A successful retirement isn’t just about having your finances in tip-top shape; good health and wellbeing are also key to being able to enjoy your retirement years. Here are some handy tips for a healthier, more active life in retirement:
- Undertake regular health checks and keep up-to-date with your vaccinations.
- Maintain a healthy body weight to help avoid diabetes, hypertension and elevated lipids.
- Eat a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables, minimise red meat, drink lots of water, and practice good oral hygiene.
- Participate in aerobic exercise. Check with your doctor and aim for 150+ minutes of moderate intensity or 75+ minutes of vigorous activity weekly.
- Use body weight and functional exercises to help maintain muscle mass.
- Stretch and do functional movement exercises or yoga to maintain flexibility.
- Ensure your home is age-friendly by removing fall hazards, improving lighting and accessibility.
- Develop an anti-stress regimen such as meditation or ‘forest bathing’.
- Consider getting a pet to provide companionship and encourage activity.
- Maintain strong social connections with family, friends and community.
- Practice gratitude and maintain a sense of purpose.
- Engage in hobbies that align with your values and interests.
- Optimise your brain function through lifelong reading and learning, puzzles, games, learning a language, or a musical instrument can help.
- Get adequate sleep and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.