Healthy living: Planning for retirement

If you’re planning to direct more of your attention to your health during retirement, one option to look into is private medical insurance. Health insurance for retirees can be an invaluable resource if you want help to stay fit and healthy for as long as possible. Some of the things you can benefit from are:

• Shorter waiting times with faster diagnosis and treatment – with access to private hospitals, GPs and specialists, you can expect to benefit from quicker appointment and referrals, and even faster medical treatments and procedures.
• Choice of specialists and hospitals – with private medical cover, you’ll have access to your choice of specialists and hospitals, as long as they’re covered by your insurer, so you can do your own research and see who and where suits you best.
• Wellbeing support^† – Health insurers sometimes offer extra wellbeing benefits when you take out a policy with them. Things like 24/7 virtual GPs and helplines, counselling support, annual health checks and even discounts on gym memberships.

With that said, there are plenty of things you can do to support your wellbeing in retirement.

^† These could be a non-contractual benefit which could be changed or removed at any time.

Grow a Garden

Gardening is a great way to stay active, brighten your days and can even be a way to eat healthier meals if you’re growing fresh fruit and veg. If you’re able, the physical side of gardening, digging, watering, weeding and planting, are all ways to keep you mobile and limber – and if it’s sunny outside, you’ll have the added bonus of a vitamin D top-up.

 If you’re less able or don’t have access to a garden, growing and tending to indoor plants and herbs can be just as effective. The nature of gardening and tending to plants means that you’ll always have something to work towards, whether that be sowing wildflower seeds for the bees in the summer months or planting some root vegetables for winter stews. But not all of your time outdoors needs to be spent toiling the earth. Just the act of sitting outdoors and being around nature can positively impact your mood. 

Take Daily Walks

If you enjoy and can walk regularly, making sure you fit a walk into your daily routine can make a big difference to your overall fitness and wellbeing. Not only is walking free, but it doesn’t require anything beyond a comfy pair of shoes and, if you’re unlucky with the weather, maybe a sturdy umbrella. If you’re feeling fit and healthy and are already a regular to daily movement, aiming for around 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week is a great goal to have. A 20-to-30-minute stroll  can be adapted to most fitness levels by going at a pace you’re comfortable with. If you aim for 30 minutes 5 times a week at a brisk pace, it can help burn calories, keep blood-sugar levels steady, and support heart health . You can choose routes you’ll enjoy, and can even bring along a friend, grandchild, or the family dog!

Travel – Near, far and often

Travelling can be the ideal way to enjoy your retirement, whether that means you’re taking regular trips to the coast, booking yourself a cruise, or exploring museums in different locales. Adventuring to different places, be it far away or closer to home, can help keep your mind sharp and feeds our natural human curiosity. Holidaying with your family, partner, or going solo and meeting new people along the way, helps us stay connected to the people around us and learn about different ways of living. Just remember to pack for weather, take any prescription medications with you, and consider travel insurance for that extra layer of reassurance.