Get active
Ageing affects your balance, muscle strength and bones, but daily exercise helps you to stay strong and healthy. It also helps to lower your risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and even cancer. If that wasn’t enough, staying active can boost your self-esteem, improve your sleep, and give you more energy.
The recommended activity level is 30 minutes, five times a week – gardening, vigorous housework, cycling and daily walks all count. When sitting for long periods, try getting up and walking or stretching every 20 minutes. Experts also advise twice-weekly muscle strengthening exercises for the over 65s. If that sounds like a lot, try starting small – as you get stronger you may well be able to work up to those amounts.
Why not think about attending a weekly strength and balance class or contact your local leisure centre or community centre to find out what’s going on there?
Active Norfolk and Feel Good Suffolk are local services that can help you to find activities you love.
Learn more about lifestyle services in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Stay connected
Spending time with other people can improve your mental health and help to prevent you from feeling lonely or anxious. If you find that you are no longer able to do the things you used to or are unsure what activities you can get involved with locally, there is support to help you take up new hobbies and interests or find out about how you can get involved in volunteer work.
A social prescribing link worker can help you to find local support for your social, emotional and practical wellbeing by connecting you to voluntary and community services in your area.
Speak to your GP team if you think you would benefit from speaking with a social prescriber.
Learn more about social prescribing and other roles in GP surgeries.
Reduce the amount you smoke
Smoking is linked to a whole range of health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer and bronchitis. The good news is that if you stop smoking, your circulation, lung capacity and energy levels will improve, whatever your age.
Learn more about local services that can help you to make positive lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking.