Exercise is important for stress relief, better sleep, improved mood and reduced risk of many chronic diseases.

And it’s never too late to get started. Here are four tips to keep active and fit at any age.

1. Choose Activities You Enjoy

One of the best ways you can make aging and fitness work together is to do what you enjoy.

Whether that’s line dancing, walking, pickleball or swimming, as long as it gets your heartbeat up, it’s a great option for you. Here are some fun things to do in Bradenton you could consider.

Swimming is one of the best exercises for older adults because it takes the pressure off your joints. In the water, you may be able to do movements you might not be able to do on land.

Also in water, you aren’t at risk of losing your balance and getting hurt. All that might happen is you’ll go underwater.

There are many aquafit programs that are geared for seniors working out.

2. Work on Your Balance

As people age, their balance, posture, and quality of walking can deteriorate. Improving your balance at any age will reduce your risk of falls.

In the US alone, a senior adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds. And every 19 minutes, an older adult dies due to a fall.

To stay active and fit for many years to come, participate in balance-focused activities such as tai chi or yoga.

The great thing about balance is that it is an easy thing to improve. You’ll be surprised how much more confidence you’ll have in your balance after just a short time.

3. Use Your Bodyweight for Strength Training

Building up your muscles helps prevent loss of bone mass and improves balance. And of course, makes your muscles stronger.

You might not think that strong muscles are important as you get older. Yet, they make it much easier to be able to lift objects, open jars, and even get in and out of the car.

But you don’t have to join a gym or buy expensive weights in order to tone and strengthen your muscles.

One of the best workout tips for anyone is to begin strength training with just their body weight. You reduce your risk of dropping equipment and getting hurt.

There are countless bodyweight exercises you can do for strength training. Push-ups, squats, leg raises, scissor kicks and so on are all great exercises you can do at home. You don’t need any equipment at all.

4. Stay Motivated

Motivation can be tricky. Sometimes things like injury, illness or boredom can cause you to give up.

But in order to see results from your exercise efforts, you need to maintain the habits for several months. But how can you stay motivated?

One of the best ways to keep older adults exercising is to do it with a friend. You’ll have both a support system and accountability system all in one.

It’s also important to focus on your short-term goals such as improving your mood and reducing stress. When you focus on long-term goals like losing weight, it can be discouraging.

Make sure you find ways to reward yourself for your commitment. Delay your crossword puzzle and cup of coffee until after you’ve exercised.

Lastly, you can also keep a workout journal that can help you stay accountable and also documents your accomplishments.