Simple Ways to Protect Your Health and Wellbeing in Retirement

​Retirement provides you with the opportunity to relax and pursue interests you might have previously been too busy to consider. While life should be less stressful in retirement, it's still important to take good care of your mind and body. The following practices can help you stay healthy for longer.

Eat a Healthier Diet

Doctors are urging people of all ages to switch to a primarily plant-based diet and eliminate processed foods as much as possible. This is especially important for seniors who need a broader range of vitamins that fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds provide. By choosing a variety of colors in the fruits and vegetables you buy, you can ensure you're getting a wide range of nutrients to boost your physical and mental health.

Take Daily Supplements

A high-quality multivitamin can give you a boost of essential vitamins, which you may need even if you are eating healthier. For example, sufficient levels of vitamin D are hard to maintain without overexposing your skin to harmful solar rays. A daily vitamin that contains vitamin D can equal out that balance. Research has also found that retirees can use CBD hemp oil for a variety of health and wellness concerns, including protecting against certain types of cancer and boosting heart health. There are recipes for adding CBD oil to food, or you can consume the oil in capsule form to obtain these benefits. Many health food stores carry CBD oil in capsule form.

Participate in Social Activities

Depression and cognitive decline become more likely as we grow older. Unfortunately, seniors also tend to become more withdrawn and socialize with fewer people. Engaging in social activities can help you protect your mind and body by providing the social stimulation you need. The interactions will give your mind more focus, while some of the activities you choose, such as golf or guided hikes, will help you get the exercise you need to stay physically fit.

Get More Exercise

In addition to social activities, you should also be getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day at a minimum. It's important to consult your doctor before engaging in any new physical activity, but, in general, you should engage in medium to high-intensity physical activity daily. You should choose a variety of activities and do something different each day. This will keep you interested in exercise while also working out other muscle groups in your body. Bicycling, brisk walking, swimming, and yoga are just a few ideas you can use to get started.

Sleep Better

People tend to experience sleep disorders more as they age, but that doesn't mean you need less sleep in retirement. If you're not getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night, you should re-examine your daily routine. An hour before bed, you should shut down electronic devices and find a relaxing activity to enjoy. The blue light that mobile devices give off disrupts the body's internal clock, leading to sleep difficulties. Instead, meditate, read a good paperback, or listen to soothing music. When you do go to bed, block out ambient light, and consider wearing earplugs to eliminate disruptive noises.

If you need more insight into staying healthier for longer, your doctor can offer some more suggestions. While some changes may be difficult to initiate at first, you'll experience the benefits of change pretty quickly. When you take better care of your mind and body, you'll feel happier and healthier over a more extended timeframe.