3 Easy Ways to Stay Active as You Age

Let’s get active Seniors!!!

As we age, it gets more and more difficult to do the things we use to enjoy and keep ourselves content and active. Maybe your younger days were filled with activities such as running, hiking, sports, swimming, camping, and things of this nature. Now, that age has crept up on you, these activities may be out of reach for you or not as enjoyable as they once were. Many seniors who want to stay active may need to adjust their activities to accommodate their bodies. As a child of an aging senior, here are a few examples of what my 74-year-old mom likes to do to stay active.

Gardening

My mom has had a garden of some sort for as long as I can remember. Whether it be mowing grass, or tending to her long list of trees, flowers, and shrubs, she stays active outdoors. Combined with her love for her garden, she spends many hours outside, hands dirty and sweaty. One of the great things about North Carolina is that you can tend to outdoor plants and trees nearly year-round. You may not realize it, but these gardening activities can be a great source of exercise and keeping mobile.

Cooking

One of my fondest memories of growing up and still today is cooking with my mom. Cooking involves a lot of dexterity and mentally stimulating activity. Activities such as measuring, mixing and reading, and understanding the recipe can provide a great way to keep the mind active and pass the time, as well as provide a delicious end product that you can be proud of. Cooking a good meal or baking some treats can always put a smile on your face and the face of others.

Crafts

Over the years “crafting” has become a popular pastime of people of all ages. Between quilting, knitting, pottery, drawing, painting, etc., there are many ways to keep yourself entertained as well as improve your dexterity and mental acuity. My mom loves to paint beautiful scenes, whether it be animals, old barns, or landscapes. And if you’re lucky enough to get one, you’ve got a treasure.

These are just a few activities that you can enjoy as you age that can be easily managed depending on your mobility and can bring you years of happiness. Another great thing about these things is that you can start these things when you become a “senior”. You don’t have to have years of experience for any of these things! So, get out there and get going! One idea is to start gardening and grow some fruit.

Next, paint a picture of the fruit you grew and then cook it in a recipe. You’ve just knocked out all three activities.