Look For Ways To Keep Active

We’ve all read the warnings about the dangers of inactivity.  Sitting is not good for your health.  If you spent a lot of time at a desk during your working years, it was difficult to work in some activity during the day, especially if you had a supervisor who would ask you why you’re in the break room so often.  There were times when my work required a lot of sitting and long, pointless meetings were the biggest offender.  As I climbed the rungs of the corporate ladder and became part of management, incorporating a trip to see someone into my daily duties became easier and it was something I did on a regular basis.  If the person was down the hall from my office, I would much prefer an in-person conversation to a phone call.  I despise the phone, and a face-to-face conversation can yield much more than a phone conversation.  In retirement, there is little need to check on things with other people but there is a lot of free time in which to build up physical activity.  Sadly, most people don’t do it, and their health suffers from it.  It’s important to look for ways to keep active.

Look for ways to keep active physically and mentally as well.

There are some things you can do to increase your activity level.  If you’re a television watcher, I will advise you on two things.  First, get another interest if at all possible or look for ways to make that more of a social event.  I understand the sports addiction aspect but watch a game with friends so you’re not spending time alone.  The second thing you can do is to walk around on every commercial.  And do something other than getting another beer or soda or something else to eat.  Some people actually use little hand weights while they watch a game.  Okay, that’s a true confession.  I’m the only one I know who does that, but I think it’s a good idea.  You’ll be surprised at how tired you can get with just five-pound weights by half time.  A word of caution.  If you’re in the habit of throwing things when your team performs badly, weights are a bad idea.  Explore some courses in anger management or other ways to keep active.

Walking is great exercise and, in good weather, taking a fast-paced walk around your neighborhood is a great thing to do.  If you can walk with another person that’s even better but make sure you keep up the pace.  If you’re walking at a decent speed, conversation is usually impacted just a bit.  Many people think this walking routine is an excellent way to increase your activity, longevity and even your mental alertness.  George Burns walked around his garden with his cigar every morning and the people of Independence, Missouri had the privilege of seeing a former President walk the same path every morning even in the winter.  That President, of course, was Harry Truman and his home and library were stops on our first retirement trip.

Taking up a new hobby is also one of the great ways to keep active and golf is one of the first things on people’s list when they reach the golden years of retirement.  They usually find out that you can get tired of this great sport and, if you’re using a cart, playing a round of golf is not as much exercise as you think.  Taking up sports like pickleball or tennis can provide additional ways to keep active.  It’s also a very good social activity and both are important to maintain a healthy outlook during retirement.

Mental stimulation is important as well and you should always look for ways to keep active mentally.  Learning is a wonderful thing and despite the fact that I hated school, I always enjoyed learning.  History is a wonderful source of interest for me and when you look at the events that took place in this country (and the world), there is a vast amount to learn.  Unfortunately, most people shut down when you mention the subject of history but when you look at the people involved in some of the great events of our time, they’re more interesting than almost any fictional character you can name.  I know people who read three or four novels a week but will never read a biography or narrative of a historical event.  I maintain that nothing is more interesting than our country’s history and the people who made it.  People watch soap operas on television every day but the stuff that’s happening in the news today is as interesting and sometimes gut-wrenching as anything that is on any of those shows.  One of the ways to keep active mentally is to study something new and, when you read some of the events of history and compare them to what’s happening today, the similarities can be mind boggling.

I’m not sure how anyone can be bored in retirement with all the options before us.  Look for new ways to keep active physically and mentally and you’ll find your whole outlook on life can change.  We live in a wonderful and sometimes crazy world, and we should become determined to be a part of it.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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