Some adages you may be familiar with:
- Nothing happens by accident
- There are no coincidences
- Everything worth having is worth working for
We’re part of the older crowd now and our experiences tell us these old sayings are true. But all of them insinuate action. We need to do something if want positive things in our lives. It won’t happen by accident. There are no series of coincidences that will make it happen. We can wish and hope every day until we're dead. The answer has always been that we need to get after it if we want things to change. We simply need to work for it, because it's worth it.
So, if we want longer, active lives; if we want to hurt less and feel better; if we want to put more life in our remaining years, we need intentional beneficial routines to make it happen.
I promise you that if you adopt what I’m about to tell you, it will change your life forever and for the better. It did for me – it has for many others - and I’m confident it will for you too.
There are four types of routines that I will cover in four different posts. This is the first and maybe the most obvious: a physical fitness routine.
Daily
This isn’t about spending our days at the gym, pumping iron, or working out to the latest fad program. It’s less than that. It's better than that. It's just simple routine maintenance for our bodies. It’s something you can do in reasonable comfort every day.
Level Out the Ups and Downs
Many of us are on-again-off-again people when it comes to physical fitness. There are times when we’re very active and times when we’re not. We need to make that behavior a thing of the past. We need to be on-again for the rest of our lives.
A few things to consider:
- Maybe the reason you can't stay on-again is that you're doing too much. If you start strong, loose motivation or maybe get injured, then quit, it's probably too much. One of the biggest reasons for this as we get older is that in our heads, we're younger. But in the mirror, we're not. Our self-image is stuck in the past and we haven't embraced our new, slightly older self.
- It's time to get real and get our head in more agreement with the mirror. Being older isn't a bad thing, but it does require some adjustments. It's time to adjust expectations. Expecting that you can do what you did when you were a couple decades younger is foolish. Embrace the wisdom you've earned, and give it a stronger voice in your decisions. It's OK that you are less physically capable than that younger version of yourself. Accept the facts and adjust your work out routine accordingly.
- This doesn't mean you are less of a person and it doesn't mean that you will have less enjoyment. To the contrary: when you are doing your best in your lane, and probably more than most people your age - it will bring you joy, contentment, satisfaction, and even excitement. Make this your new lifestyle and it may become the best time of your life.
- Start off slow, really slow, with an easy routine, something you know you can do every day. And then maybe at some point when you know you can do more and keep doing more, ramp it up a little... a little. If you reach the point where you are starting to loose your motivation, turn it down a little. BUT, don't shut if off completely. Commit to never going back to that off-again version of you.
- I promise that if you stay in that on-again state, when you do your annual blood screening, get ready for a big smile. A daily physical routine will (obviously) improve your overall health. Blood pressure, A1C levels, cholesterol, sleep, stress levels, etc. will all improve. Being actively daily also helps prevent certain diseases and chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease diabetes, obesity, cancers, dementia, and depression. This means longevity, easier recovery after sickness, and more enjoyable time with the grandkids. The National Institute on Aging has a ton of information on this.
- If you aren’t sure how to get started or what to do, go find a certified local fitness trainer or coach and have them work up a schedule for you.
Some Days are Harder Than Others
Some days we just don't feel like it. And some days we have a lot going on and it's hard to cut out time for our fitness routine. I get that. Life happens.
- Don’t punish yourself for missing your daily goal once in a while. If you continually put yourself down, you'll soon settle into a defeatist mode: “I’ll never be able to do this” kind of thinking, which invites the off-again person back into the scene. You don't want that.
- On the other hand, don’t let one excuse lead to another excuse because that kind of thing will snowball and soon your daily activity will no longer be a routine.
- And on those days that you can’t meet your daily goal, for any reason, do your best to do some of your routine. Do something. Even if it’s a few lunges or squats or a short walk when you have a few minutes. Unless we’re sick in bed, all of us can do something every day.
- On those harder days, allow yourself some grace but don’t quit the race.
There are many benefits to staying physically active and maintaining a daily routine. We all know this, but it's good to be reminded from time to time. I hope you get your routine started and keep it going!
This is a series of four blog posts. The next in the series will talk about a mental wellness routine. I hope you come back for the continuation.