Body, mind and spirit wellbeing is essential if you are to thrive and live fully in the years beyond the workplace which we still call “retirement”.
Key no. 1 – MOVE! Sure, we all know the importance of keeping active all through our lifetime. But did you know that only about 15% of North American adults currently meet the World Health Organization recommendation to do at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week? How about you?
Actually, authors of Younger Next Year Chris Crowley and Dr. Harry Lodge say that to really get and stay in great shape, we need one hour a day of exercise. I often point out, in retirement coaching and seminars, that just like we willingly invest and save money for the future, we need to invest our energies, especially through our 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, to enjoy a vibrant and dynamic way of life but also to reap enormous benefits in the future. Crowley and Lodge report that, according to their research, a rigorous daily regimen of exercise can delay problems of aging by 70% and eliminate 50% of serious illness and injury. Among other benefits, we can anticipate 65% improved quality of sleep, decrease risk of heart attack or stroke by 63% and reduced risk of Alzheimer by 40%.
Off course, for many, finding the time to exercise can be as challenging as finding the energy to do it. Consider various ways to multi-task! One of my favorite is that with the help of a headset on my home phone, I converse with friends and family while walking on my treadmill.
Key no. 2 – INTERACT!
Renowned executive coach David Rock wrote that in Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, it was reported that social isolation has been found to be about twice as detrimental to health as smoking! In the course of my ongoing research on health and wellness in the second half of life, I read The Healthy Aging Brain, the main message of which is that the brain is a social organ. Although we may know this intuitively, it’s wonderful to see it confirmed through neuroscience. What this means is that our minds – the software in our brains – is kept thriving through social connections, interactions, discussions and communication of all kinds. As Dr. Daniel Siegel emphasized, our brains are wired to make connections with one another and we continue to need this connectedness throughout our lives to be filled with a sense of vitality and well-being.
So make sure that you do what it takes to prevent social isolation in the course of an eventual retirement. Build community by sharing your interests and passions with others such as joining a hiking group, an adventure tour, a Meetup group, or turn some of your online connections into live ones. And don’t underestimate the benefits of enhancing family connections or rekindling invaluable friendships you may have been too busy to keep.
Key no. 3 – STAY FOCUSED!
Ever hear of AAADD? It refers to Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This was identified humorously a couple of years ago to point out that as we get older, we tend to let our attention wonder from one thing to the next without striving to keep it engaged on anything substantial for any length of time. The problem is that our mind’s focusing abilities are like muscles; if we don’t use them, we lose them!
In his new book Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, Daniel Goleman explains that our mind’s focusing faculties can be boiled down to 3 areas of attention: inner, other and outer focus. Inner focus includes self- awareness and the ability to attune yourself to intentions and guiding values – your True North. Inner focus also enables you to connect to the core peace deep within – that you can return to in times of momentary turmoil – like the eye at the center of a hurricane. Other focus, off course, is the realm of connectedness; the bandwidth through which we interact with others. Outer focus is the kind of 3-Dimentional field that surrounds us, near and far – the larger world. In order to thrive, enjoy and lead a balanced life, we need to keep this 3-prong mental asset sharp. Practices and habits that keep those abilities in good shape include mindfulness, meditation, learning processes, stimulating conversations, new experiences that stimulate the mind such as travel, etc.
I’d love to hear back from you especially if you have you found new ways to integrate more exercise in your life, to better engage in community making – not just online – to install a solid meditation practice in your lifestyle, or to quickly keep abreast of the world’s most important events. So take up the invitation and connect, comment or converse! And may you tap into the source of all inspired motivation so you can do what it takes to thrive in optimal wellness in 2014 and all the years to come.
