The Importance of Wellness in Retirement

You can do all the retirement planning you need in order to secure total financial freedom in retirement. But without the physical health to enjoy it - you’re missing out on the quality of life you envisioned. Wealth alone does not determine how much you will enjoy retirement. It’s a combination of health and wealth that will help you get the most out of your independence and freedom in retirement. Below are a few ways in which you can work to maintain or improve your overall wellness as you enjoy your time of financial independence.

What Is Wellness?

According to the Global Wellness Day organization, wellness is “a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity.”¹ The idea of wellness stems farther than physical health, as it is meant to encompass every aspect of your quality of life - mental health, social well-being and physical state. And while developing a retirement plan can help to make sure your financial wellness is covered, it’s up to you to take care of the rest.

Addressing Wellness in Retirement

We’ve broken the biggest areas of wellness down into three categories: mental health, social well-being and your physical state. Below are the reasons why each area of wellness is important in retirement and what you can do to maintain or improve on them. 

Mental Wellness

The temptation to turn your brain off during retirement can be a big one. Considering you’ve spent decades problem solving for 40+ hours a week, the idea of relaxing and unwinding in front of the television or along a sandy shoreline can be extra appealing. But in order to stay mentally well and ward off cognitive decline, it’s important to incorporate mental exercises into your daily retirement routine. Staying sharp and keeping an active mind in retirement can help you to enjoy your retirement for longer. 

One possible way of keeping your mental health in check? Consider taking on a new job in retirement, even just as a part-time position. According to the American Psychological Association, a 2009 study revealed that those who were working in retirement had levels of well-being in both health and overall satisfaction that were on par with those who were younger and not yet retired. And beyond satisfaction, working in retirement has proved in some cases to effectively ward off cognitive decline and diseases. A study of nearly half a million retiree-aged participants showed that for every additional year worked, the risk of dementia was reduced by 3.2 percent.²  

Other activities to help your mind stay sharp in retirement could include:

• Picking up a new instrument
• Learning a new language
• Journaling
• Reading books
• Doing puzzles & games
• Social Wellness

Isolation and loneliness are growing issues in Americans, especially in older adults. And entering into retirement is a transitionary time in which one’s social well-being may become compromised. Leaving a job means leaving coworkers you see every day, and if you choose to move to a retirement destination, you may be leaving all other neighbors, community friends and even family behind.

Isolation can leave you feeling completely detached from your friends and family, both physically and psychologically. It’s something more than 8 million adults over the age of 50 experience, and prolonged isolation can have the same impact on your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.³   

The good news is, there are plenty of ways to find social fulfillment in retirement, they just require some effort and initiative on your part. These could include:

• Volunteering in your community
• Finding a roommate
• Taking or teaching classes
• Pursue a hobby or passion that takes you outside of the home
• Physical Wellness

You’ve heard the phrase “use it or lose it,” and this saying definitely rings true when it comes to maintaining your physical wellness in retirement. Older adults are already at a bit of a disadvantage physically. As our bodies grow older, we’re facing physical changes such as slowing metabolisms, weakening immune systems and loss of muscle mass (to name a few). But just like your mental health, you may be tempted to enter a state of permanent relaxation in retirement. However, it’s important to take care of yourself physically. Doing so can help prevent both physical and cognitive decline, both of which can dramatically reduce your overall well-being. Some ways to stay physically well in retirement include:

• Joining an exercise class
• Garden and maintain your yard
• Adopting a dog
• Enjoying walks around your neighborhood
• Creating (and sticking to) an exercise routine

When you put a special focus on maintaining your overall wellness in retirement, it can be some of the greatest years of your life. And while you can work with a professional to ensure your financial well-being is cared for, it’s up to you to make sure the rest is following suit as you head toward retirement.

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