Many people look forward to retirement as a period of rest, while others look for new ways to get active.
At all stages of life, and most especially in our senior years, staying active is incredibly important for both body and mind. Here are 5 easy ways to get active in retirement.
1. Gardening
Regular exercise prevents chronic diseases related to aging, but exercising when you are older may be physically difficult.
Gardening is an excellent alternative. Gardening requires you to do different tasks like stretching, stopping, kneeling, sitting, squatting etc. These tasks provide you with low to moderate levels of physical activity and meets the recommended daily 30 minutes of moderate physical activity.
Studies have proven that gardening not only helps to improve the physical health of seniors but also improves life satisfaction. Furthermore, gardening is therapeutic and relieves stress.
2. Volunteering
Volunteering has a host of benefits depending on the type of volunteering activity one chooses to take up. Volunteering helps you to keep physically active if you were to help out in an exercise class, while it can also keep you mentally active if you choose to do admin work for a charity organisation, for example.
Volunteering can also improve our social connection as it can be a great way to make friends.
Research shows that helping people releases the ‘feel-good’ endorphins that improves wellbeing and instills a sense of calmness. It helps to increase self-esteem, self-confidence and improve overall satisfaction with one’s life.
3. Swimming
Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for older people as it’s a low-impact physical activity that’s gentle on the joints.
Swimming improves balance, coordination and stamina. Since swimming requires you to create your own base of support and coordinate movement between the upper and lower extremities, it reduces the risk of falls.
Swimming is also a very calming activity and helps to improve mood levels and relax the body. Furthermore, it can also have social benefits.
4. Part-time employment
Our finances can be a concern at all stages of life. With part-time employment, you can keep yourself mentally and physically active and earn some cash at the same time.
Pet-sitting, dog-walking, substitute teaching and babysitting are just some of the many jobs you can take up. Older people have a lot of experience and expertise that is very valuable to many industries.
You will find a host of opportunities on employment websites. There also are many online jobs like online teaching, marketing and writing. These jobs are flexible, fun and help you to keep your mind sharp.
5. Learning new skills
A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body as it can help prevent a wide range of illnesses. According to research, activities that require a person to learn a mentally demanding skill help to improve cognitive functioning. It’s vital to try something unfamiliar and mentally challenging to stimulate your mind.
Some options to consider could be joining a chess club, playing puzzles or learning how to blog or play computer games. The key is to try out new things that are fun and engaging.
Conclusion
When it comes to active ageing, it’s important to remember that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Seniors can consider activities like gardening which is calming and a good form of exercise, swimming as it reduces risk of falls, take up part time work and/or learn a new skill as it helps to keep their mind active.
This article was written by Helen Sanders, chief editor at HealthAmbition.com. Established in 2012, Health Ambition has grown rapidly in recent years. Its goal is to provide easy-to-understand health and nutrition advice that makes a real impact. Health Ambition prides itself on making sure its actionable advice can be followed by regular people with busy lives.
