Staying active through life's shifting seasons: a qualitative study of community-dwelling older adults' experiences of habit formation and physical activity in later life.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity is essential for healthy aging, yet sustaining long-term engagement remains a challenge for many older adults. Emerging research highlights habit formation as a promising mechanism for maintaining physical activity, particularly when supported by contextual cues and digital technology. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study explores how community-dwelling older adults incorporate physical activity into their daily lives, focusing on the processes of habit formation and maintenance, and the role of technology in supporting these behaviours. METHODS: Data were collected through three focus group interviews, one dyadic interview, and two workshop sessions conducted in Umeå, Sweden. Fifteen participants (mean age 73.3 years) with previous experience with regular physical activity contributed to the study. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data, following Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach. RESULTS: The analysis generated one overarching theme "Staying active through life's shifting seasons" which captures how participants adapted their physical activity routines in response to aging, health changes, and life transitions. Two interwoven subthemes were identified: "Building the habit scaffold" and "Cultivating a movement mindset". The first describes how participants constructed supportive frameworks for activity through routines, environmental adjustments, social contracts, and digital technology. The second highlights internal strategies such as emotional reframing, identity alignment, and the development of a personal philosophy around physical activity. Participants emphasized the importance of flexibility, self-awareness, and emotional engagement in sustaining activity. Technology, including smartwatches and fitness apps, was described as both a motivational aid and a feedback system, reinforcing routines and providing a sense of accountability. Seasonal variation and life events were common disruptions, requiring participants to renegotiate their habits and find new forms of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sustaining physical activity in later life is a multifaceted and adaptive process, maintained through the interplay of external scaffolding such as routines, cues, and supportive structures and internal orientations rooted in identity, emotion and meaning. Interventions that are practical, motivational, and flexible are likely to be most supportive. Digital technology can offer valuable support if embedded into personally meaningful and adaptable routines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NA.