How to Stay Active, Even More Important From Age 50 On and After You Retire ... Plus Why You Should
by www.SixWise.com

You’ve dedicated most of your waking hours to your career, kept your mind active on a daily basis, built a social network of friends at your company and are about to retire.

So now what are you going to do with all of your newfound time?

A recent study showed getting a temporary or part-time job, particularly in your given field, may be the bridge to good physical and mental health well into the golden years for retirees.

“If you are doing something that is similar to what you were doing in your career, it’s easier for you to adjust,” Mo Wang, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, told Reuters. “If you’re not working on something you are totally not familiar with, or if you’re working on something just for the money return, then you have to readjust to the job and for older adults, it’s usually pretty challenging.”

The participants who chose to keep working after retirement:

• Suffered 17 percent fewer major diseases

• Ranked 31 percent higher on a mental health ratings scale

• Enjoyed better physical and emotional health

Embracing the Retirement Stage of Your Life

The introduction of new family members, seeing others leave your family, death, divorce, watching your children getting married or becoming a grandparent are all changes in the retirement phase of your life.

Transitioning from the demands and structure of the workplace and freedom from responsibilities of raising children can represent a new and fulfilling chapter in your life, but not without challenges such as caring for elderly parents, providing support to family members and focusing on your marriage, while all the while pursuing interests of your own.

Other personal challenges that you may face include declining physical and mental abilities or changes in the financial and social arenas in your life. It’s important to remember that aging and retirement doesn’t automatically equal poor health. It all depends on how active you remain, physically and emotionally, and the support system you set up for yourself.

Scientists have confirmed that just by staying physically and mentally active you can even improve some chronic diseases. You can make retirement the best time of your life by planning ahead and filling your life with things that are meaningful to you -- and finding healthy ways to keep busy and adapt to your new flexible lifestyle.

Top 10 Strategies to Adapt After Retirement

1) Get a part-time job in the field you worked
Many retirees are opting to take on part-time work to stay active and connected with others. And now as the population increases and the number of workers between the ages of 25-44 have decreased, there is a need to fill that gap in the labor market. Having the work experience and expertise gives you the upper edge.
Here are five ways to use the resources you have to find part-time work:

• Look at your former company -- This is a logical option as the employees are already familiar with your skills and may be able to find part-time work for you.

• Consider competitors of your former employer -- Providing you make it clear you’re not going to reveal any trade secrets such as customer lists or pricing formulas of your former company, seeking out companies that are in the same line of work might provide an avenue for part-time work; they know you already have the skills to do the job.

• Think of people who can use your skills on a part-time basis -- This could be something that you learned on the job or a hobby you cultivated such as cooking or sculpting. Another avenue to explore is teaching an adult education class at a local community college.

• Make a list of who is looking to hire people for seasonal hours -- If you make yourself available when the need is high or peak time at businesses such as car rentals, spas, restaurants and ball parks, you have a good chance of landing a part-time job.

• Seek out employers who hire consultants or independent contractors for contract-based work -- Present your knowledge and expertise in a professional manner and chances are the company will want to utilize your services.

2) Build a well-rounded social life
Look for opportunities to make friends by exploring your interests and hobbies, joining a club or association or taking a class that peaks your interest. Bring a friend along and chances are you’ll meet people with whom you can talk and share similar interests.

Staying connected to others and spending time with people you like is one of the keys to happiness during retirement years.

3) Make exercise and your health a number one priority
Now that you have extra time on your hands, use it to examine your eating and exercise habits and set some goals to make improvements in both of these areas. The more you exercise, the better you’ll look and feel -- and want to continue practicing a healthy lifestyle.

You can pick up an exercise book or join a gym to get yourself started. Be sure to keep up with your routine annual visits to your doctor for check-ups and discuss your exercise goals with them.

Look for an exercise plan that includes the kind of exercise you enjoy and as you get into the plan gradually build up the time, intensity and duration.

With any exercise plan you choose there are four types of exercise that you should incorporate on a weekly basis:

• Aerobic or endurance exercise, three to five times a week

• Strength training two to three times a week

• Stretching exercises two to three times a week

• Balance/core exercises two to three times a week

If you’re not sure what type of exercise would best suit you, try using a personal trainer. He or she can educate you on a variety of workout routines designed to meet your individual fitness goals.

And for everyone we love and highly recommend adding SheaNetics from MySheaNetics.com, a mind-body workout, to your exercise routine.

SheaNetics from MySheaNetics.com, founded by fitness expert and top trainer to Pro-athletes and Movie Stars Shea Vaughn, blends ancient and contemporary movements with eastern philosophy, creating a stylized approach to fitness designed to improve the quality of today’s western living.

She can and has helped retired individuals greatly exceed their perceived limitations to reach new levels of incredible health -- including helping many well beyond their prior levels at any prior age.

Shea spent years researching and teaching in the commercial fitness industry and has a first-hand understanding of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of living a life of exercise.

SheaNetics realizes your goal is to find total health and fulfillment that is life lasting. This can be achieved by creating harmony in body, mind and self. SheaNetics gives you the practical tools to get into shape and kick it to ever higher levels.

Each nearly one hour workout is a new blend of the-best-of-the-best from Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Gyro-Kinesis, Dance and more -- guiding you through unique sequences of movements that strengthen, sculpt, build core and increase flexibility!

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Yes, you can gradually, progressively gain greatly improved health and flexibility by following her training sessions from the comfort of your own home (where most celebrities prefer to get top training).

MySheanetics.com has three clips you can view by clicking “play clip,” this above being one of the clips.

SheaNetics also knows “exercise and good health are both a state of your body and a state of your mind.” The key to finding well-being is to embrace the SheaNetics Five Living Principles -- Commitment, Perseverance, Self Control, Integrity and Love. They are a positive guide for all you do.

The range of MySheaNetics.com students are impressively diverse from 25- to over 80-year-young, men and women, fitness buffs and athletes, people who want to get in shape, those who wish to maintain their present state of fitness and many who want to take it to a higher level.

So start your journey now!

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Next, if you truly want to both look and feel younger no matter what your age, stretching your body's muscles on a daily basis is essential. Not only will it increase your flexibility -- which is key to preventing various diseases and injuries -- but it is also one of the most effective methods to reduce stress and anxiety.

This is why we highly recommend Jacques Gauthier’s wonderful Stretching Toward a Healthier Life DVD.

In the video, stretching expert Jacques Gauthier and his wife Dorothee Lavoie present 15 stretches that stretch all the key muscles groups throughout your entire body, and it only takes about 15-20 minutes per day total to do the complete stretching routine.

Proper stretching is one of the most widely recommended methods to help you look and feel younger, live longer, avoid and even overcome serious health issues, and increase your mental concentration and emotional well-being.

So what are you waiting for?

Exercise can increase your health and lifespan even if you’re just starting out in your 80s or 90s … so NOW is your time to get fit and give your body the healthy gift of exercise.

4) Adopt a pet
Pets can make great companions and there are many that go unadopted each year. If you think a dog might be too much work for you, consider adopting a cat. They are very independent and low maintenance. In addition to companionship, the health benefits of owning a pet are widespread. Studies have shown that having a pet can:

• Provide a buffer against loneliness

• Motivate you to exercise more

• Lower blood pressure

• Decrease likelihood of depression

• Encourage independence

• Improve morale

• Help handle stress better

5) Dedicate yourself to a cause or volunteer
Contributing to something for the greater good that you believe in and that is worthwhile to you will give you feelings of self-worth and fulfillment. Not only will you be helping others, but you will be helping yourself as well. Getting involved with volunteer work such as at a shelter, church or for a political campaign will help keep you active and provide a great social network and interaction with others.

6) Learn something new or start a collection
Knowledge is power and keeping your mind intellectually stimulated as you get older will keep your mind sharp. Mental activity is so important that scientists have discovered that new learning can lead to neurophysiological growth. There are several ways you can engage your mind and learn something new every day. Here are a few ideas:

• Keep up with the latest computer programs and skills, especially if you’re going to do part-time work in an office

• Keep up with the world news

• Take classes about the Internet or an online course

• Go back to school and earn that college degree you always wanted

• Watch the History Channel

• Go to the library and find a book about a recent interest or hobby

• Visit the zoo and learn about animals

• Learn a foreign language or musical instrument

Many seniors also find new passions in collecting after retirement. Some ideas include coins, stamps, cards or historical memorabilia. The Internet has made collecting much easier with sites like EBay that are very user-friendly and offer a wide variety of collectible items to choose from.

7) Dress for the 21st Century
Embrace your retirement years in style by updating your look and wardrobe. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean that you forgo putting effort into how you look. Make a fresh start by hiring a fashion consultant at a local boutique or department store. Look around and find someone’s hairstyle you admire and get referrals for their stylist.

8) Pursue your dreams
You’ve worked all of your life and now have the time to reflect upon what it is you always wanted to do, but never found the time. Retirement offers the ideal time to explore these dreams and then go after them.

Start by making a list of everything you’ve always wanted to do and then do it! If you are looking for ideas, here are a few to get you started:

• Go on vacation and visit the islands you have always been wishing to see

• Sit on the beach in the shade, do some journaling, listen to the waves, read a book and enjoy the weather

• Go sight-seeing at the Grand Canyon or in Italy

• Take a train ride across the country

• For the daredevil types, bungee jump or sky dive

9) Stay Young in Your Mind and Your Heart
By maintaining a youthful attitude and living each day to its fullest, you will look, feel and appear younger to others. If you adopt the belief that you are as young as you feel, you will live that belief. Your mindset and outlook on life will determine how gracefully you age.

10. Consider joining a retirement community
Retirement communities provide outlets for activities right on the grounds such as golf and tennis. With the amenities so close, chances are you will utilize them more and make them a part of your daily routine.

Some retirement communities offer other activities like bridge, bingo and host tournaments where you can spark that competitive spirit within and make friends at the same time.

Recommended Reading

What It Takes to Be Ready for Retirement Financially: An Essential Overview

What Essential Vitamin Can Lower Your Risk of Dying as You Age (Especially as You Approach 65 and Beyond)?

Sources

Web Md

MSNBC.com October 13, 2009

Retirehappyblog.com

University of Iowa

Power of Paws

MariettaTimes.com November 10, 2009