and bones, as well as improve heart health. It can also reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. It also improves balance, coordination, and flexibility, which can prevent falls—one of the most common and dangerous health risks for seniors. - Better Mental Health
Physical activity releases endorphins, which help boost your mood. Exercise can help alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. It also sharpens cognitive function, which is crucial for preventing conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly. - Enhanced Socialization
Group exercise classes or outdoor activities encourage socialization, fighting against the isolation that seniors often face. Staying active can also help you engage with others and create new friendships and bonds or strengthen those you already have with friends and family members. Staying active is just one of many ways to build and maintain connections with those we love. - Increased Independence
By staying physically active you can maintain physical abilities and in turn complete daily tasks more easily. As we mentioned previously, the law of inertia reflects this – staying moving will help you be able to keep moving. An active lifestyle will help you be mobile and independent longer. - Better Sleep Quality
Regular exercise can help make going to sleep and staying asleep easier. And in turn, getting more quality sleep will also help your overall health – it’s a win-win!
3 Tips for Encouraging an Active Lifestyle for Seniors
- Start Slow and Build Gradually
Evaluate your ability levels and where you’re at and start from there. Never push yourself to a point of pain or discomfort. Start slow and work your way up. No one should just jump straight into a strenuous workout routine without proper preparation. Start with gentle exercises like walking or stretching. You can slowly increase the intensity, length, and frequency of your workouts based on your comfort and personal growth. Consistency is the goal not intensity – it’s better to do small simple things than try something and end up hurt! - Choose Activities You Enjoy
It’s easier to stay active if the activity is something you enjoy doing. If you enjoy nature, talk walks outside or along a nature trail. Find whatever it is you enjoy doing and stick with it! Doing something you genuinely enjoy doing will help you to want to continue with it and give you a greater sense of accomplishment. The goal is to make staying active an enjoyable hobby not a burdensome chore. - Set Realistic Goals
Create small and achievable goals to work towards and celebrate once you’ve achieved them. Making even small victories monumental can encourage you to continue and create even bigger goals moving forward.
Staying active doesn’t have to entail lengthy and detailed workouts with reps and complicated exercises. Movement is the goal, whatever that may be. Even if it’s walking around your house or doing a couple of laps around your driveway, movement is what will help you in the long run. According to the Law of Inertia, an object in motion stays in motion, and an object at rest stays at rest. This same mentality can be true of physical activity versus a sedentary lifestyle. Because of this, it can be hard to start, but it’ll get easier, and you’ll soon feel and see the difference regular physical activity can make in your life.
Staying active is one of the most effective ways to ensure that we age well and remain as independent and healthy as possible. Engaging in regular physical activity offers a lifetime of benefits, from whole-body health and wellness to deeper social connections.
At Senior Industry Services, we’re committed to helping seniors live their best lives and maintain their independence as they age. By incorporating more movement into daily routines, seniors can enjoy a greater sense of independence and better health.
It’s never too late to start, so take that first step toward a more active lifestyle today!
Written for Senior Industry Services by Lauren Hope Bartling
