Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

You are scrolling through social media for entertainment and inspiration, and you see the person you want to be like. They are fit, energetic, happy, and have been consistent with their workouts for years now. Maybe you’ve been exercising on and off for a while but can’t find the routine that you can stick to. Well, it’s a new year, so… “New year, new plan!”

The first step is determining your SMART goal:

S: Specific – A specific goal adds clarity to a broad statement. “I want to be fit” is a great goal, but the specific goal needs to add depth to what being fit means to you. “I want to improve my muscular strength” is more specific and leads us into the next letter…

M: Measurable – You need to be able to measure your progress. For the previous example, you can use a one rep max to test muscular strength and easily measure before, during, and after results.

A: Attainable – Make sure you are honest with yourself. Your goal needs to be challenging, but doable. Is gaining muscular strength attainable if you only go to the gym once every other week? Probably not. But it would be if you know you can commit to lifting three times per week.

R: Realistic – Similar to the attainable aspect, you need to know yourself when setting goals. Can you realistically set aside one hour a few times per week? Are you realistically going to go to the gym at 5am?

T: Time-Sensitive – If a goal doesn’t have a start and end point, it’s hard to measure progress or ever feel like the goal is complete. Pick a duration that makes sense to you and then add that to the calendar.

Sticking with the example, your goal could look something like this: I want to improve my muscular strength to feel more fit. I’m going to go to the gym at 5am three days per week for 8-weeks.

So, now that you have your smart goal, how do you stick with it?

Tip #1: Accountability Partner

Exercise with your spouse, friend, or a personal trainer. If you commit to a plan with them, you are more likely to follow through. You get the additional benefits of social wellness and can improve your mental health as well. I can vouch for this one. I have been trying for a while to find a routine to stick with. Who knew that all I needed was a workout partner for my 5:30am swims!

Tip #2: Plan & Prep Ahead

Whether you goal is to exercise in the morning, afternoon, or evening, you can make a commit to tomorrow’s workout by setting out your clothes and gear the night before. Additionally, have an idea of your meals and/or snacks to make sure you are getting the nutrition your body needs when it needs it. Gym bag packed – check. Water bottle filled – check. Alarm set – check. Determination – check.

Tip #3: Mini Goals & Celebrations

It is quite helpful to celebrate small wins along the way. Was it hard for you to wake up early for your first ever morning workout? Then set a mini goal to wake up early three times this week. If you can do that, you will buy those colorful running shoes you’ve been wanting. A celebration should make you feel accomplished but try to celebrate in a way that does not deter you from your end goal. Yes, waking up is tough, but no, your celebration shouldn’t be an extra day off of exercise.

I hope you are eager to set a SMART goal and start working hard on what really matters to you. This is your year. The time is now! Are you ready to commit?

Imagine a full exercise class, residents upbeat and ready to start, a packed schedule of personal training clients, or hallway conversations about how good the residents feel after exercising. I say imagine because during the cold months, these things aren’t always a reality.

There are many reasons why our group fitness classes have lower participation, why our personal training clients keep pushing off their session until next week, and why we don’t have as many conversations with seniors about feeling well and full of energy. As staff, we need to be prepared for these seasonal shifts and adjust as needed. Seasonal Affective Disorder can play a huge role in the lack of resident participation and engagement in the fitness center. Here are some tips that staff can implement to keep senior residents active.

Tip #1: Change the group fitness schedule.

NIFS staff collect data on class participation, and we use this data to enhance our group fitness calendar seasonally. If you know it’s too cold outside to continue your outdoor walking class, change it to a gym circuit class. You can entice those residents to take the new circuit class by incorporating use of the treadmill or other cardio equipment, along with strength machines and usage of the non-typical group fitness class equipment.

Take note that in the New Year it's great time to trial a new class with the uptick in New Year’s Resolutioners. Use that feedback to adapt and keep the excitement going through the next few months.

Tip #2: Call the residents or send them a personal note.

You know who the regulars are and when they come to the fitness center. Haven’t seen them for a week? Call them or send them a personal note that you miss them and would like to meet for a consultation to see if they need any assistance adjusting their personal fitness routine. This act of kindness goes a long way in keeping seniors engaged and staying active.

Consider creating a few handouts, such as balance and no-equipment total body workout, that can be given to residents who are struggling to come to the fitness center but are open to exercising in the comfort of their own home.

Tip #3: Run a wellness program or presentation and incorporate SAD facts and management techniques.

During the winter months, it can be easy for people to dismiss their feelings. Maybe they think they are tired after being busy decorating and baking and going to all of the social functions. But what about when the holiday rush is over? It is up to community and fitness center to staff to not only engage residents to stay active, but to also consider their overall wellbeing. Following the holiday or winter season may be a great time to focus on wellness and highlight ways to manage Seasonal Affective Disorder or be a helping hand to someone who expresses SAD symptoms.

Consider hosting the presentation or wellness social and offering a giveaway for complementary personal training, to help residents get back into an exercise routine, or a complementary massage, to help residents relax and decompress.

Put these tips into action and see how small changes can make big impacts for the senior residents and fitness center engagement!