It is important to stay active and social as we get older. There are many ways to do this. Exercise helps keep our bodies healthy, and socializing helps keep our minds sharp. Both are crucial for aging gracefully.
Maintaining Physical Activity
Exercise is important as we get older. It can help us maintain our independence and mobility well into our golden years. It also has a host of other health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
As we age, we are less flexible, our muscles become weaker, and our endurance diminishes. We lose muscle mass due to the natural aging process but also because of lack of exercise.
It’s important to make sure we keep active at all stages of life, especially as we get older. Even if it is just walking around the block, the idea is to keep moving. There are simple exercises you can do throughout the day to keep your body moving and feeling great.
Exercise helps you in other ways as well:
- Helping you maintain your muscle mass as you age
- Strengthening your bones and joints
- Keeping your heart healthy and lowering your blood pressure
- Improving balance and coordination
Benefits of Socializing as We Age
For many of us, socializing is a cornerstone of life. As we age, we might not want to get out, but it is important for our overall health. Some reasons why socializing as we age is so important are as follows:
Socializing helps us stay mentally alert. It’s thought that older adults who have larger social networks perform better on cognitive tests than their peers who are less socially engaged.
Socializing can help reduce stress levels. When we’re stressed out, our bodies produce more cortisol, which increases blood pressure and the heart. When we’re around others who share similar experiences and interests, it can help us feel better about ourselves and our circumstances. People who spend time with others tend to be happier overall than those who aren’t as social.
Socializing helps us build new relationships — and maintain old ones. As we get older and have fewer friends due to death or distance (or both), it’s important for us to find new people with whom we can connect emotionally.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why it’s vital to keep active and social as we age. It might be hard at times, especially as our social group dwindles, but seeking out other activities or groups to be in is essential to our health and well-being.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6304477/
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/staying-social-as-a-senior
https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/obesity/stay-active-you-get-older-quick-tips
