Why get involved?

Feel good. Get active!

People always say “You’re only as old as you feel”. Well, it turns out to be true. Science has proven that staying active keeps your body younger, no matter what it says on your birth cert.

Half-an-hour each day is all it takes to turn back the clock. Activities like going for a walk, doing the hoovering or playing a round of pitch and putt can make all the difference. Activity stops you from getting stiff. It keeps away colds and infections. It helps you avoid heart disease and diabetes. It keeps you sharp. And, best of all, it cheers you up and gives you energy.

People over 50 have increased their involvement in physical activity in Ireland from 28% in 2006 to 40% in 2008. More and more people are discovering that, once they get started, they can really feel the benefits and soon are in the habit.

Have I left it too late?

No, you can get active at any age. Start off with a 10-minute activity like this:

• Walk back from the local shop as if you are in a hurry,
• Throw and catch a ball,
• Go up and down the stairs or steps a few times.

Build on this until you are getting half-an-hour of health enhancing physical activity each day. Make these activities part of your day and soon you won’t even notice you are doing them. But you will notice how much better you feel.

A study by Dr Laurel Yates, at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston, found that people who started to get physical activity a little later in life (her study was of men in their 70s) significantly increased how long they would live.

What can I do on my own?

You can get active in your own home or in your neighbourhood. Bring your dog out for a walk. Give your windows a good clean. Go for a swim. Plan to make an extra trip to the shop each day: anything that will get your heart beating a little faster. Do half-an-hour or three 10-minute bursts of activity.

Go for Life has lots of ideas about physical activities you can do safely in your own home. Take the Go for Life Activity Challenge, learn how to improve yoru balance and posture and why building up your strength is important. You can download Factsheets and the Activity Challenge below.

What can I do with friends?

Maybe you are part of a group already or you go to a centre with your friends and neighbours. Go for Life can help you to plan and to run activities that suit your group: bowling, golf, pitch and toss, swimming, dancing, walking and lots more. Once your group is up and running, talk to Go for Life about a grant to buy equipment or to try something new. Ring us to find out what is happening in your area.