You did it! You finally retired from your 9-5 job, and the years of relaxation are here. But before you sink too deep into the couch, it’s important to develop a plan to stay active and healthy during your retirement years.
The truth is, you aren’t young anymore, and your health is likely in a delicate balance. If you don’t form any healthy habits, time can quickly crawl away from you during retirement. Keep reading to learn some tips for staying active and healthy during retirement.
Why it is Important to Stay Healthy and Active During Retirement
There is really only one reason to stay healthy during retirement, and that is so that you can actually enjoy your retirement. If you begin your time unemployed by sitting on the couch all week long and only eating junk food, you will quickly find yourself with a whole host of costly health problems.
At the age of 65, or even 70, just one health problem could lead to another and another. Not only will you find yourself spending hundreds of dollars on your own medical care, but you won’t be able to spend time doing what you planned for your retirement, either.
Tips for Staying Active During Retirement
1. Find a Hobby
One of the best ways to stay active during your retirement is to devote your time to an active hobby. Hobbies can provide easy and fun goals, and they can also be mentally enjoyable as you no longer have to worry about work. Some fun, active hobbies for seniors are as follows:
- Join a walking club
- Gardening
- Join a water aerobics class (or other gym class like yoga)
- Zumba
- Golf
- Hiking
- Tai chi
You aren’t just restricted to these hobbies obviously and you should feel free to try a few until you find one you love!
2. Exercise Daily
Although it may be tempting to spend your retirement catching up on your favorite TV shows, it’s important to get into a daily workout routine right away to keep yourself fit. Your daily workout doesn’t have to be complicated—just a walk around the block after dinner each evening will suffice.
If you choose to join a gym, then get into the habit of attending a class on a daily basis when available and also practicing on your own at home. This will ensure you stay social and active simultaneously!
3. Make Physical Activity Social
As we mentioned above, daily physical activity is so much more fun when you have a friend along. You can do something simple like walking with a friend daily, or you can join a fitness club.
If gardening is more your style, check out your local community center for gardening clubs or shared plots you can rent. Even if you are more of a board games person, joining a local board games club and walking there each week can help you to stay physically fit. Basically, no matter what you love to do, find a friend or club to keep you motivated!
Tips for Staying Healthy During Retirement
1. Plan Regular Doctor’s Check-Ups
It might seem silly to plan for regular wellness checks with your doctor, but at 65+, you need them. This is the time when small issues can quickly balloon into larger ones, and you are more susceptible to terminal conditions like cancer. Although recommendations will vary based on gender and location, below are the following minimum checks we recommend planning on a yearly basis.
- General health check-up with general practitioner (GP)
- Blood work panels testing liver, kidney, and heart function on a yearly basis.
- Mammogram/prostate exam/colorectal cancer screening.
- Regular cholesterol/diabetes screening.
- Skin cancer screening.
Of course, your GP may recommend additional tests, but these are just the bare minimum. Cancer is much less deadly if you catch it early, which is why we place special emphasis on cancer screenings.
Additionally, you may want to consider regular hearing and vision tests, but we find these are easier aspects of your health to notice on your own.
2. Skip the Fast Food
Now that you are retired, it can be nice to enjoy the fruits of your labor by heading out to lunch with a friend or former colleague. Although it’s fine to enjoy a meal in a restaurant from time to time, it’s important not to rely on fast food or restaurant food as your source of nourishment.
Both fast food and restaurant food are packed with salt and sugar at much higher levels than food you cook yourself at home. While the occasional meal in a restaurant won’t ruin your health, regularly eating out can do some serious damage.
Now that you are retired, it’s time to enjoy cooking for yourself. And with many of our recipes here, you can cook multiple meals at once, meaning you don’t even have to cook every day and still get to enjoy your free time. We recommend starting with our vegetable quiche or veggie stir fry recipe.
3. Drink Lots of Water
Now that you are retired, you might dream of nothing more than drinking a lemonade on your porch. While the occasional lemonade is okay, it is more important than ever before to ensure you are drinking enough water.
Water is your body’s lifeline, and if any of your systems begin to struggle, not drinking enough water can cause serious issues. We recommend grabbing a fun water bottle you love that helps you track your daily intake so you can ensure you are getting enough water.
Overall, staying healthy and active during retirement will go a long way toward extending your lifespan. So, while it might seem easy to just sink into the couch, take the time to make friends, plan daily physical activity, and eat healthy—this way, you can enjoy your retirement years for as long as possible!
No matter what your age, it is never too late to start living an active and healthy lifestyle!
