For better or worse, we humans are creatures of habit. We like having some amount of routine in our lives. Whether it’s reading the newspaper while drinking your morning coffee, having a chat with friends after lunch, or calling your grandson every Tuesday at 7:00, we all develop habits and routines. Fitness should be one of them. 

If you don’t have a fitness routine, it may feel like you don’t have time to exercise or simply like a chore you don’t want to do. But staying fit is incredibly important to both our physical and mental wellbeing. Thankfully, it’s possible to form new routines at any age. Here are five ways to start small that prove it’s not too late for you to develop your own fitness routine.

1. Take a Walk

If mobility isn’t a problem, walking is a simple way to create a new fitness routine. If you normally drive everywhere, consider walking to destinations that are close to your home. This could be the local coffee shop, a nearby park, or just to your friend’s apartment downstairs. If there’s something you particularly enjoy, incorporate that, too. Go birdwatching, walk around a museum, or just take a stroll with a friend. 

2. Multi-Task

If you find exercise dull and boring, try exercising while doing activities you enjoy. For example, you could watch a movie while using a treadmill, listen to music while doing yoga, browse the internet while riding a stationary bike, or simply walk around your apartment during commercial breaks from your favorite TV show. You’ll get some much-needed activity while having fun, too.

3. Bring a Friend

A new fitness routine can also become a part of your social calendar. Chances are there’s someone you know who could use a fitness buddy. Creating a fitness routine with friends gives you a feeling of belonging and solidarity and can make exercising more enjoyable. Try dancing, organizing an informal basketball game, playing golf, or going bowling.

Make It Convenient

If exercise feels too difficult or like a chore, choosing options that are convenient for you will help. Take advantage of exercise videos or online classes so you can participate from the comfort of your home. Try gardening in the courtyard. Or take up swimming at the local pool. Group activities organized by your independent living facility can also be convenient, since you won’t need to go far to participate.

5. Make It a Habit

Whatever type of exercise you’d like to try, one of the most important things you can do is make it a habit. On average, it takes 66 days for a new habit to become a routine. That means you’ll have to repeat it quite a few times before it starts to feel like a normal part of your day. 

It’s helpful if you exercise at the same time or in the same context so that your mind and body begin to think of it as a cue that it’s time for your routine. For example, you could exercise before breakfast, after the evening news, or when you meet up with your friend on Saturdays. Pick something that works for you and stick with it. Missing a day now and then won’t matter, but it’s important to try to be consistent. Otherwise, it’ll take longer for your new fitness routine to feel like just another part of your day.

Normandy Living aims to support healthy and vibrant aging, so we offer an array of recreational activities. Interested in joining our community? Fill out this form for priority consideration.