Health and Well being

It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s never too early to plan for retirement. In fact, many experts say that you should start retirement planning as soon as you get your first check.

The sooner you start planning the easier it will be. However, retirement planning is not very simple. It’s not only about your financial health but your physical well being as well.

According to a 2002 report by Kathleen McGarry titles Health And Retirement: Do Changes In Health Affect Retirement Expectations? there’s a strong connection between health and retirement.

Let’s have a look at three reasons why you should pay attention to your health to enjoy your retirement:

1. THE COST OF HEALTHCARE

The cost of medical treatment is on a constant rise, at times a lot higher than the average rate of inflation. It’s not cheap to get good quality treatment nowadays.

The scenario is expected to continue in the future as medical treatment will only get more expensive. As you grow older, your body becomes more prone to ailments due to a lifetime of wear and tear.

This means you will have to spend a lot of money on medical treatment as you grow old. According to reports, a retired healthy couple will spend about $266,589 on medical bills including insurance. The figure reaches a high of $394,954 when you include dental and out-of-pocket expenses, too. On the other hand, the yearly medical cost stands at $6,999 for a single retiree.

While the research was conducted in the US, it can be a reliable representative of any countries health figures as well. It shows just how important it is to take care of your health so that you can be healthy when you retire, requiring less money to spend on healthcare

2. LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Your life post-retirement depends largely on how you lived before you retired. If you’re healthy, you will not have to change much of your lifestyle including what you eat and where you go.

Diseases such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes can impact your lifestyle. They can be controlled by leading a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your health.

3. LIFE EXPECTANCY

Your health can help you calculate your life expectancy. According to the official figures, the average life expectancy in Japan is 83.7 years, which is a lot higher than other countries.

However, if you’re healthy, you may live longer and outlive your savings.

It makes sense to keep this in mind when planning your retirement so that you have enough money to spend after you retire.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH

Your health depends on your lifestyle. Here are a few things you must pay attention to:

Your Diet

You are what you eat. You should stay away from fried foods, too much salt, and too much sugar as they can cause you to fall sick in the later years.

The best solution is to consume a balanced diet so that your body gets all the nutrients that it needs.

Your Physical Activities

Your body needs to be taken care of. Experts suggest that you stay fit and keep your weight in check as being overweight or underweight can have serious consequences.