With so much to do and see in the world, everyone wants to stay active for longer, letting them enjoy spending time on their hobbies and seeing loved ones. Especially with the retirement age increasing, it’s important to be able to make the most of the time that you’re not working.

But everyone knows that getting older means your body requires a little more maintenance than in your 20s. Whilst you might have been able to get away with regular late nights and takeaways, it’s important to take better care of yourself as you age. That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy these things, but making considered choices and living a balanced lifestyle is a good plan of action for staying healthy.

Here, we look at three things you can do to help you feel energised in your 50s and beyond.

Stay Physically Active

Keeping moving is important for your muscle and bone health, as well as your heart health. As you age, adjusting your exercise to minimise the risk of injury is important, and in your 50s, the focus should be on flexibility and wellbeing. Staying supple and mobile can help you avoid joint pain, and also continue with everyday activities easily.

Using supports and low intensity repetitions will help you get exercise into your day in a way that feels challenging, but not over-demanding. There’s no need to join a gym either, unless you want to – there are plenty of home exercise videos for seniors that you can follow, so that you can work out at a time that suits you.

Eat a Balanced and Healthy Diet

Poor nutrition can affect everything from your energy levels to how long it takes for you to heal or recover after illness. Additionally, poor nutrition can lead to cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. It can be difficult to eat well as you age – issues like physical impairments, or suddenly living alone can mean that you skip the cooking from scratch for microwave meals.

Make sure to choose foods that are high in nutrients, like fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and try to avoid foods with high cholesterol or fat, like meat, cakes and butter. It’s also vital to make sure that you’re drinking enough water, as it helps regulate temperature, organ function and metabolism.

Get Enough Sleep Every Night

Some older adults may find that they experience a change to their sleep patterns as they get older, typically waking up earlier and then needing to go to bed earlier. As we age, the master clock in our brain that controls our circadian rhythm can deteriorate, which is why this happens – it’s completely normal.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for memory, and for minimising irritability and depression. It can also help reduce the chance of you having a fall or other accident. In order to practice good sleep hygiene, you should:

• Follow a regular sleep schedule
• Avoid napping late in the day
• Keep technology out of the bedroom
• Make sure your room has comfortable levels of warmth and lighting
• Avoid large meals close to bedtime, and skip alcohol late at night too

To Sum Up

Staying fit and healthy is important for all ages, but it can particularly benefit your quality of life in your 50s and beyond. Following these simple tips will help you feel energised and get the most out of your days, reducing the risk of injury or ill health.