A great way for older adults to get some exercise is to go for walks. Whether this is something you want to do alone to give you some time to engage in self-reflection while walking at your own pace, or you want to grab a walking buddy to socialize with, this hobby undoubtedly offers a ton of mental and physical health benefits. Some benefits to taking a friend along include:

• It can help make walking more fun

• You can make new friendships or strengthen your current relationships

• You’re less likely to cancel a walk when you’ve planned on going with a friend (it gives you an accountability partner!)

• You’ll probably take a longer walk if you’re with a friend, and will likely walk more often

• Walking with someone else helps increase safety

Walking for exercise can help seniors live independently for longer, but it doesn’t have to be strenuous in order to offer benefits such as these. Whether you’re going for a long walk at a steady pace or you do some shorter bursts of speed walking or walking through hills, this hobby allows you to gain the benefits of being outside while also keeping your body in top physical shape.

A great way for older adults to get some exercise is to go for walks.

There is a low barrier to entry for this hobby, as all you really need is a good pair of walking shoes. And don’t let it stop you from taking up walking as a hobby if you use a cane or a walker. You can use these tools to help improve your balance and reduce the amount of weight that you’re putting on your joints–because that’s what they’re there for!