Getting Older? That’s No Reason To Slow Down.

By Erica and Karen

We were chatting the other day with a friend who occasionally meets with a well known person who is now in their early 80s. Our friend commented that, even though this person shuffled along as they came to say hello, the person was as bright and acute and fast thinking as ever.

That struck a chord. A negative chord.

We have aways believed that, since the first thing someone sees is how you look, you had better look reasonably good if you want a new acquaintance to keep talking to you. We always dressed to convey an image—while we were working, elegant professional feminine, and after we retired elegant post-career feminine—that we hoped would represent us in a positive way. Obviously, the way you move is part of the picture. Many people do have issues that prevent them from walking assertively, but age should not be one of them. No need to shuffle just because you have hit 80. Or 70. Or 90.

How can you assure you will continue to present as the powerful woman you are? Exercise.

When we were decades younger, the sixty-ish mother of a mutual friend told us the amount of exercise one must do doubles with each decade if one were to stay current. We loved the way she looked, so we took the advice to heart. And since them we have learned about the neurological benefits of exercise. Brain health depends on movement.

We have never been exercise fanatics, but we like motion. When we worked, we walked to court, ran to meetings and through airports, and clambered up and down stairs. Now, we could sit around and eat bonbons if we wanted to. (There is some appeal to that.) But we don’t want to. Even without the threat of our bodies turning into Jello, we need to keep moving. When we have the time, we walk. We both often walk very fast, which sometimes leads to disaster, but usually makes us feel alive. We check our steps on our iPhones—even though we find it extremely annoying when our devices scold us if we don’t walk as much one day as the day before.

We have different exercise routines, but at least we have them.

• Karen works out most days, first thing in the morning. Her approach to daily exercise started as physical therapy after one particularly disastrous fall, at age 28. Walking fast and slipping on, yes, a banana peel. There have been many falls since, because she still walks too fast. In the last few years, after she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, she added strength and balance training to her regular routine. That has not slowed her down or eliminated falls, though!

• Erica frequents the gym infrequently. Instead, her exercise takes more practical forms. For example, she moves furniture in lieu of lifting weights. She walks too fast too, but she seems able to stay upright. Except on trips.

For us, physical movement is a critical component of our continued engagement with the world. We don’t want to stand still, or sit in one place. We want to keep moving forward–preferably at high speed. We do not want to shuffle if we can do something (except walking more slowly) to avoid it. We want to look as assertive as we can, and that starts with movement, every day.

Tell us what you do to keep mobile.