This is such an important retirement related topic that most people ignore or skip. About 10 years ago, my microbiologist wife taught a class on nutrition and decided to use our family as a test case. She slowly started tweaking out grocery list, our eat-out restaurant choices, our family diet etc...looking back, it was the best thing ever and likely added years to our lives.
Small example of the changes...eliminating soda/pop from our grocery list.
This blog post highlights the value of maintaining our health now for a healthier old age. Although we can't control all health factors, adopting a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and sufficient sleep can lay the foundation for a healthier future.
By focusing on what we can influence, we improve our current quality of life and invest in our long-term well-being.
We need to be better at taking rest and building that into our lives rather than flogging ourselves to death for a future that may never arrive.
Have you noticed people wait until later in life to think about their health for their later years? (of course you have, you are going to write about vices). There is an invincibility factor when we are young and we do not quit most of the bad things until we think they will start to affect our health presently. I watch friends/family that admittedly struggle with their health, go through drive throughs for their kid's meals then sit them in front of the boob-tube. We need to teach the young generations about health, economy, and yes retirement, as they are young, so they do not have the same struggles in their futures.
-Quit smoking- 10 years on, and I'd start again tomorrow if they weren't so lethal/expensive.
-Intermittent fasting- Was very surprised at the speed if results. Put that on pause, because I like having a little milk in my first cup of coffee (I know, I know).
-Until this past week, I was still playing soccer 2x weekly. The word "playing" is doing a lot of work here, but I was still breaking a sweat and seeing my friends.
I love smoking socially - was never a daily smoker. I slowed down significantly when Washington banned smoking in bars, because where else was I going to smoke?!
I am reading Dr. Hyman's book, based on your recommendation, and I am really enjoying it. He has a very interesting perspective and I'm looking forward to reading his recommendations. I want to do as much as I can to be healthy and strong for the rest of my life.
I stopped snacking after dinner and found that I slept better and started losing weight. I didn’t know that was called intermittent fasting! 🤷🏼♀️
I think the health thing is still where I have the most anxiety in planning for the future. My step dad died at 68 of cancer, my otherwise healthy uncle got diabetes in his late 60s, my mom started having strokes in her late 60s, and now my own husband has colon cancer at 53! I’m 51 and constantly struggle with the mindset that I only have 15 good years left! 😭
Totally agree that this is an under-discussed topic — and not only because of physical health itself.
I never I was a "runner"—until I started running in my 40's. I never thought I was a meditator either, or a morning workout person, a perfect sleeper or a non-alcohol drinker either, but all of those things have become part of who I am now. I feel better now in my fifties than I ever did before, and I'm looking forward to many more years of that, instead of the crap that I often felt like when I was younger.
I've written a fair bit lately about how physical fitness at age 53 supports my creativity and my work as a writer...
PS I've always said "retire early and often!" — and that retirement doesn't mean sitting around... really, we need to redefine what work means, and how it fits together with the rest of life. I've been retired (this time) since I was 45 and now working full time as a writer...
This is such an important retirement related topic that most people ignore or skip. About 10 years ago, my microbiologist wife taught a class on nutrition and decided to use our family as a test case. She slowly started tweaking out grocery list, our eat-out restaurant choices, our family diet etc...looking back, it was the best thing ever and likely added years to our lives.
Small example of the changes...eliminating soda/pop from our grocery list.
Cheers!
This is great. Thanks! I love how you also call it pop. Reminds me of my childhood!
This blog post highlights the value of maintaining our health now for a healthier old age. Although we can't control all health factors, adopting a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and sufficient sleep can lay the foundation for a healthier future.
By focusing on what we can influence, we improve our current quality of life and invest in our long-term well-being.
We need to be better at taking rest and building that into our lives rather than flogging ourselves to death for a future that may never arrive.
Have you noticed people wait until later in life to think about their health for their later years? (of course you have, you are going to write about vices). There is an invincibility factor when we are young and we do not quit most of the bad things until we think they will start to affect our health presently. I watch friends/family that admittedly struggle with their health, go through drive throughs for their kid's meals then sit them in front of the boob-tube. We need to teach the young generations about health, economy, and yes retirement, as they are young, so they do not have the same struggles in their futures.
A few things I've done:
-I gave up meat- can't say I miss it, tbh.
-Quit smoking- 10 years on, and I'd start again tomorrow if they weren't so lethal/expensive.
-Intermittent fasting- Was very surprised at the speed if results. Put that on pause, because I like having a little milk in my first cup of coffee (I know, I know).
-Until this past week, I was still playing soccer 2x weekly. The word "playing" is doing a lot of work here, but I was still breaking a sweat and seeing my friends.
I love smoking socially - was never a daily smoker. I slowed down significantly when Washington banned smoking in bars, because where else was I going to smoke?!
I also enjoy smoking, but not cigarettes! More on that later.
Ha! Yes, I have not given that up yet. 🤓
Same here, but the FAA has different ideas. :)
You're 100% right about every strategy coming with risks.
I am reading Dr. Hyman's book, based on your recommendation, and I am really enjoying it. He has a very interesting perspective and I'm looking forward to reading his recommendations. I want to do as much as I can to be healthy and strong for the rest of my life.
I stopped snacking after dinner and found that I slept better and started losing weight. I didn’t know that was called intermittent fasting! 🤷🏼♀️
I think the health thing is still where I have the most anxiety in planning for the future. My step dad died at 68 of cancer, my otherwise healthy uncle got diabetes in his late 60s, my mom started having strokes in her late 60s, and now my own husband has colon cancer at 53! I’m 51 and constantly struggle with the mindset that I only have 15 good years left! 😭
Hi there Rocco.
Totally agree that this is an under-discussed topic — and not only because of physical health itself.
I never I was a "runner"—until I started running in my 40's. I never thought I was a meditator either, or a morning workout person, a perfect sleeper or a non-alcohol drinker either, but all of those things have become part of who I am now. I feel better now in my fifties than I ever did before, and I'm looking forward to many more years of that, instead of the crap that I often felt like when I was younger.
I've written a fair bit lately about how physical fitness at age 53 supports my creativity and my work as a writer...
https://bowendwelle.substack.com/p/getting-stronger
...and also about (finally) discovering the value of (self-)discipline, how that relates to fitness and my own creative productivity
https://bowendwelle.substack.com/p/someone-elses-discipline-is-just
PS I've always said "retire early and often!" — and that retirement doesn't mean sitting around... really, we need to redefine what work means, and how it fits together with the rest of life. I've been retired (this time) since I was 45 and now working full time as a writer...
An interesting read. Thanks.