Retirement can be an uncertain time for most of us. Trying to adequatley fill your days can be a problem for alot of people when they have finished their working lives. Issues surrounding your health both in a physical and mental sense can also become a problem as people who have retired have incresed odds of developing health issues than those who are still working.  It is important to stay active physically and mentally durring your retirement years.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you stay active after retiring.

1.    Keep active: It sounds simple to do but the fact is many of us do not stay active when we retire.  You should try and incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your daily routine. It can be a simple as taking a walk to and from the shops every day. This will also improve your mental health as walking or light running is a great way to clear your head and to put things into perspective. The benefits to your health in the long run are massive but it is important to consult your doctor before under taking a new fitness programe.

2.    Stay socially connected: Once you retire it is very easy to lose touch with friends and former work collegues and becoming socially isolated. This could potentially lead to depression and it quite easy to prevent. It is important not to let this happen and to regularly plan to attend social engagements with friends and family, participating in mind stimulating activities and simply maintaining a decent level of social interaction.

3.    Learn a new skill or hobby: A new hobby can be of great benefit to everyone. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as learning to play an instrument of mastering a new language it can be something small. Reasearch has shown that an activity such as setting up a Facebook page can assist people over the age 65 to increase their mental performance, particularly with maintaining memory.

4.    Get a good nights rest: This is important once again for mental well being. It is important to get around 7-9 hours of sleep each night. This is because  good, consistent sleep is important for maintaining cognitive function, physical health as well as a person’s emotional wellbeing.

5.    Quit Smoking: Smoking after you retire could be disastrous for your heart. It raises blood pressure and damages blood vessels. Quitting cigarettes is the best thing you can do to help prevent a heart attack later in life and to enjoy your well earned retirement years.