Like in so many other areas of life, balance is very important in retirement. Especially considering today’s boomers are looking at an extended retirement due to longer lifespans. And finding that balance calls for a lifestyle that supports physical and financial health.
Why?
Because having all the money in the world won’t give you much pleasure if your health is poor.
People over 60 today want to be productive and engaged in their retirement years. They are more open-minded and curious than a generation ago. They’re exploring. Learning. Starting a new career. Traveling. Writing that novel.
And they not only realize it’s important to set enough aside to cover future costs of healthcare, but they also want to pursue healthy aging so they can avoid health issues as they age.
They want a retirement lifestyle that balances financial health with physical health.
- Financial healthis of course a major goal for a satisfying retirement. It means not waiting to do what you can to increase your savings. That might be returning to work, finding part-time employment, or being a consultant. It can mean downsizing to less expensive housing. Speaking with your financial advisor about whether to purchase long-term care insurance or set up a health savings account. Reviewing your investments to determine if you are on the right path.
And don’t forget factoring in inflation, especially considering an extended retirement. You’ll most likely need more income in the future to maintain your current lifestyle, much less take it up a notch.
Then there’s the whole decision about whether or not to delay retirement in the first place. Retiring at 65 in the present day means living on your nest egg for 20 to 30 years, which may not be sustainable without substantial savings.
- Physical healthis as vital as financial health. And physical health is more than just being able to take a walk with your grandkids and not get winded. Or joining a gym and going two days a week.
Physical health is eating right, staying active and strong, maintaining a social network, and having a sense of purpose. Age Wave reports that having a strong sense of purpose in our later years enhances our health and well-being and may even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and stroke, while social isolation has been found to be more deadly than smoking cigarettes.
So today, the goal is to match our health spans with our lifespans. And when you consider that Americans, on average, will spend 12 years of their life in poor health, and you can see why it’s so important to jump on this now.
According to the World Health Organization, the United States is:
- #1 in healthcare expenditures per capita
- #40 in life expectancy
- #68 in healthy life expectancy
What does it mean for each of us? Time to get off the couch and eat a healthy meal. Walk around the block every day or join a chair exercise class. Skip the fattening snacks and opt for a salad occasionally. Reach out to an old friend and rekindle that relationship. Be part of a volunteer project and experience how good it feels to help someone else.
Do the things that make you feel good—and enhance your health—now, so you can feel that way when retirement rolls around.
The bottom line is developing a plan for retirement that incorporates both a focus on physical health and financial health.
That’s what we do at Retirement Lifestyle Coaching. We’ll ensure you find a path forward that includes all the social, emotional, physical, and mental stimulation you desire in your ideal retirement lifestyle, while keeping an eye on the nuts and bolts and financial part of your retirement equation. Because it all adds up to your fulfilling retirement lifestyle.