Physical Exercise

The National Institute on Aging says adequate exercise is also important, and you may find having a walking partner or exercise companion makes it an enjoyable and healthy activity you look forward to. Regardless of how or where you exercise, in a group or alone in the comfort of your own home, it is extremely important that you rise up out of that chair and do some form of exercise every day.

Your body was not designed to sit all day; it was made to move, get out and breathe fresh air, work, play, and run. If you are not getting enough exercise your body will eventually let you know it through excess weight gain, sore achy joints and muscles, and possibly serious illness. The longer you put off getting in shape the worse it gets so take whatever steps necessary to start and keep it going.

We all know that new habits are hard to make but this is one habit that could save your life, or at the very least make your life more enjoyable. If you find it difficult to convince yourself to get moving each day, find the help of a friend or family member to help keep you motivated. New habits usually only take 90 days to become solidified into your psyche and turn into a new routine that you won’t want to do without. Believe it or not, the pain and soreness eases sooner than you think and at some point, you actually start to miss it when you skip a day. Remember to start slowly at first and work your way up to your maximum potential, after all, you’ve got ninety days to build up this new habit, so what’s the rush?

The key is repetition. Make sure you set a schedule that is doable and sustainable. Do your cardio in the morning and your strength training immediately after work in the afternoon before you quit for the day. Most retirees were used to a regular work schedule before they retired; keep that same routine, only now you get to do whatever you want after your walk, run, or bike ride early in the morning. Just make sure that at 5 o’clock you’re hitting the gym somewhere.