How to stay healthy after retirement

Once you have hit retirement, it can be appealing to just spend your days relaxing and doing what you love. It is important to prioritize your favourite hobbies, but it is also important to prioritize your health. As you age, your immune system changes, which means your immune system doesn’t work as well as it used too. You are more likely to get sick, healing also slows down and immune systems can’t detect and fix cell defects as easily.

The good thing is you can still take steps to stay as healthy possible…

EXERCISE

Exercise is very important at any age, but it is especially important when you get older. Regular exercise can help you prevent health problems and keep your bones strong too. Many people also say that exercising regularly boosts their mood. If you really don’t like exercising, you should get a friend to join you so they can keep you motivated. If you are new to working out, you should always talk to your doctor first.

LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Drinking alcohol regularly can affect all areas of your body, like your brains, heart, immune system and of course your liver. Yes, drinking in moderation is fine, but you shouldn’t drink large amounts of alcohol as you get older. If you are female, limit yourself to one drink each day or two drinks if you are male. If you have ever been a heavy drinker, you may want to limit yourself even more – consult your doctor to be sure.

EAT WELL

Nutrition is an important part of any healthy lifestyle, but it must be a regular part of your routine as you age. Eating well helps you to feel good and encourages a strong immune system. Always be especially careful to limit empty calories like sodium, cholesterol, sugar and refined grains. Also limit how much trans and saturated fats you eat. Becoming someone who eats healthy all the time can be difficult if you have never eaten healthy before, so try and eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean protein.

BE A GOOD PATIENT

Always go to your regular annual appointments with your doctor and don’t be afraid to call and book ahead of time if you have any health concerns. Don’t ever leave it until the last minute if you are worried there might be a problem that will only allow it to get worse. Have you cholesterol checked regularly and watch out for signs of cancer as well, also make sure that you have insurance that will pay for any serious medical issues that come up.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL STATE

Your mental well-being is also something that you need to take care of. Retirement can be a wonderful time for you, but it can also be a very lonely time if you don’t have a good support group around you. Be sure to make time to see and contact friends and family and join in on activities that you enjoy.

Yes, it may seem like a lot of steps to take to stay healthy, but all of them are completely manageable and for the good of your future after retirement. 

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village can help you on the road to a better lifestyle with our amazing health care facility, residential exercise area and our healthy lifestyle.