Fit and Proper: Life After Retirement
For those that have been in the workforce for most of their adult lives, retirement can be quite the adjustment. Of course it’s exciting to finally be free from the confines of the workplace, but losing a routine that you’ve held for years, and in some cases decades, can easily throw you off. It’s often in these times that other routines go out the window, too.
If you’re someone who spent most of the workday on their feet, for example, you may suddenly find yourself not getting the same amount of exercise you used to, simply by not working. Similarly, sleeping and eating habits may no longer be as structured. But just because you’ve retired doesn’t mean that healthy structure has to be completely abandoned. If fact, keeping a good schedule and routine is often helpful to ease the transition and positively affects your well being. Here are some things you may want to include in your schedule.
Exercise
As you get older, exercise becomes even more important, but it also becomes more of a challenge. Because joints, tendons and muscles don’t posses the same recovery time as they used to, low impact exercises are the recommended form of activity to keep you in good health and avoid problem joint injuries. Things like walking and swimming are easier on your body than, say, running and jumping and each have their own benefits. Walking is a great way to get your heart rate up and increase circulation throughout the body. Walking outside also exposes you to the fresh air and sunshine and increases your intake of oxygen. It can also be a sociable time, too. Keeping a regular walking date with friends or a spouse can be a great time to talk and enjoy your time while getting in a good workout.
Whatever exercise you love, it’s important to stick to it with a regular routine in order to keep your body strong and healthy.
Diet
The importance of healthy eating cannot be overstated. A well balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants is truly what keeps your body running. As we get older, though, diet tends to take a backseat to convenience and it becomes so easy to favour poor food choices over healthy ones simply because they’re easier. But eating well doesn’t have to be hard, and it can be delicious too. As we age, it’s also important to consider to foods we need to most. Increasing things like protein and healthy fats are recommended for heart health as well as keeping muscles strong, preventing them from wasting.
Diet also plays a crucial role as a preventative measure from future illness. Fruits and particularly vegetables are full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that help fight anything from the common cold to more aggressive illnesses and can keep you strong and healthy in the face of age-related illness.
Social Life
Another key to a healthy post-retirement lifestyle is keeping up a good social life. Once you no longer socialize with co-workers or customers everyday, depending what line of work you’re in, you’ll notice their absence fairly quickly. As humans, it’s important to be around other people and it’s practically built into our personalities. Becoming isolated can quickly lead to depression and apathy and these emotional health issues are just as important as physical ones. For some, however, their social life skyrockets after retirement, with more time than ever to get together.
Scheduling time to see friends and family is a good way to keep up with them, but it doesn’t stop there. Retirement allows you the opportunity to meet new people and become more involved in the community. You may even find you spend more time working than ever, finally focusing on your passion projects. Whatever your dream is, you’ve been afforded the time to do it.
Relaxing
Life After Retirement
Though you may be eager to get on to new things, don’t forget that retirement is a good time to stop and relax. Because you’re not necessarily limited to a 9-5 schedule, you’re free to kick back when you feel the need to. As we age, it’s more important than ever to ensure we live stress-free lives and take a little time for ourselves. Whatever it is that puts you at ease, now it the time to enjoy it!
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