Regular exercise is important at all stages of life, but it’s especially important as we get older and our bodies start to feel the effects of 50-plus years of daily stress. It’s not uncommon for issues like arthritis, back pain or other degenerative conditions to slow older adults down, but that only tends to make symptoms worse. Exercise and daily movement can not only help treat some age-related conditions, but it can also help us slow down or prevent the progression of certain degenerative issues.
Even in the face of age-related issues, it’s not always easy to find the motivation to exercise or incorporate more movement in your daily life. That’s why in today’s blog, we share four ways that older adults can find it easier to stay motivated to continue exercising regularly.
Make It Social
A 2018 health and wellness study found that individuals who walked with a friend were more likely to stick with a regular walking schedule than those who pursued the activity on their own. Not only can a friend or partner make the activity more enjoyable, but they also hold you accountable to the commitment. If you connect with someone who will hold up their end of the bargain, you may find it much easier to stick to an exercise routine because you know you’ll have a buddy by your side that you don’t want to let down.
Make It Fun
You don’t have to lift weights or go for a run if you don’t find those activities enjoyable. There are countless ways to inject some movement in your daily life that you personally enjoy. You can also look for ways to become more active in pursuits you already enjoy. For example, walk the golf course instead of playing a round with a golf cart. Sit down and really think about what type of physical activities you enjoy, and look for ways to add more activity to enjoyable hobbies you already pursue. When you enjoy the activity, there’s little need to self-motivate to complete the task.
Connect With A PT
Working with a physical therapist can also make it easier for you to stay motivated to the cause. A PT can help you stay motivated in a number of ways, including:
- Helping you develop an exercise program you enjoy (or at least don’t dread).
- Improving your diet and sleep habits so you have more energy to attack each day.
- Helping you manage and overcome mental stress that could be affecting your motivation to exercise.
- Assisting you in overcoming lingering pain or symptoms that are keeping you from being as active as you’d like.
- Ensuring you make the strongest recovery possible after an injury or surgery so that you can get back to activities sooner.
Let us develop an individualized PT program that boosts your motivation to stay active.
Goal Setting And Tracking
Finally, setting attainable goals can make it easier for you to keep moving when you’d rather be doing something else. Set attainable, trackable and measurable goals, and be sure to celebrate your progress along the way. Make sure you have set both short- and long-term goals so that you’re always working towards achievable targets. If you need help setting goals or developing an exercise program to help you hit these goals, the team at OrthoRehab Specialists would be more than happy to help.
For more information about staying motivated to exercise as an older adult, or for help with a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.