The evidence is everywhere: Staying physically active and exercising are essential for healthy aging. But many of us struggle with how to implement that advice and adhere to an exercise program. Yes, we can take a walk, and we can try to stay active doing chores during the day (both essential activities to keep you moving). But what about an actual exercise routine? What should that look like? And how do you keep it up, month after month, year after year? Well, experts and athletic older adults alike will tell you that the key to maintaining a valuable exercise regimen is to stay consistent with your routine and be persistent to see the beneficial results.

First, let’s take a look at some seniors who seem to have figured it out. In a recent article in The Associated Press, several older adults were featured as “gym rats” well into their 70s and 80s. For example, along with providing such motivational tips as the setting of goals and slow and steadily-increasing challenges, the article profiles retired 86-year-old Dr. Grover Smith, who admitted he didn’t want to start working out. But finally, at the age of 74, he started going to the gym and hasn’t looked back since. He now has a 3-day-a-week gym habit, sustained by feeling fitter and looking better after more than a decade at it. Or consider 92-year-old Edna Giordano, who didn’t get started on a fitness routine until she turned 65. She now goes to the gym every other day and is so flexible and mobile that she is routinely featured on the Instagram of her 61-year-old daughter, who’s also a fitness enthusiast. What’s Edna’s secret to her phenomenal fitness at age 92? Her secret is consistency. “Going to the gym on a regular basis in the morning really helps me mentally. I obviously don’t want to go, but after I’ve done it, I feel so much better.” Her advice to others? “Just stick with the basics,” and stick to it!

So what are some of the basics? The Washington Post recently published a “gentler” version of its original 7-minute workout, this time focusing on low-impact exercises to help you ease into better shape by building both aerobic fitness and muscular strength. As the expert who developed the routine makes clear, “The workout should be doable by almost everybody who isn’t physically disabled.” You won’t even need to go to the gym- just a chair and a wall should be all you need (along with the blessing of your doctor if possible). It’s only 12 exercises, each done for 30 seconds, with 5-second breaks in between. So find a sturdy chair and watch what you can do here. And equally as valuable for older adults is a 10-minute home-based exercise routine, with a special focus on balance, just published by The New York Times. With video examples and the recommendation of repeating these exercises 2-3 times per week, this is an easy way to stay home, start moving, and get into the regular habit of working your muscles. If you’d like an example of a full month of exercises that will gradually up the challenge and increase the movement, consider the free March 2025 Challenge from our friends at Yes2Next. Each day, you’ll find a new exercise that can be done from your home, and with each passing week, you’re likely to feel better and be able to move more. As The Challenge makes clear, “Consistency is key.” No matter what you do to move daily, the goal is to keep on keeping on, as frequently as you can.