Staying Healthy Beyond Our Prime

Keeping ourselves healthy

The concept of retirement has become increasingly flexible. Some have the luxury of retiring early, while others may love what they do and choose to continue working long after their retirement age. Regardless of what one chooses, it is important to already be aware and not lose focus, during one’s prime, on the importance of health and mental well-being.

Maintaining our good health means possibly having lower medical expenses in our silver and golden years. At the same time, by getting and investing in some medical and insurance protection, we also prepare for any unexpected crises, such as accidents. Wise financial investments early on will eventually reap generous harvests for the nest egg in the long term.

Our brains can deteriorate if we don’t take good care of it. Keeping it healthy and engaged will not only help us in our day- to-day activities, but it can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other possible memory problems later on in life.

Physical and mental health go hand in hand. There is no point working to exhaustion during our prime years, if our health is going to suffer for it. Problems that may not manifest now may appear and haunt us much later in life, just as we are preparing to enjoy ourselves. Ultimately, we want to be in the best position to enjoy the kind of lifestyle we want for the rest of our lives.

Enjoying our silver and golden years

When asked what we wish to do after our retirement, we would always end up saying the fun stuff, such as travelling around the world, spending lots of time on our hobbies or spoiling our grandchildren to their hearts’ content. Imagine if, instead,

because of illnesses or physical and mental deterioration, we have to spend our hard-earned cash on medical expenses. That would be such a killjoy!

In our silver and golden years, we want to be able to live life to the fullest, in the best way we can. In that sense, having all the money in the world is of little use, if we are too incapacitated to enjoy it. All our best-laid plans would simply go to waste. This is why throughout life, we need to balance work and leisure pursuits, and make time for family and friends. We need to realise the pursuit of happiness still requires us to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Play with our grandchildren; walk the dogs around the neighbourhood; tend to the garden plants; or meet up with friends and interest groups to talk about life and all the latest news and gossips. Eat what we like, but in moderation and as long as our health permits. Even while we are living life to the fullest in our golden years, never neglect to continue looking after our bodies and minds. The aforementioned may just sound fun; but they are activities that also help to keep our bodies and minds engaged.

The best of both worlds

Good health is, therefore, the best investment that one can make in life. When you safeguard your health, you are really protecting your physical capital. It is a mistake to get so busy earning money that health maintenance is ignored. In fact, it is easier to stay physically and mentally healthy when you are having fun.

Make time to smell the roses along the way as we move towards our silver and golden years, and we will not end up being burnt out before our time.

@PRIME