Throughout your working life, it can be difficult to get fit. You are sitting at a desk for eight hours a day, five days a week. Then, when it gets to the weekend, you have to motivate yourself to exercise, whether that is hitting the gym or going for a run. If you are an outdoor person, you might find it easy to exercise and have fun at the same time. Indeed, you may enjoy hiking and going on bike rides. But, if you are someone that is not especially keen on exercise, this takes a little more effort.
Something to realize is that when you retire, regular exercise is very important for older adults. It can be something that helps you in a variety of different ways. Indeed, you are now going to have more time in your life to do things. So, you should make the most of your time and ensure you are active. Here are reasons why regular exercise is important for older adults.
Regular Exercise is Essential for Fitness and Strength
If there is one thing that most older adults do not want to become, it is dependent on their loved ones. You want to have an independent life for as long as possible and be able to do everything you want to. Well, staying fit and healthy is going to be essential, which means enjoying regular exercise.
Generally, it is recommended that you get 150 minutes a week of exercise. This can work out at a manageable amount a day, which can be a 30-minute walk on weekdays. In particular, this should be of moderate intensity. This means that you should be pushing yourself but not so much that you are exhausted. If you are used to doing a lot of exercise, you might prefer more vigorous exercise, such as going for a run. In this case, around 75 minutes a week can be good for you.
But, it is not just cardiovascular exercise that is recommended. Strengthening the muscles is also something you want to do. This is going to ensure that you maintain your strength and this can help with everyday activities, such as carrying the shopping. Indeed, it can be good to work the muscles around twice per week. Of course, there are a number of ways you can do this. For example, you can choose to go to the gym and lift weights. If you do not want to do this, you can always enjoy other activities that use muscles, such as gardening.
Note that exercise is not the only important thing you need as an older adult. You also want to take care of your diet and attend to any medical concerns you have. For example, having private healthcare can be important for getting quick and reliable medical advice. Usay Compare has the cheapest private health insurance UK plans available. This will allow you to see a doctor quickly when you have a problem, which can improve your quality of life in the long run. So, know that you need more than just regular exercise to stay healthy during your senior years.
Other Benefits of Exercise
Many people focus on the physical benefits of exercise when you are an older adult. Of course, this is very true, and you can make sure that you are strong and physically fit. This allows you to do things in everyday life and keep your heart healthy, as well as maintain muscles. But, there are also other benefits of exercise, which is why you need to make it part of your daily routine.
Namely, exercise can be great for your mental health. There are studies that have shown anxiety and depression can be reduced when you exercise on a regular basis. This can be due to the endorphins that are released during exercise, as well as your ability to switch off and enjoy a new environment. There are also suggestions that exercise can help to decrease the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
Exercise Tips for Older Adults
Something very important when it comes to exercise as an older adult is that you take it slowly. If you suddenly increase the amount of exercise you are doing; you can end up stiff and with sore muscles. This can mean that you lose interest and have to take a break from exercise in order to recover. So, always build up to longer and more challenging exercises slowly over time.
If you find that exercise is not something that you really enjoy, try to adapt your routine to make it better. For example, if you do not enjoy walking, why not try walking football instead? This can be an activity you enjoy with your friends. Indeed, if you get bored on walks around town, drive somewhere else to explore. You can even bring a friend with you so that you have time to talk. Chatting can be a good way to pass the time and enjoy exercise at the time same.
