Staying Motivated to Exercise: Tips for Older Adults
Physical activity is a great way for older adults to gain substantial health benefits while maintaining independence, so use these tips to stay motivated to exercise every day at home.
1. Find Simple Ways to Make Exercise Fun and Enjoyable
Making exercise interesting and enjoyable is the key to sticking with it. Read and share this infographic for tips on how to overcome exercise barriers. Do all four types of exercise to keep things interesting and keep your interest alive. The infographic covers endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
2. Find Ways to Fit Exercise into Your Day
You are more likely to exercise if it is a convenient part of your day. There are many ways to incorporate physical activity into your regular schedule, including taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking down the hall instead of e-mailing coworkers.
3. Make Exercise a Social Activity
Many people agree that having an “exercise buddy” keeps them motivated. Check with your local senior center or gym to see if they offer online exercise classes or exercise videos. During COVID-19, use family gatherings to play team sports or participate in outdoor activities.
4. Keep Track of Your Exercise Progress
When you reach your goals, reward yourself with something special. The best way to stay motivated is to track and celebrate your accomplishments. Don’t forget to include rewards in your plan, whether it’s a movie, a museum visit, or a new audiobook.
Tips For Coping with Breaks in Your Exercise Routine
It’s natural for life events and changes to get in the way of staying active, but there are ways to get back on track; remember, exercise and physical activity should be a part of your daily routine.
What motivates elderly exercise?
Provide Rewards. When your loved one meets a fitness goal, treat him or her to a favorite treat, tickets to a local sporting event, or gift cards to a local store. The prospect of receiving gifts and rewards after meeting a goal may encourage your parent to exercise more frequently.
What motivates you to continue working out?
It could be a health issue, a sleep issue, a special event you want to look great for, having more energy to play with your kids or grandkids, or simply wanting to feel better and healthier in your own skin that motivates you to exercise.
How do you motivate the elderly?
Here are five ways to motivate and encourage older people.
- Encourage affirming self-identity. Encourage technologies. Encourage the feeling of usefulness. Encourage adaptive, flexible coping skills.
How do you stay physically motivated?
At least twice a week, incorporate strength training exercises for all major muscle groups into your fitness routine.
- Make it enjoyable.
- Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.
- Write it down.
- Team up with friends, neighbors, or others.
- Reward yourself.
What can you do to overcome barriers for keeping an active lifestyle?
a scarcity of time
- Identify available time slots.
- Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.
- Select activities, such as walking, jogging, or stair climbing, that you can do in the time you have available (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes).
What are 3 exercise barriers?
It is a 21-item measure that assesses the following barriers to physical activity: 1) lack of time, 2) lack of social influence, 3) lack of energy, 4) lack of willpower, 5) fear of injury, 6) lack of skill, and 7) lack of resources (e.g. recreational facilities, exercise equipment).
What can motivate a person to exercise?
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has compiled a list of the top ten ways to motivate people to exercise.
- Make fitness fun.
- Be both active and productive.
- Keep workouts short and sweet.
- Extol the benefits.
- Train for a charity event together.
- Set short-term goals.
- Offer to be a workout partner.
Does exercise help with motivation?
Physical activity immediately boosts the brain’s dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels, all of which affect focus and attention, making it one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood.
What activities can you do with the elderly?
Beyond Bingo: 14 Non-Boring Activities for Senior Citizens
- Wii Sports.
- Walking Clubs.
- Gardening Clubs.
- Book Clubs.
- Life Story Exercises.
- Lectures and Continuing Education Classes.
- Art Classes.
How do you build confidence in the elderly?
Here are seven ways to boost an older parent’s self-esteem:
- We all want strong friendships and close family relationships, regardless of our age.
- Squashing Negative Stereotypes.
- Strength and Balance.
- Ask for Their Advice.
- Make Their Home Accessible.
- Talk About Current Events.
- Be Compassionate.
How can I help my lonely elderly?
Seniors’ Tips for Coping with Loneliness
- Plan ahead.
- Start a new hobby.
- Bridge the gap.
- Take a class or seminar.
- Teach someone something.
- Give back.
- Adopt a pet.
How do I get motivated?
Here are some suggestions:
- Continue to set new goals.
- Keep the momentum going.
- Find mentors u2013 a mentor is someone who has had experience with the habit you want to change.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Use exercise as one of your daily goals to improve your mental health.
What are four benefits of exercise?
What are the advantages of exercise for your health?
- Help you lose weight.
- Reduce your risk of heart disease.
- Assist your body in managing blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Assist you in quitting smoking.
- Improve your mental health and mood.
- Assist you in keeping your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you get older.
How can I motivate myself to exercise during lockdown?
5 clever ways to keep yourself motivated to exercise at home
- Make a schedule.
- Mix it up.
- Find some me-time and incorporate a home workout u2013 even if you’re joined by a guest star like Lucy Mecklenburgh and son Roman.
- Don’t go it alone.