Make aging less tricky and more of a treat with these activities

Aging can be a scary thing, especially when television and movies portray it to be a daunting or emotionally straining time. On the other hand, those who are aging can agree that it welcomes new adventures and more free time to spend doing the things you love with the ones you love most. 

As we get caught up in life, we often forget about mental and physical activity and staying on top of it. Things as simple as a 30-minute walk and playing cards with friends are easy ways to keep your mind and body sharp. 

Oct. 2–8 is Active Aging Week and challenges the negative perceptions of aging in society by showing that adults over 50 can thrive in all aspects of life. The campaign works to provide older adults with opportunities to engage in wellness and exercise activities in a safe way that makes them feel supported and promotes a healthy lifestyle. 

Active Aging Week also partners with the National Senior Games Association, where each day has a theme, starting with emotional health and ending the week looking at your spiritual health. The week focuses on staying active in mind and body, while doing things you like to do instead of drastically changing your routine. 

Did you know that less than half of adults aged 50 and over are staying active, both mentally and physically? The World Health Organization recommends 150–300 minutes (30 minutes per day) of moderate physical activity to maintain good cardiovascular health and stay healthy.  

Exercising can help and prevent the risk of falling, cardiovascular disease, mental health decline, cognitive decline, sleep deprivation and Type 2 diabetes. 

Increasing your physical activity can be a scary thing to think about, but it doesn’t have to be! Simple activities done throughout your day can change your activity level and improve your overall well-being. During Active Aging Week, Aegis hosts daily virtual activities that promote wellness, wherever you may be. It offers workouts and activity suggestions and is completely free!  

While staying active can often be a challenge, eating healthy can help to encourage you to stay active. Eating a healthy and balanced diet is essential and includes every food group: fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, grains, and dairy products. Keeping all food groups within your diet is a great call, but keeping extra protein ensures faster regeneration of cells in the body, supporting immunity to keep you healthy. 

Eating enough protein and staying active can ensure that muscle mass is protected and can improve your strength, stability, and balance. An easy way to remember how much protein you need is to be sure that you’re getting around 5–10 grams of protein per serving of a meal.  

We know this is a lot to digest, but don’t let it scare you! Aging can be fun and can bring new life challenges and extra time for fun and keeping yourself healthy. Staying healthy is easy if you support yourself, stay active and work to eat balanced meals.