How to Age with Energy

We can’t avoid getting older. Our bodies and minds grow fragile, accompanied by body aches and pains. We lose the energy and agility that we enjoyed in our youth. Although we can’t escape these facts, we can learn to adapt in an effort to prolong our quality of life as much as possible. 

Whether you’re old or young, you need to start exercising now to gain the benefits of a healthy life. You might have thought about taking better care of yourself but don’t know where to start.  You might bombard yourself with all kinds of questions, losing your motivation in the process. This post gives three tips on how to be active well into your golden years.

1. Find activities that work best for you
Choose activities that you enjoy.  Too many people have negative connotations with exercise because they feel like it can only be done in a certain way.  But in reality the possibilities are endless if you think about it.  Consider activities like walking, hiking, jogging, elliptical, skiing, dancing, horseback riding, playing tennis, golf, yoga, playing with grandchildren and more.

Once you’ve identified a few activities, narrow them down according to your age, interests and available time. Many people like to start out with walking because it can be both enjoyable and has numerous health benefits.  If there isn’t an activity that appeals to you, or if exercise in general seems like drudgery, find a way to make the experience enjoyable. Consider listening to audio books or your favorite music while on the treadmill or walking. If you like to golf, skip the golf cart and walk the course instead. Look for creative ideas to make exercise more enjoyable.

2. Consider these tips before you start
Keep the following tips in mind before you start:

1. Check with your doctor first.  Consider any current health issues you may have, such as diabetes.
2. Start slow and work up to a set goal, which you can change later if need be.
3. Pay attention to your body while you are physically active. Watch for signs of overexertion.
4. Drink enough water while working out to avoid dehydration.
5. Make sure to warm up and cool down to prevent injury.
6. Set a schedule for your physical activity and stick to it.

3. Change your focus as you age
With age, your emphasis will change when it comes to exercise:

• 20s – Increasing abilities and overall strength
• 30s – Cross-train for the greatest benefits in your work out
• 40s – Work on continued fat reduction, muscle building and maintenance of fitness
• 50s – Focus on cardio and your core for overall health and strength
• 60s – Keep up your strength and agility to avoid injury
• 70s – Stay active.

 
Bottom line
With a regular workout routine, not only do you improve your quality of life but you prolong that quality of life into your later years. You might need to adapt your activities to your particular needs as you grow older, but dismiss any ideas that you can’t continue to exercise.  It will never get easier and you’ll only make progress by doing something about it now. You will be thankful that you started down the path of improving your quality of life before it's too late.

This blog post was written by guest author Kevin Jones.  Kevin has mastered a busy lifestyle with work and fitness combined with family life. He writes offering solutions for personal fitness and time management as well as keeping families fit together by utilizing activities and diet. You can read more of Kevin's writings by connecting with him online at LinkedIn and Twitter.

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