Retirement is a time to re-think your daily routine and find new and exciting opportunities of what to do when you no longer have to keep to the daily work routine.
Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby (1826-93), British statesman said
“Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”
His words are even more true today. If you spent a large part of your working day in front of a computer and your leisure time watching television then your level of exercise may have been very inadequate. perhaps you knew this very well and from time to time spent a few days joining a gym or playing a sport but got fed up or too tired to continue after a few weeks.
What will you do differently now that you have retired or are planning what to do during your retirement?
Exercise must be an important part of your new daily or weekly routine. It doesn’t have to be ‘over the top’ It just needs to be something you can fit into your new lifestyle easily. Choose some form of exercise you enjoy and can take part in without due stress.
Walking is one of the easiest ways achieve this. You can do it every day by going out of your front door. You don’t need any special equipment and can do it anywhere. You can do it on your own or with company. You might want to do more walking when before you would have driven your car, of if you go by bus walk to the next bus-stop. Always take the stairs instead of a lift and don’t begrudge any walking that is necessary during your day.
Of course if you can do this in the countryside, beside the sea or in a park there might be added benefits of getting away from polluted air in towns and cities.
As well as walking consider yoga and swimming as other ways to help your health and well-being for a life after work.
Exercise is a vital to do regularly because while not actually preventing any illness it will keep you well for longer, your heart beating strongly, your joints more mobile and your body more flexible and more able to cope with what ever happens as you get older and so if you become ill your chance of a more speedy recovery is enhanced.
