How to Stay Active at Any Age

I recently tore a ligament in my ankle while skate skiing. And while I've had dozens of injuries over the years from overdoing athletic endeavors, this one required my first surgery ever. I went from 60 to zero immediately--quite the shock to my lifestyle. The downtime was an opportunity to get into even more "work overdrive mode" than usual, and I probably drove a few people over here at Backroads nuts with all my "insight." It turns out that the injury was not only great for our company R&D, but it also reminded me how grateful I am to live an active lifestyle. I was able to recover much more quickly than my doctors thought possible. Of course, an upcoming bike trip through Brittany and Normandy and hiking trip in the Alps might have given me extra incentive to get moving again.

I truly believe that an active lifestyle has a profound impact on overall health and our ability to rebound from setbacks. So, what are some of the easiest ways to stay active, regardless of age or ability level?

• Surround yourself with active people. They're great motivators and may introduce you to new activities (yes, like skate skiing) that inspire you to keep moving.
• Multitask. My wife Liz and I get in that much-needed quality time with each other and our kids on trail runs and local biking outings.
• Insert activity throughout your life. Of course I highly recommend active vacations like those Backroads offers. But it's also the sum of simple actions like taking the stairs instead of the elevator that make a difference.
• 
  Work somewhere that encourages its employees to be healthy. Easier said than done, I know. But if you have the option, go for the place with the lunchtime yoga classes, bike rides and free, healthy snacks in the lunchroom. The more healthy choices become ingrained throughout your day, the easier it is to remain fit and healthy. Better yet, work for a company whose annual employee outing is a bike trip in destinations like Vietnam or Spain. I invite you to find out more about working at that company.

As I head off for my trips, I expect that biking 50 miles a day through France might be a little more challenging for me now than it was before my accident. I also anticipate that sitting down at the end of each day to a Michelin-star meal and glass of red wine will be just a bit more gratifying this time around, knowing what effort it took to recuperate. I'd love to hear your tips for remaining active or recovering from an injury for additional inspiration!