Whether you live at your parents’ house, or you live in an assisted living facility, anyone can benefit from being in shape. However, when you’re older it can be especially important, since your body may start declining at a faster rate. The healthier you can keep your body, the more you can combat disease, and other effects of aging that may not be so pleasant to deal with.
Staying in shape doesn’t just keep you healthy either— it can boost your overall confidence, and even lower your stress levels. If you’re not sure how to get started, here are some of the best tips for staying in shape well over 60.
Find Something You Love
They say that if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. The same goes for exercise! Try to find an exercise routine that you love and feel passionate about. That way, you won’t feel like you’re working out, but rather doing something that feels great and yields fantastic benefits. If you’re not sure what exercise would be something you would enjoy, try a few different ones out.
The more you test out different exercises, the more likely you’ll be to find something that really sticks. If it feels impossible to imagine the idea of loving working out, you might be surprised. Some people discover that they love a sport or exercise that they never imagined would be possible. Try out a few different ones and keep your mind open.
Start Slowly
Instead of diving headfirst into a workout, slowly work your way up. Take your time to build up your stamina, and steadily increase your intensity. Not only will you reduce the chances of injury, but you’ll also find that you’ll stay more motivated. Pushing yourself too hard too soon can lead to giving up prematurely.
Get a Workout Buddy
Most things are almost always more fun with a friend. Find someone to work out with who shares your motivation. You can continue to motivate each other to get up and get going even when you don’t feel like it. Best of all, you’ll never get bored since you always have someone to talk to during your workout. Encourage each other and motivate each other and reap the benefits of exercise!
Set Goals
A very practical way to stay motivated is by setting goals. For example, perhaps you’d like to be able to run a certain distance by a certain date or go down a pant size. The more specific you can be with your goals, the easier it will be to stay accountable and stay motivated to keep going.