How to Stay Young in Retirement
Retirement is an incredible time in your life. If you don’t agree, take a tour of this website because I’ve made it my mission to help everyone bring happiness into their Golden Years. For those of us who already know this is a wonderful experience, the only thing we worry about is the inevitable aging process and how to stay young in retirement or at least not feel our age. While the search for the proverbial Fountain of Youth has been with us since the dawn of civilization, there are four areas of life that we can focus on to minimize the effects of Father Time.
The first area to look at is our physical being and while this may seem obvious it’s something almost everyone neglects in one way or another. We know the essentials of exercise, nutrition and a good night’s sleep but do we do it? If we invested in a racehorse, would we make sure that animal was well taken care of with the best trainers and stables? Of course we would. The reality is that we can always get another racehorse, but you will not get another shot at getting another body. Regular exercise is critical and one of the most beneficial ways to do this is with a hobby that involves movement like tennis, jogging, yoga or even golf (without the cart!). Fruits and vegetables are important for a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine and alcohol is usually on every physician’s list of dietary restrictions but may be a challenge for some. I know it is for me. The myth that red wine is beneficial has been busted thousands of times, but I cling to that hope like a child does to Santa Claus. I should know better, but I always bring up the advice my father gave me: everything in moderation, including moderation. Seriously, however, a healthy and balanced diet is a great foundation for a sound body and regular medical physicals are important to prolong your retirement years as long as you can. Your doctor will usually downplay the benefits of certain supplements because there’s no scientific data to back up the claims some manufacturers make but many people have success so consider exploring that option if you have aches and pains from the exercise regime you’ve undertaken. I have found a couple of supplements that work for me in my quest of how to stay young in retirement, but everyone is different. The one thing I do know is that a good night’s sleep is important and, if you follow the advice here with a healthy diet and robust exercise program, you might even see your sleep improve. But, if sleepless nights persist, have it checked out because it’s very important.
When you think about how to stay young in retirement, your mind plays a bigger role than you might imagine.
Your mind is the second area of your life to look at, and it can control your life more than you realize. You need to stimulate your brain with more than the television. You need to keep your mind sharp in any way that you can. Crossword puzzles and Sudoku and all the word games offered online will keep your brain active but there are other ways to do that as well. I’m not a big puzzle fan but I still love to learn and, when you look at this incredible world that we live in, there is no shortage of new things to learn. Start a new hobby or acquire a new skill. Learn a language or how to become a master chef. The bottom line is to DO SOMETHING! If you can combine it with a physical activity that’s even better. Take a nature walk with someone who can tell you about what you’re seeing. Visit a country that you’ve never been to or, if you can’t go in person, read about it. Reading is a great way to keep your mind active and sharp. Expand your list so that it’s not just novels or subjects that you’re comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with any subject that you’re attracted to but just consider some other topics that might give you a new appreciation for something you haven’t been familiar with before. I hated school but I loved to learn and every week in the summer I took a trip to the library to find a new book or two every week. I read every James Bond novel once I saw Dr. No but I also read biographies and histories that would have put most fourteen-year-olds to sleep. It’s what I enjoyed doing and a new book to read still brings a smile to my face. If you absolutely hate reading, consider audiobooks instead. They can make the time you spend on the treadmill or behind the wheel of your car pass more quickly. Feed your mind if you’re wondering how to stay young in retirement because it can do wonders for keeping life new and interesting.
Everyone needs a social life and that’s the third area you need to pay attention to. I am the first to say that some people need it more than others but there is no doubt that interaction with other people is essential for maintaining a healthy outlook on life. Clubs and informal groups are great ways to do this, especially when they are related to the first two areas we mentioned, your physical and mental needs and the part they play in how to stay young in retirement. Book clubs, garden clubs, gym memberships, yoga sessions and even line dancing nights are ways to socialize and keep mentally and physically active at the same time. I might even suggest becoming part of the leadership of any organization that you’re a part of because it will enhance your mental experience. When you have to organize something, you take the experience up a notch because you start to anticipate what needs to be done to have a successful session. Compare it to the learning process. When you’re a student you sit there and listen or watch but when you teach a subject you have to verbalize and demonstrate the subject matter. It’s a very big difference and, when you look at how to stay young in retirement, the more challenges you can give yourself, the more energized you become.
The fourth area we will discuss builds on the last piece of advice dealing with increasing your participation level. The fourth area that can impact the first three and add more energy and purpose to your life is to challenge yourself in every area. Set goals for your exercise program and keep track of your diet and calorie intake to measure your progress. Don’t just read books or attend lectures, create a purpose and goal to your mental pursuits. You might even take a course at a local college or, dare I say it, teach something to a group or a class and surprise yourself with what you’re able to do. Our local community has groups that meet for cards, mahjong and quilting but were faced with a shrinking attendance especially in the winter months when people escaped the cold. They started a training class for mahjong and guess what? The numbers skyrocketed. If you want to know how to stay young in retirement, challenge yourself and become engaged with others. You’ll find your whole mindset will change and you’ll be busier and more alive than ever. Retirement should never be focused on the aging process but on inventing ways to stay young. Join the battle against Father Time. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. After all, you’re never too old to learn something new (even about yourself!).
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