It is very important for seniors to stay active. Check out the answer to the question “Why should seniors exercise?” to learn more about the importance of exercise for the elderly. It is common to dread working out, but there are plenty of ways that seniors can make exercise pleasurable and part of everyday life. Here are a couple tips for doing so.
Choose activities and exercises you enjoy. Think about activities that you enjoy and ho you can incorporate them into an exercise routine. Here are a few examples:
- Walk laps at the mall and window shop while you do so
- Listen to music while lifting weights
- Enjoy a book on tape while on an exercise bike
- Go on a nature hike and take photographs
- Join a competitive tennis league
- Meet new friends at a yoga class
- Watch one of your favorite movies while on the treadmill
- Find a friend to chat with and join you in walking, stretching, or strength training
- Rent different types of exercise videos from the library
- Go for a bike ride with your grandchildren
Find ways to add more physical activity to your day. Here are things you can do daily to help increase the amount of exercise you get each day:
- Choose the stairs over the elevator
- Park at the far end of the parking lot when going to appointments, meetings, or shopping
- Walk down every aisle of the grocery store while shopping
- Practice balancing skills while waiting in lines
- Do neck rolls while waiting at a stoplight
- Do wall pushups while waiting for water to boil
- Vacuum vigorously
- Work in a garden
- Sweep the sidewalk
- Rake leaves
- Lift weights while watching the news
- Do toe-raises while talking on the phone
- Take a walk around a park or neighborhood
- Mow the lawn
The key to making exercise fun and enjoyable is making sure you do not have the same exercise routine every day. Make sure to mix things up. As soon as you discover your exercise routine becoming a rut, find something else to do.
