Ensure you offer yourself the best shot to stay consistent and active in retirement!
A lot of people recommend that you stay active in retirement, but not all of us can pick up some sort of sport or intense physical activity. While there are a lot of low-impact sports we can practice, a good way to stay active in retirement has nothing to do with doing as much sport as you can.
Long-term wellness should be something that you should aim for, and this includes staying active as a retiree, which also comes down to not falling down the slippery slope of always relaxing and giving in to being a couch potato.
As a retiree, you should make sure that you find ways to stay active, engaged with the world around you, and social, all while being emotionally balanced and mentally prepared for all that life can throw at you.
This type of staying active has more in common with physical and mental wellness so that you can be in your best shape in retirement and have your immune system ready to go as well.
Since a lot of us have a different idea of what staying active looks like, we have brought you all the ways in which you can make sure you focus on your wellness and well-being, which sometimes can also include exercise, but they are not focused on it! Keep on reading to discover how you can promote staying active and your own wellness in retirement.
What do you do to stay active? Are there any wellness tips you would like to share with us? Let us know all your thoughts and opinions in the comments down below!
Do not neglect your sleep!
One of the best ways to make sure you are staying active and fit is to not neglect your sleep. It may seem weird to see it suggested here since sleep is not really equated with keeping in shape, but they are actually closely related.
Sleep is an integral part of keeping your body in good shape, as it is restorative and maintains good emotional wellness, aids your cognitive functions in staying healthy, and also helps your body regenerate and stay healthy.
While you may know that a lot of retirees end up waking extremely early or that they end up no longer sleeping as much as they should, it is a myth, and most of them who do not get enough sleep may suffer from insomnia.
Both experts and the National Institute on Aging have recommended that retirees and seniors get anywhere between seven and nine hours of sleep a night so that they can stay in top-notch shape!
Keep your social circle active and try to widen it!
Another way to aid your wellness journey in retirement and to stay active is to find different ways to get out of the house. A great way to do so is to strive to be social and not lose your connection to your work friends, in addition to your close friends and relatives.
You may have left the workforce or even changed jobs to a part-time one now that you are retired, but keep in mind that it is very easy for those connections to dissolve. If you have made a couple of friends and you wish to remain in contact with them, you should do your best to keep in contact.
Make sure you give them a call or text them and set up some coffee runs or even a fortnight outing to a new restaurant or a museum. There are a lot of things you can do in order to see your friends, and through them, you can even meet more people.
Unfortunately, a lot of retirees are prone to loneliness and depression, as most of their socialization is done in the workplace, and now they do not have that social factor in their lives. Along with a propensity for social isolation, it is easy for retirees to end up alone and depressed, so an important part of your wellness and staying active is to stay social.
Do not be afraid to stay in contact with your friends and co-workers; plan social outings and engagements; if you have been going to church or other spiritual meetings, make sure you maintain them; and never be afraid to join groups and social activities.
These types of social activities will keep you both engaged with the people around you and also keep your mind sharp, as they will contribute to your emotional and mental fortitude, along with giving you a reason to get out of the house! Two birds with one stone!
Why not get a new hobby or learn a new skill?
An important component of staying active in retirement and maintaining your well-being is to pick up a new skill or even start a new hobby. You do not have to strive to be a world-renowned carpenter or anything of the sort, but any hobby or skill that you acquire is going to help you keep your mind engaged and sharp.
Even small things, such as learning to use a new app or social media platform (like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok), can be a good start. You can also always pick up that one hobby you have been putting off, be it an outdoorsy one or an indoor one.
Make sure that you pick something that is going to be appropriate for your level of physical health and that you are interested in so that it can become something you look forward to learning or doing and that will aid your retirement wellness in the long run.
It is even more important if you know you have a history of Alzheimer’s or dementia in your family, as keeping your mind engaged can easily push away an early manifestation of any of these concerns.
Stay active by giving volunteering a try!
Another way to stay active and get out of the house is to try to find a way to volunteer. Be it that you are going to the local animal or human shelter or you find other ways to volunteer, you can easily find a new purpose, and it also doubles as a way to look after your well-being.
Some places that are generally looking for volunteers or that have advertisements include local NGOs, local community bulletin boards, museums, libraries, and even churches.
You may even be lucky enough to find paid positions if your skills are highly sought after, but even without the money incentive, volunteering in retirement can be a great way to socialize, get some time away from home to do something productive, and also use your time in a fulfilling way!
Even occasionally volunteering in a soup kitchen can be a rewarding way of socializing, and once you start doing any sort of volunteering, you may find a new purpose in retirement! Do not write it off until you give it a try!
Make your garden a priority!
If you have a garden and are looking for ways to stay active and include wellness on your priority list, then you should pick up gardening. The best thing is that even if you are living in a retirement community, this is definitely something feasible, be it that you are going to start growing some plants or vegetables or you are going into landscaping. It is something you can start on your own.
Investing time and care into your garden is a great way to stay active without having to find a dedicated class, as it is an amazing type of aerobics, and it also maintains your mental well-being along with self-reliance. By having a vegetable garden or doing your own landscaping, you will have something to do that is fairly easy and keeps you active.
Sooner than later, you will see the long-term benefits, and it is an easy hobby that will give you something to look forward to. Plant your favorite flowers, start a little aromatic plant and vegetable garden, grow some strawberries—the world is your oyster, and it is a great way to start active!
If your way of staying active also includes some sport, make sure you practice one that is going to help you in retirement and one that is not too taxing on your body if you are just now starting. These are some of the ones that our community found the best, and you can also read about what makes them perfect for retirees in the article as well!
