I’ve been saying for years that retirement involves major changes and many people face lifestyle challenges that no one told them about. While the transition from full time work to some form of retirement can be difficult, there are also some great opportunities. One of these is the chance to significantly improve your health.
STRESS For many people getting away from the stress often involved in the corporate world is like having a heavy load lifted off your shoulders. Stress is bad for both our physical and mental health and just reducing the level of stress in your life will make us healthier.
EXERCISE We also have the opportunity to reduce the amount of time we spend sitting on our bottoms. Most office workers sit in a car, bus or train before and after work as well as spending most of the day sitting in front of a screen. Retirement gives us the opportunity to move our bodies. There’s now time for walking, golf, swimming, exercise classes – what ever sport or physical activity you enjoy. 3 to 5 hours a week of regular exercise will reduce your chances of suffering from osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s & diabetes. Just thinking about it won’t make you healthier – you have to actually get out and do something.
ENJOYMENT Retirement is the time when we can do the things that we enjoy and make us happy. Dr Ross Walker, a leading Heart Specialist states that the most powerful “drug” on the planet is happiness, peace and contentment. So think about what you really enjoy, what you’re passionate about and spend some of your time doing just that.
EMBRACE YOUR RETIREMENT Instead of feeling negative about the end of your productive life, look at it as the next stage of your life when you can do the things you want to do, not what you have to do. It’s important to have some purpose in your life and to be involved with your community and your friends. Many people find satisfaction from volunteering in organisations which are serving their communities. As well as helping other people, volunteers are improving their own mental health.
There’s overwhelming medical evidence that if we use the extra time we have in retirement to improve our physical and mental health, we can slow down the ageing process and enjoy better health in our latter years.
We have published a book titled “How to stay Healthy, Active and Sharp in Retirement” which gives you lots of valuable information if you want to stay healthier for longer. It’s available on this web site.
