Without your usual routine of the gruelling 9 to 5, it can be easy for a lot of other routines to fall off track, including exercise. Making sure to maintain your fitness and keep up with daily exercise is important to maintain your overall wellbeing and reduce your health risks. Here are some handy tips to help you get that later life exercise routine sorted.

Step 1: Have a check-up

As we get older it is important to make sure that we are keeping up with routine medical visits. Before starting any new exercise routines, it is important to check with your doctors beforehand so they can also provide a rough idea on the amount of exercise ideal for you and your body and what will be best suited for you.

Step 2: Write a list of exercises you enjoy

Based on the recommendations from your doctor, write a list of exercises you enjoy or want to try. Retirement is the perfect time to spend more time doing things you love; try things you’ve also wanted to or even discover new things that you’ve never thought about before. 

Some of our favourites include going to walks around your town or surrounding countryside, swimming, participating in group exercise classes, dancing, or even learning a new sport like tennis, football or maybe even giving karate a try.

Read our blog on the benefits of walking in older age.

Step 3: Research your local area 

Depending on the area you live will determine the type of activities available in your area, there might be different clubs you can join. This is a great way to not only exercise but can be a great way to meet new people and develop friendships with people who have similar interests to you. While the world is still very much online, many different clubs are now hosting their meetings online so you can still join in just from the comfort of your home.

At Inspired Villages, every week we host a wide range of different exercise classes for our residents that aren’t only fun, but they are also a great way to stay fit and healthy. We have a wide range of different classes including aerobics, dance classes, seated yoga, stretch and tone and many more. You can find a range of different online exercise classes and even join in on one of our live workout classes on the Virtual Village Centre. 

Step 4: Create a schedule

Once you’ve decided on the exercises you want to do, write down all the times for each activity. Whether you choose to commit yourself to a walk every day or plan in some other kind of workouts throughout the week, adding them into your schedule is a great way to keep yourself accountable. Make sure you keep your goals and schedule realistic, organise them on a daily or weekly basis, not by hours, for example, write down your yoga classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and tennis on Friday – this a great way to manage your schedule without over-managing your time.

Step 5: Have fun!

Doing activities and exercises you truly enjoy will help you keep to a routine. If you try something and decide it’s not for you then try something else. That’s the great thing about retirement is you have fewer commitments and more time to do the things you love.

How we can help!

One of the many benefits of living in an Inspired village is that we have wellness navigators who can work with you on reaching your fitness goals, not to mention facilities such as pools, gyms with specialist strength-oriented equipment, and numerous activities going on to facilitate that exercise routine. 

If you’d like to find out more about us and the benefits and attractions of renting or buying a home in an Inspired village, get in touch today or read our blog on the benefits of living in a retirement village.