Great Health Is Our Best Retirement Asset

You worked hard all your life. Now you want to play hard, or maybe you just want to take it easy. Will retirement be everything you hoped for?

In the US, the average retirement age for men is at 62 years old, and 59 for women. Meanwhile, life expectancy is 74 for men and about 80 for women. That’s quite a few years to navigate.

No two seniors have the same experience with retirement. Random chance plays a big role. However, there’s one key factor that is under your control: healthy living. Studies suggest that the 25% of seniors with the healthiest lifestyles are the most satisfied after retirement. So how do you join that group?

Good Health Goes Beyond the Body

What is a ‘healthy’ lifestyle, anyway? A lot of people focus on the numbers. BMI, blood pressure, the number of minutes you work out per week, and nowadays a medical alert smartwatch can tell you many of these things at a glance.

These are part of the picture, but good health goes way beyond that. It’s more of an umbrella. Health covers everything from stimulating your mind to connecting with friends. A well-rounded picture includes:

• Mental alertness and memory.
• Emotional balance and resilience.
• Having the tools to deal with stress.
• Connecting with loved ones and your community.
• Diet and the quality of food.
• Staying on top of your checkups and medication.
• Getting active and going outdoors.

However, it’s not realistic to expect people to build dozens of health-boosting habits all at once. What’s the alternative? Instead of overhauling your entire lifestyle, focus on one or two healthy habits at a time. The key here is finding the health-improving changes that hit several boxes at once. These ‘super-habits’ are worth your time and effort because they improve wellness along every metric. They build up the body, mind, emotions, and your human connections.

Getting the Most From Your Healthy Habits

What does a multipurpose health habit look like? Let’s touch on a few examples.

Many of the aging-related health challenges you may face are influenced by your diet and BMI. Are you at a healthy weight? Do you eat plenty of lean protein and vegetables? If you’re trying to improve, you can supercharge this new habit.

Don’t just throw out junk food and buy prepackaged healthier meals. Take a cooking class and learn your favorite cuisine. Experiment in the kitchen with family members. Plant some vegetables or herbs, so you can add physical activity to this habit. No backyard for gardening? You can still grow a tray of miniature hot peppers or basil on the windowsill.

Next, the CDC suggests you get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. This works out to a 30-minute fitness session five times a week. For people who exercise regularly, that can be an easy number to hit. Seniors who hate workouts will see it differently.

The great news is that you don’t need to do structured workouts. What about joining a gardening club at your local park? Does your senior center offer dancing and live music once a week? These are great ways to earn your 150 minutes, engage the brain, and have fun with other people. Don’t give up on physical healthcare either – get routine checkups with your local doctor or urgent care, just to keep on top of any new developments.

Struggling to find a friendship group? You aren’t alone in that one. Social connections do much for our emotional and mental well-being. They also grow slowly over time. If you can’t seem to find in-person opportunities, you can try building your own group online. For instance, platforms like Facebook have fan groups for every imaginable interest. If there’s a group for clam chowder lovers (and there is), there’s a place for what you love.

You could also apply to become an online teacher on sites like Skillshare. These let you share part of your lifetime’s experience with people around the world. You could make a difference while making a little money along the way.

For one final example, think about your current health. It usually isn’t fun to take your medication, attend check-ups, or handle other medical needs. However, it is vital to stay on top of these things to stabilize your health. What can you do to make the experience more pleasant and easier to remember? Could you wash down bitter-tasting medicine with your favorite cup of tea? This is a great opportunity to squeeze in gratitude journaling or a five-minute meditation.

Invest in Yourself

Retirement is a time for growth, change, and exploration. To get the most out of your senior years, you need to protect and improve your health. This doesn’t have to mean a life of tough workouts and flavorless diet meals. In fact, that can be very unhealthy for your mental and emotional well-being.

Instead of trying the trendy new superfood, try cultivating super-habits. Build a healthier life through one well chosen change at a time. The right activity doesn’t just get your body moving, it boosts alertness and raises your mood as you connect with other people. You may also find it easier to fit one multipurpose activity into your schedule instead of a whole checklist. Keep doing something you love, day after day. Before you know it, you’ve turned that sometimes activity into a lifelong healthy habit.