While there’s no avoiding the liver spots, gray hairs, and aches and pains of getting older, that doesn’t mean you have to lose your independence.

No one wants to spend their golden years unable to experience life as easily as they once did. If you’re coming up on the horizon of your retirement, here are five tips that will help you self-sustain once you hang up your spurs. 

Exercise regularly

Not only does exercise get the blood pumping to improve circulation and heart health, but the endorphins, adrenaline, and dopamine released during physical activity improve mood and emotional wellbeing.

If you hate breaking a sweat, don’t worry. Exercise doesn’t have to be high intensity. An evening stroll, a water aerobics class, ballroom dancing, or slow yoga are all excellent options to keep your mind and body happy and healthy. If you use a walker or are considering buying one, upright mobility aids like this one can make getting around and staying active even more feasible. Smartwatches with medical alert capabilities can give you a sense of safety wherever you happen to be.

Maintain an active social life

Humans are social creatures, and maintaining a strong connection with friends and family is crucial to our mental, emotional, and physical health.

A ballooning number of studies show how social isolation leads to mental and physical degradation in seniors. Fortunately, assisted living and senior communities offer plenty of activities such as game nights, communal dining, and exercise classes to give seniors more structured opportunities for social interaction.

Scheduling regular phone calls, facetime, or Zoom meetings with loved ones is another way to uphold social connections where accessibility is an issue.

Adopt a healthy eating and medical regimen

The adage “you are what you eat” rings especially true the older you age. A nutritious dietary regimen combined with regular doctor’s visits and taking your prescribed medication as indicated is a recipe for long and independent life.

It’s no wonder that the longest living countries in the world have the healthiest diets. For example, the Mediterranean and Japanese populations enjoy the lowest rates of heart disease and diabetes and live exceedingly long lives.

This longevity is mainly due to diets full of omega 3s, whole grains, and lean meat and fish. Eating probiotics can also help you feel better and keep your body running smoothly. You know how it goes: “an apple a day….” 

Volunteer

Helping others broadens your cultural, behavioral, and emotional perspective, takes the focus off struggles in your own life, and engenders gratitude from both the recipient and the volunteer. Working for or towards something bigger than oneself bestows a sense of purpose, essential to vivacity.

Additionally, volunteer work encompasses the first two tips on this list because it transports you out of the house and actively engages you in social and physical activity. With age comes wisdom, patience, and an ability to see the bigger picture, which are invaluable assets for volunteer work.

Plus, it’s a way to spend that time productively for retired individuals who suddenly find themselves with a wealth of free time.   

Establish a will and end-of-life care

Coming to terms with mortality is a difficult task, but preparing for the inevitable eases the stress for you and prevents your loved ones from fighting over the details when you can no longer make decisions about your life.

Therefore, choosing and appointing a health care proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf is an excellent way to manage your end-of-life care proactively. It is also vital to draft a living will specifying how to distribute your assets, how you wish end-of-life care to be administered, and how to execute posthumous legal decisions. 

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, aging doesn’t mean relinquishing independence and control. If you stay physically and socially active, eat well, and plan for the inevitable, aging will be a pleasant, comfortable, and enriching life process.