The Right Habits May Help You Live Well in Retirement

November 20, 2019

A 2018 study published in Circulation, a journal of the American Health Association, concludes that about 60% of early deaths can be linked to negative lifestyle factors. As you approach what is considered retirement age, think about what habits or behaviors could promote health and happiness in your future.

Are you exercising to a degree that, while not arduous, takes you slightly out of your physical comfort zone? Strength training and endurance training are particularly important as we age, and so is stretching to maintain flexibility. (Flexibility relates to balance and joint health.) Nutrient-rich foods need to win out over foods that are merely calorie dense. Living, volunteering, or working with purpose rescues you from the dilemma of having nothing to do. Intellectual challenges and engagement become vital for your mental health, as does your attitude and degree of social interaction. The choice of being a participant in life and its adventures and activities, instead of simply a watcher, may bring recurring physical and mental payoffs.^3,4