Raise your hand if you get out of bed in the morning and some body part is tight or aching. Likely that’s the case with most agebuzz readers- and not because we’re an unhealthy bunch. It’s because as you get older, your body becomes less flexible- muscles shrink, tendons lose water and overall everything just tightens up, especially if you’re not moving enough. So we all need to do what we can to try to maintain flexibility. As one expert says, “Prevention is always better than treatment.” It’s essential to keep moving- but also to incorporate stretching into your daily routine. As a recent piece in the Harvard Men’s Health Watch made clear, it’s never too late to slow or reverse your loss of flexibility, so a daily stretching routine is essential, in the same way that you’ve routinized brushing your teeth.

How to get started? There are lots of resources available, many with useful images and videos to demonstrate. Over at  Healthline, you can find suggestions for a general exercise routine which includes stretching as well as a specific explanation of the benefits of stretching and how to get started. Harvard Men’s Health Watch has a 4-stretch daily routine that should only take a few minutes to improve your flexibility. And if your neck feels tight? Could be too much time at your computer- so power down, but before you do, read here. Of course, it’s always wise to first check in with your physician to ensure your stretching won’t exacerbate any other conditions you have. But the bottom line seems to be that a good stretching routine should help keep you moving, and avoid moaning, for years to come.