It’s not like I’m imparting some kind of scared knowledge here, and surely I’m not voicing something we all haven’t heard before. Quite the contrary it’s something America’s 60-plus population is being told more and more these days. As you grow older an active lifestyle is more important than ever, period. Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. So what are you waiting for?
Not only is exercise good for your body, it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory. As America continues to age and the first of the baby boomer generation begins retiring, increasingly we’re told that stoping work full time does not mean it’s time to stop working completely. Now is the time to start working, at lease part-time, on you.
Starting or maintaining a regular exercise routine can be a challenge as you get older. You may feel discouraged by illness, ongoing health problems, or concerns about injuries or falls. Or, if you’ve never exercised before, you may not know where to begin. Or perhaps you think you’re too old or frail, or that exercise is boring or simply not for you.
While these may seem like good reasons to slow down and take it easy as you age, they’re actually even better reasons to get moving. Exercise can energize your mood, relieve stress, help you manage symptoms of illness and pain, and improve your overall sense of well-being. In fact, exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. And it can even be fun, too.
No matter your age or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise. Reaping the rewards of exercise doesn’t require strenuous workouts or trips to the gym. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness—even if you’re housebound—there are many easy ways to get your body moving and improve your health.