A Guide To Physical And Mental Wellness In Retirement

As we get older and reach retirement age, it can be quite overwhelming thinking about this brand-new stage in our lives. There’s no need to feel pessimistic here though, as this can be one of the most enjoyable periods of life, but it’s important to keep tabs on a few things to make sure you get the most enjoyment possible out of it. Most notably, we need to take a bit of extra care of our physical and mental wellness as there are some higher health risks as we age. We’ve put together a short guide to help you manage your physical and mental wellness during retirement so that you can enjoy this next chapter to the best of your ability.

Avoiding Loneliness
Especially during the pandemic, loneliness has become much more apparent in older generations. Being forced to stay inside and away from loved ones has taken its toll on many people, and this has given us more awareness of the impact of loneliness on our lives. If you feel as though you’re beginning to feel lonely, try to surround yourself with old or new friends when possible, or reach out to family if they’re nearby. If you’ve found that you feel lonelier now that you’re not working, consider finding a volunteering job to keep you busy, such as working with a charity or a school, or get more involved at your local community center.

Checking In With Yourself
As well as combatting loneliness where possible, it’s important that you keep an eye on your mental health as much as possible. Every one of us, no matter our age, is at risk of developing mental health disorders, so it’s essential that you check in with yourself often and be open and honest about the way you’re feeling. Try to rationalize why you feel the way you do and admit when you might need some help. Always remember that you don’t have to go through these problems alone and there are many helplines and professional help you can receive. Not only that, but it’s important to speak to your friends and family too for support.

Regular Doctor Visits
Checking in on our mental health is very important, but so is keeping an eye on our physical health too. There are many self-exams you can do to spot any potential health problems early on, such as checking your skin for any discoloration or lumps. If you have any concerns it’s imperative that you speak to a doctor right away. If you want to be extra careful, there are types of body scans that can be done professionally by companies like Ezra. This guide suggests the sorts of scans you can get ranging from X-rays and CT scans to mammograms and MRI scans. All of these scans will be used to check different types of things and can be very useful if you’re concerned about your health or are just looking for some peace of mind.

Keeping Active
As we get older, our bodies naturally deteriorate, and there’s not much we can do to change that. However, remaining active can reduce the effects of aging. Cardio and aerobic exercise such as running, swimming and dancing can improve your energy levels and also helps you to keep focused and doing weight training can help you to maintain your physical strength. There are lots of other types of exercise that can benefit you in other ways, like Pilates and yoga to help you strengthen your core and balance, as well as help you to keep flexible. Ultimately, it’s best that you find an activity that you enjoy.

Eating The Right Diet
When we get to an older age we tend to experience more issues with our nutrition such as losing weight or lacking certain nutrients. Take note of the foods you eat so that you can make sure you’re eating a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates and essential vitamins and minerals found in fruit and vegetables. As well as this, a very important part of your diet should be fiber. Eating plenty of fiber will help to keep your bowel movements regular and your gut health to a high standard. While it’s important to eat the right things, it’s almost more important to start avoiding the wrong foods. Cutting out processed foods especially those with high salt and sugar contents is probably one of the best choices you can make as this can go towards lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Taking Care Of Your Dental Hygiene
Many people, no matter their age, tend to neglect their dental hygiene. Ensuring you brush regularly, twice a day and floss between your teeth, can help to reduce the risk of cavities and the erosion of the protective enamel on the surface of your teeth. As we get older, our teeth tend to become worn and at a higher risk of damage and decay. Make sure that you visit your dentist for regular check ups, as they’ll be able to guide you towards better care for your teeth, as well as offer helpful treatments to better maintain your dental health.

Categories: Health

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].