If you’re looking for advice on how to stay healthy, active, and happy as you get older, I have good news for you.  The best thing you can do is very simple: Keep Moving.

When I wake up each morning I have to take a few minutes to stretch and get my blood moving.  Getting older can bring some challenges, but there’s no reason to accept a limited life experience.  Taking time to stretch and open up my joints and muscles is a small price to pay for decreased aches and pains.

Just keep moving!  This is the answer.  When I wake up with sore and tight muscles, I remind myself that I’m asking a lot of my body.  I work hard and lift heavy in the gym.  I regularly include martial arts training to increase mobility and flexility in my body.  This daily exercise and movement allows my body to be strong and capable of what I want to do.  (And some soreness is a good sign of progress toward getting stronger.)

If I did not give this time and attention to my health, I would be limited.  Friday morning I spent several hours working in our front flower beds, planting some new plants, weeding and watering.  This was hard work, on my hands and knees in the dirt.  It was also empowering and fun.  I could not have made it through this rigorous work without a daily routine of stretching and movement and resistance training in the gym.

Look at the people in your life who are struggling.  Of course, some may face medical and other challenges which are difficult to overcome.  But there are others who are simply limited because they have stopped moving.  We all know older friends and relatives who retire and simply sit in front of the television.  I have known many older folks who found themselves in a downward spiral: the more they stop moving and sit, the more things hurt, which makes it harder to get up and move…

We can empathize for such folks who are struggling, but we don’t have to join their ranks.  Take time to move, no matter what this looks like.  A walk after dinner, a game of catch or frisbee, some stretching in the morning.  Start with simple steps, ANY steps, then build your habits from there.

If you are struggling with the discipline to build these habits, I have a suggestion.  What works for me is to frame my goals in a positive way.  I want to be able to do things around the house.  I want to be able to go on trips and walk and be active, to do and see everything I can!  I want to be able to walk around a theme park and enjoy roller coasters, go for a swim, or scream my way down a water slide.

You may want to be able to play with your kids or grandkids, to be able to reach down and pick them up and play on the floor and enjoy your time fully.  You may want to play golf or tennis, or enjoy vacations or long weekends, or even just feel better when you wake each day.  You can do all these things if you just keep moving!  Think of your time moving, your time exercising, as the way to maintain your health and strength.  Rather than a penalty during your day, see it as the magic pill it really is!  Setting aside time to move and exercise is an investment in your health which allows you to be ready for all the fun things in life.  Add a smarter diet and adequate rest, and you’ll be set for a great “rest of your life.”

Move so you are not limited.  Move so you can do all the things you want to do without pain or limitation.  Move so your life continues to improve and grow.  You can do it!