Retirement comes with many challenges. From maintaining financial stability to maintaining a comfortable living standard and filling your time with hobbies, there are many things you’ll need to consider in retirement.
One of those things is keeping healthy. As our bodies age and we reach the retirement age of 66 in the UK, it’s important to maintain good health. To help you keep fit and active, we’ve compiled some easy-to-implement lifestyle changes that’ll keep you ticking along.
1. Stay Active
Staying active is important at any stage of life, but it’s especially important as we age. According to the NHS, staying active can reduce your risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 30%!
Whether you’re a sofa enthusiast or a marathon runner, it’s a good idea to take up some low-impact exercise in your retirement. From cycling to walking or even joining a gym, your body will thank you for keeping fit.
2. Give Yourself Something To Work Towards
It’s no secret that during retirement, you’ll have a lot more time on your hands. So, to keep motivated, it’s important to give yourself something to work towards. A great project to pick up is one around the home. Whether you tackle some home improvements or get someone to help, an easy way to free up some money for renovations is with an equity release mortgage.
3. Eat Well
We all know how important it is to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, but sometimes it’s easier said than done.
If you are partial to eating out and the odd takeaway, an easy lifestyle swap may be to cook more homemade meals. By making everything from scratch, you can control what goes into your body to maintain optimal health. Many healthy meal options don’t take long to cook and are even suitable for those without culinary prowess!
In fact, as you have more time on your hands, why not take up cooking as a new hobby?
4. Spend Time With Friends And Family
During retirement, it’s common for you to feel isolated. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep your social calendar alive! By seeing friends and family regularly, you’ll not only be able to fill your time, but you’ll ward off the signs of dementia and boost your self-esteem at the same time.
Final thoughts…
Coming to retirement age is both exciting and scary – as completely unchartered territory, it can be hard knowing what to expect. However, the good news is that retirement is the perfect time to make some healthy lifestyle changes. From eating healthily to taking up exercise and cooking, your body will thank you for taking good care of it.