How to Stay Healthy After Retirement?

busy elderly

You look forward to retiring for most of your working life. After all, it is the longest holiday you are ever likely to get. However, it can be difficult to know what to do with yourself once the stress and hassle of a 40+ hour week has gone. The most important things you can be are happy and healthy. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy after retirement.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Just because you are no longer tied to your computer, it doesn’t mean that you should be tied to the fridge instead. Try to maintain a healthy diet by eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day and not overindulging in fatty or sugary foods. Cut back on the alcohol and stop smoking. You will feel a lot healthier if you look after your nutrition. You can have some treats in moderation but to maintain a healthy heart and blood pressure you still need to look after yourself. 

Exercise

Now that you have more time on your hands you have a chance to exercise more frequently. This doesn’t mean that you have to run a marathon unless you want to.  However, gentle exercise such as walking, or yoga will keep you feeling flexible and get your circulation pumping properly. The endorphins you make when exercising will give you energy and help to keep you motivated and feeling healthy. 

Visit Your Doctor

You should visit your doctor as regularly as you need to. Even if you are feeling fit and healthy you should attend your annual check-up so that you can combat any potential problems such as high blood pressure or cholesterol before they start to become a problem. 

Mental Health

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Loneliness is a common problem, and it is something you may suffer from in retirement. You can no longer chat to your colleagues in the office, and you may feel that you aren’t seeing as many people as you used to. This can be a problem if your friends and family are working, or they have busy lives. 

Keep in touch with your old friends but try to make some new ones too. It might be that you have time to take up a new hobby now. If you feel isolated at home, perhaps a moving to an assisted living facility such as Brentwood Nursing Home run by McKnight Place will give you the opportunity to share your life with lots of likeminded people. 

You don’t have to suffer alone. There are people around you who can help you to feel less lonely and you may find yourself with a whole new social circle. 

There is no need to give up taking care of yourself once you are no longer working, although it can be all too easy to get stuck in a rut. Follow these four tips to help you stay healthy and live a long and happy retirement.