September is Healthy Aging Month. Whether you’re 45 or 75, it’s a great time to plan for your healthy future. While no one can predict what lies ahead, you can take steps now that boost your chances of healthier and more independent golden years. Robust aging is something that you can embrace every day—and it can also be a lot of fun!

Step 1: Get (and Keep) Moving

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health at any age. Not only does exercise improve heart health, but it also strengthens your muscles, which may help you live independently longer. Aim for an average of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, each week.

Step 2: Stay Social

Human interaction is good for your emotional health, but it can improve your physical health, too. Make weekly plans with friends or family, volunteer at your favorite organization, get involved in your church, or take a group exercise class at a nearby community center or gym.

Step 3: Make Those Lifestyle Changes You’ve Been Putting Off

You’re never too old to make healthy changes, no matter how daunting it feels. Making those changes today will improve your health now, helping you feel better and stay healthier. If you haven’t already:

• Limit alcohol. Excess alcohol consumption increases your risk of dementia, heart disease and certain cancers.

• Quit smoking. This is one of the best things you can do for your health.

• Start eating a heart-healthy diet. You don’t have to give up all your favorite foods forever. Start with small steps, like eating more veggies. Adopting a diet plan such as the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial for maintaining weight and lowering your heart disease risk.

Step 4: Get Enough Sleep.

Getting enough sleep every night helps you maintain your immune system. Healthy sleep habits can improve both your physical and mental health, while not getting enough sleep may raise your dementia risk.

Step 5: Keep Up With Your Medical Care

No one wants to go to the doctor, but annual wellness visits and health screenings for conditions such as high blood pressure and breast cancer are important. Screenings can detect diseases earlier, when they are more likely to be treatable. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, regular check-ups are crucial to stay on top of managing your health. You should also keep up with annual flu vaccines, along with RSV, pneumonia and two-dose shingles vaccines at the appropriate ages.

Step 5: Plan Ahead for the Unexpected

You already know you need a will in place, but do you have advance directives lined up to protect your wishes? Drawing up a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care will help ensure your wishes are followed in case of medical emergency, such as a stroke. While it is important to tell your loved ones what care you would like in case you are incapacitated and unable to speak, advance directives are the only legal way to ensure your wishes are followed. If you are on Medicare, advance care planning is covered at no cost during your annual wellness visit with your primary care provider.

Step 6: Ask For Help

While holding onto as much independence as possible is important for many older people, all of us need help sometimes. Asking a neighbor for help moving a heavy object can help prevent injury. Asking your doctor for help when you think something might be wrong might save your life. There are also dozens of federal, state and local resources specifically designed to help older adults and their families navigate the many challenges of aging, such as figuring out Medicare or finding caregivers. St. Luke’s Health providers can also help connect you with resources.