Retirement Well-Being

Instructions

To take action and make plans for a healthy retirement, use the Retirement Well-Being exercise to highlight 1) healthy habits you would like to start or continue 2) health opportunities, such as things to see, hear, and do individually or as part of a group; and 3) health concerns, which can include aspects of family health history that one should begin to address.

#1 Healthy Living
Identify three health-related habits you plan to continue or start in retirement. For example: walking, biking, swimming, taking vitamins, eating vegetarian, eliminating gluten from your diet, eating more fruits and vegetables, cooking a healthy meal once a week, etc.

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#2 Health Opportunities
Identify three health-related opportunities that you plan to take advantage of in retirement, including things you may want to see, speak about, hear, smell, or touch. For example: take a healthy cooking class, join a gym, sign up for a yoga class, learn or teach CPR, partake in a physically challenging adventure, see a championship sporting event, hear the roar of Niagara Falls, taste a fine wine, feel the warmth of a campfire, savor the smell of a new car.

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#3 Health Concerns
Everybody knows you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. Obviously, this means you can't avoid your family's medical history, or conditions passed on through the genes. Whether its high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart conditions, cancer, weight, alcoholism, diabetes, etc. Identify three health-related concerns that you need to stay on top of and combat with healthy habits.

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Living a rewarding retirement means being active, involved, and knowing your health numbers...not to mention taking care of your five senses. Developing and maintaining a healthy retirement lifestyle contributes to your retirement identity, can help you stay socially involved, fill your time, stave off boredom and keep you from slipping into the dark side of retirement.

Remember, the real foundation for your wealth is your complete and total health. Therefore, today's comprehensive retirement plan requires putting "how much you need to save" behind "the numbers and activities you need to stay alive."