Tips For Staying Active As You Age

Physical activity directly affects your physical and mental health. However, you may find it more challenging to fit physical activities into your routine as you age. While your body will undergo many changes as you age, staying physically fit is about adjusting your activities to suit your current needs and abilities better. By understanding the importance of staying active and how to bring more activeness into your daily life, you can significantly improve your physical and mental well-being.

Importance Of Staying Active

Your body changes with age, often losing a lot of flexibility and strength because of age-related changes to the muscles and tendons. However, aging doesn’t mean you can’t remain in peak physical condition or improve your physical self. Staying active has many perks, but most importantly, it will help you maintain mobility and physical ability as you age:

Improves mobility: Your mobility refers to how easily you can move your body without pain or restriction. Mobility depends on the strength of muscles and ligaments supporting joints. Physical activities strengthen those muscles and ligaments, therefore improving mobility.
Increases flexibility: Flexibility is about how easily your muscles can stretch. The better your flexibility, the better your ability and range of motion.
Maintains strength: Your strength is related to how strong your muscles are. Muscles are something you need to maintain, no matter your age. Strength also improves mobility and your ability to carry and lift things.
Reduces your risk of falls: Mobility is essential to your risk of falling, as is flexibility and balance, all of which you can improve through exercise.
Reduces risk of chronic health conditions: Some people view physical activity as vain, thinking it’s only benefiting your physical appearance. While exercise can change your appearance, it also improves your body's internal work. People who regularly exercise have a lower risk of various health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Improves your mental and emotional health: Physical activity improves not only your physical health but also your mental health. When you exercise, your body pumps endorphins, hormones that make you happy. Research also finds that older adults who regularly incorporate moderate activity into their routine have higher happiness and satisfaction.

Tips For Staying Active

Staying active as an older adult may look different than when you were in your 20s, 30s, or 40s. You don’t have to do high-intensity activities seven days a week, but instead, find 20 to 30 minutes three or four days a week to incorporate moderate exercise.

Find Activities You Enjoy

You want your physical activity to be something you look forward to, not something you dread. If you don’t like jogging or taking group fitness classes, you don’t have to. There are endless ways to incorporate physical activity into your routine. Grab a group of friends and go golfing, play tennis, take a walk, or ride a bike; whatever makes you happy and gets your body moving is a beneficial activity.

Try An At-Home Workout

Sometimes, people don’t enjoy workouts because they think it involves them leaving the house, but it doesn’t have to. Thanks to technology, you can get a full-body workout at home without equipment. There are tons of apps you can download to your smartphone or tablet, that have on-demand workouts led by fitness professionals that you can do at home. You can also find free workouts on YouTube for bodyweight sessions, yoga, and senior-focused workouts.

Get Your Steps In

Walking is one of the most underrated exercises. It’s an accessible activity and provides many amazing benefits for the body. On days when you want to move your body but do not feel like doing a traditional workout, put on some sturdy shoes and take a walk in your neighborhood. If you want your heart rate to beat faster, you can increase your speed at different intervals or walk with light weights.

Staying Active With Visiting Angels

Visiting Angels caregivers want their clients to be healthy, which may mean being an accountability buddy to ensure their clients stay active. Caregivers are happy to assist with neighborhood walks, provide transportation to a gym, or even research nearby fitness studios to find a workout class worth attending.

Our Flagstaff office works with clients throughout Flagstaff, Payson, ShowLow, and the surrounding communities. We provide a complimentary consultation to all potential clients to help you envision the benefits of working with an in-home caregiver. Contact us to schedule your consultation or to ask any questions about our services.