Getting more exercise is one of the top resolutions people make each New Year’s. It makes sense. According to the United State Center for Disease Control and Prevention, just one session of moderate physical exercise improves your health. In the long term, regular exercise can help reduce risks of developing dementia, depression, heart disease, stroke, and eight types of cancer. Regular exercise has also been shown to help people live independently longer, build bone strength, and reduce risk of falls by increasing balance and coordination.

Getting more exercise is a great New Year’s resolution for people of any age. According to the CDC, adults should get at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly, or about 30 minutes a day for 5/7days of the week. But the cold, sometimes blustering winter of Rhode Island can make it difficult to get outside. Here are five tips for staying active indoors when it’s too cold to be outside.

Staying active in senior living

If you’re living in either assisted living or independent living, you’re in a great spot for staying active indoors during the blistering cold Providence winter. Here are some quick tips to move more in 2025:

• Look at the activity calendar. Activity Directors plan some great things for their residents, including group fitness activities and opportunities to move. At Charlesgate, our Activities team offers activities like chair yoga, beach ball volleyball, and other gentle movement options that change week to week. Join some activities each week to get moving more!
• Join shopping and other outings. Even if you’re not a big shopper, joining these outings can offer chances to get outside of your assistied or independent living homes and somewhere new. Even if you’re just wandering the aisles at a store, getting a change of pace can help entice you to move a little more.
• Try an at-home workout. There is an unlimited amount of at-home workout options you can find online. Look for light stretching videos, yoga, tai chi, or other low-impact home workouts. Not ready to get online? Try a workout dvd!
• Walk around the facility. Grab some friends and take a walk around the facility. Walking is recommended as a daily exercise for seniors. If it’s too cold to leave, take a few short breaks in your day to walk around the common areas or wander the halls if you’re able.
• Move with a friend. Start a small exercise group and hold each other accountable. Meet weekly (or daily for a short walk) to make exercising more fun!

Opportunities for seniors to get active in Providence

If you have access to travel, there are plenty of indoor opportunities to get active in Providence. Here are a few things you can look into if you don’t mind a short drive to get there.

• Take a walk around an indoor mall. Indoor malls are great, warm places to take a walk. You can walk the halls, take the stairs, or wander through stores to get your step count up in a lively environment. Providence Place mall has multiple stories and tons of stores to walk through.
• Find a group fitness class. YMCA’s, community centers, and some gyms or public pools have group fitness classes specifically for people ages 55+. These classes are usually lower impact and sometimes have more accessible options. SilverSneakers is a program to make exercise more accessible for seniors. Through this program, that is free for some Medicare plan holders, you can find in person fitness classes and get access to at-home workout videos.
• Go to a museum or take a tour. Museums are another great option to get some walking time in somewhere warm and ice-free. Consider taking a trip to the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium to wander through exhibits on dinosaurs, space, and the ocean. Galleries at the Providence Art Club are free and open to the public and offer a smaller space to walk around. The Rhode Island State House offers self or guided tours and is another great place to walk and learn.

Staying active is essential for healthy aging. Exercising in the winter doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With so many opportunities to move indoors—whether in your own community or by exploring the vibrant spaces Providence has to offer—you can keep your resolution to stay active and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle all year long. So bundle up, grab a friend, and get moving—you’ll thank yourself in the spring!