If you are thinking about what is likely one of the easiest and perhaps fun way to stay active – think no more. It is the humbly routine of walking.  Yes, I mean making it a routine.  Most seniors will walk about 3,000 or more steps a day and that would put them into the lightly active category.  But if they can add a daily routine that boosts that into about 6,000 steps a day, then I am sure they will see a huge benefit.

Making a routine of taking in an hour normal paced walking each day has many benefits:

1. Obviously, it will help with keeping the physical body in better condition. Moderate exercise is proven to benefit those with some of the most chronic ailments in ageing – diabetes and hypertension.  If you are able to make this exercise a routine, in just a few months, you will most likely notice an improvement in your blood sugar and pressure readings.
2. Finding a place with lots of greenery to walk in the morning or evening will help with your mental health. Loneliness and depression is common in the sunset years but getting back to spending quiet time with nature will help.  The quiet time that you spend in the serenity of the walk will do wonders to make you feel better because it is scientifically proven that exercise will give that “high” from endorphins the natural way!
3. We should also not overlook the benefit of a routine. The routine not only creates a sense of order and something to look forward to, but it is also habit forming – the good type!  If you add to the routine some goals such as achieving a certain number of miles per week, then you create a sense of purpose that is sometimes lacking.