What is a Life in Balance?
In my mind, an optimal retirement means that your retirement is both full and well-rounded. In other words, your retirement is a life in balance; your mental, physical, and spiritual needs are all cared for, and nothing is out of balance. Retirement is a chance to put things in balance after a long career, possibly raising a family, and planning, sacrificing and preparing for that optimal retirement. I will share more detail on how to meet the needs of these three life components in other, more specific pages of this website. However, below is a brief summary of this concept:
How to Live a Happy, Healthy Retirement
Mental Health
In support of my statement about keeping life in full balance, according to the NIH – National Institute on Aging, “Cognition — the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember — often changes as we age. Although some people develop Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, many older adults experience more modest changes in memory and thinking. Research shows that healthy eating, staying active, and learning new skills may help keep older adults cognitively healthy.” This NIH quote is a wonderfully succinct summary of how these three life components are linked and must be cared for individually, and that by doing so, they support your overall health.
Physical Health
First, it must be said that the mind and the body are inherently linked. When you maintain or improve your physical health, this in turn will maintain or improve your mental and emotional well-being. Physical activity also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that lift your mood and provide added energy. Regular exercise or activity can have a positive impact on mental and emotional health problems. It addition, it relieves stress, improves memory, and helps you to sleep better.
As an older adult, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help prevent or delay many of the health problems that often come with age. It also helps maintain your muscle strength so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities without becoming dependent on others.
Be mindful that some physical activity is better than none at all. Your health benefits will also increase with the more physical activity that you do. It might be likely that as you age, you will have to modify your activities. As an example, a former tennis player may graduate to pickle ball or a former runner may move on to bicycling, walking, or hiking as his/her joints age.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Adults aged 65 and older need:
- At least 150 minutes a week (for example, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking. Or they need 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity such as hiking, jogging, or running.
- At least 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles.
- Plus activities to improve balance, such as standing on one foot.
If chronic conditions affect your ability to meet these recommendations, be as physically active as your abilities and conditions allow.
Spiritual Health
Much attention is focused upon the importance of our physical and mental health, but what about our spiritual health?
Science has shown that our mind, body and spirit are all deeply intertwined. The health of one can significantly affect the health of another, which is why we should try to keep things in balance. While spirituality doesn’t keep you from harm or struggles, it will help you find the strength to deal with pain and the challenges that life presents.
But what is spiritual health? Does it require religious ideals and beliefs like my Christian faith, or can it come from somewhere else? In actuality, there isn’t one path one needs to take to be spiritually healthy—it’s different for everyone.
“Some people experience spirituality through religion, but religion isn’t the only tool to experience it,” said Carrie Wester, a chaplain with Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ. “Spirituality is a sense of internal well-being and how you connect with something greater than yourself—whether that’s a higher power, nature, music, art or humanity as a whole. It’s the ideals and beliefs you form throughout your life that form your own unique spirituality.” Ultimately, your spiritual foundation is what gives you purpose and direction in your life. In addition, it is the basis and catalyst for your life’s passion. It can fuel you to do things you never thought possible and to enjoy those things with a depth not available without that spiritual underpinning.