Staying Active - It's Not Over Yet!

So you’ve finally reached senior citizen status, the kids are grown, the retirement party is over, and now you’ve got time on your hands. It’s normal for seniors to feel a little lost, disoriented, and sometimes hopeless, but don’t stay there - get busy!

Staying active is one of the best medicines an elderly person can take. Activity will improve your health as well as your overall well-being. You might ask, well what can I do to be active? In this day and age, the list is endless when it comes to keeping yourself busy. First, find a form of exercise you like to do and, if you’ve never really exercised before, start slowly and build up your resistance. Join a walking club of your peers or join a health club. Health clubs normally have Olympic-sized swimming pools for swimming or water aerobic classes. Don’t forget the whirlpool and sauna. While you’re getting in shape, healthy eating habits can go a long way in keeping you active too.

Start a new hobby, travel and meet new people, stay mentally active by reading books and engaging in conversations with other people on a variety of topics. Go to special events, i.e. the theater, opera, ballet. There are always day bus trips available to visit places you’ve never been before. Volunteering is a great way to stay actively engaged. Serve meals to the homeless, volunteer at a food or clothing bank, the opportunities are endless. Join a local retirement community center to learn crafts such a quilting, pottery making, computer skills, and dancing. Senior community centers are great social outlets and an opportunity to meet like-minded folks.

These are just a few tips on staying active. Don’t despair in your elder years – get moving, start socializing and above all have fun because it’s not over yet!