Now that the summer months are here, it can be a great time to get active and work on exercising in the great outdoors. Keeping up with exercise is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age.
There are plenty of benefits to staying active, and there are probably way more than you think. Here is the list of some of these benefits according to the CDC:[1]
- Increased cognitive function, including better memory and attention
- Better sleep
- Reduced risk for depression and anxiety
- Staying active can help you to maintain your current weight and might even lead to losing weight
- Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
- Lower blood pressure
- Better cholesterol levels
- Reduced risk of some kinds of cancer
- Less risk of falls and being seriously hurt by falls
- Increased life expectancy
These 10 listed benefits only scratch the surface of how important it is to stay active as you age.
It doesn’t take much to feel these benefits too. The CDC recommends that older adults maintain about 150 minutes a week of moderate activity. This includes things like brisk walking. You don’t have to do all of this activity at once–it can just be 30 minutes a day. Alternatively, you can opt for more intense activities, like hiking or jogging, for roughly 75 minutes a week. It is advised to focus on muscle and strength training twice a week in addition to enhancing your balance and flexibility.[2] However, the later you start making physical activity a part of your routine, the harder it will be to get healthy and stay healthy. So, there’s no time like now to get up and at it!
If you’re working on improving your exercise habits and are also interested in improving your financial retirement strategies, Click HERE to reach out to our financial professionals at MILES Financial Group for a complimentary review of your finances today.
