Your retirement is coming up, and one of the things that you are worried about is whether you will be able to age on your own terms. Aging gracefully is something that we all aspire to but not all of us are able to achieve it. You may live an active life before your retirement, but once you are off the job you may start to feel obsolete, and this is the start of poor aging.
Aging Gracefully: Head or Heart?
Some researchers say that aging gracefully starts in your head while others believe it starts in your heart. The saying that you are only as old as you feel seems to become a reality as you grow into your retirement years. If you plan to spend those years sitting around doing nothing to keep your body and brain active you can expect not to age gracefully. A smart choice for many about to retire is to have a plan for what you will do after you retire. The average person doesn’t have a lot of money saved to have lofty plans, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of activities that you can do on a budget that is memorable and fun.
Aging Gracefully: Find Direction and Purpose
Some retirees want to jump right back into the workforce. Do some research on places in your community, in your town, in your city, in your state that is happy to have a senior working with them. It doesn’t have to be a paying job either. Remember the point of finding something active to do is so that you don’t sit idly at home with no direction.
Aging Gracefully: Develop Strong Relationships
If aging gracefully is something that you are determined to do, you will want to cultivate good relationships with others. Research has shown that elders who have strong relationships with people tend to live longer and healthier lives than those who wallow in their loneliness. This is a great time to cherish your children and grandchildren. As well, get out there and meet others who are your age and start taking part in activities with them. Maybe you will want to help the youth of your neighborhood and find out what makes them tick, what challenges they face, and how you can be of help to them and your community.
Prioritize Your Health
The other thing you need to take care of is your health. If you eat a nutritious diet and have a daily exercise routine there isn’t much else you can do but invest in a Medicare Supplement Plan so that you don’t have to worry about the 20% medical costs that are not covered by Medicare.
