Stay healthy and active

You can remain independent for longer by living a healthy lifestyle, eating well and keeping fit through exercise.
Older woman enjoying swimming

Staying active, looking after yourself and eating well can help you stay healthy and independent. This means you're able to live longer in your own home, delaying the need for social care.

You might experience other benefits from staying active, such as making friends and feeling part of a community.

How to stay healthy

Look after yourself

Making changes to your lifestyle and staying active will help keep you healthy. 

You can read advice about changing habits on Feel Good Suffolk about how to stop smoking or lose weight.

Our Healthy Suffolk website provides advice on topics such as alcohol, blood pressure and self-care.

Eat well

Older couple sharing a meal together
Keep well and reduce the risk of long-term illness by healthy eating or changing your what you eat.

Here are some websites with advice:

  • Change4Life: advice on how eating well can help you have a healthier and longer life
  • NHS Eat well: tips for healthy eating

Diet, nutrition and allergy information:

How to stay active

Exercise and keeping fit

Older woman using a treadmill

Popular ways of exercising include:

  • walking
  • running
  • cycling
  • swimming
  • playing a sport
  • fitness classes or going to the gym

Feel Good Suffolk provides fun and interactive programmes for staying active.

Most Active County provides information about activities to help you stay active, such as cycling and walking. 

You can start looking for exercise groups, clubs or classes by visiting:

Walking

Female couple walking on the beach with a dog

Explore local walking routes and discover the benefits of taking regular walks.

Cycling

You can find information about town and county cycle routes and safety on the road.

Here's a list of local cycle clubs that you can join.

The Green Bike Project refurbishes unwanted cycles and uses them for a variety of community uses, including selling them at affordable prices, hiring, pool bike schemes for local businesses and an exercise on referral scheme.

Continue learning 

Older woman enjoying gardening
It's useful to keep learning new hobbies, skills and staying mentally active as you get older.

Visit our community directory Suffolk InfoLink to find a hobby to try, local classes, clubs or a society. 

Become a volunteer

Volunteering can be a good way of staying fit and active. It can also be very social and rewarding.

Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Suffolk.