I’m in my late 40’s and often had neck and back pain at varying degrees as I’ve gotten older. I’m in decent shape and have been pretty good about exercising at least 3 times per week but would often still get pain in those areas and not be able to exercise or be active.

About a year ago I started looking online and found some stretching exercises that I tried out. I combined several I found and made them into my own routine. Every morning I take 10-15 minutes to stretch. It’s made all the difference for my neck and back pain.

One more thing is staying hydrated. I’ve never been good about drinking enough water. I started using liquid IV powder with 20oz of water to start my morning and then reduced my zero soda intake and drink water during most meals. That’s also made a big difference in how I feel physically.

The small things like being consistent at stretching and staying hydrated have led to feeling better and also being more consistent at exercising and eating better. Good luck to anyone looking to make some health changes this year.