Sophie Okolo, MPH

There’s no denying that as we get older, we need to start taking better care of both our minds and bodies. Doing so will help ensure you stay fit and active as you move into retirement, and can also reduce the chances of you dealing with complex health conditions. 

Get your hearing checked.

In the US alone, approximately “one-third of older adults have hearing loss – and the chances of developing hearing loss increases with age.” As a result, you should make a real effort to protect your hearing as much as possible. For example, you should get your ears tested at least once a year or more often if you’ve noticed any changes to your hearing. This will help determine whether or not you require further treatment or support, such as hearing aids.

You can also take care of your hearing by avoiding exposure to loud noises where possible. For example, if you’re heading to a concert, you should buy a pair of earplugs that will protect your ears from damage. 

Improve your diet.

There’s no denying that your diet contributes significantly to your overall health. As such, if you eat foods that are full of fats and sugars without any sense of moderation, your health will begin to decline pretty rapidly. However, by eating a varied and balanced diet containing plenty of fruit, veg, and organic food, you’re giving your body exactly what it needs to thrive. Furthermore, following a healthy diet and cooking your own food from scratch is often cheaper than buying unhealthy, processed food – which means it’s also a win for your bank account! 

Develop an exercise routine. 

While following a healthy diet is important, it must be paired with regular exercise in order to be effective. As a result, developing an exercise that not only fits your schedule but also brings you joy, is a great way to maintain a healthy body and mind. After all, if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, you are less likely to stick to your exercise schedule and will likely find any excuse to miss a session.   

Ideally, you should aim to work out at least three or four times a week. However, if you carry out some research ahead of time, it should be relatively easy to find an exercise that you enjoy – whether you’re going to be working up a sweat in a HIIT class or going for a jog. 

Take care of your mind.

Your physical and mental health are closely linked, which means you should also make taking care of your mental health a priority as you get older. This is especially important when you consider the fact that “at least one in four older adults experiences some mental disorder”, such as depression or anxiety.

There are many ways in which you can work to take better care of your mental health. For example, you can participate in mindfulness exercises or meditation to provide yourself with a sense of inner peace and calm. However, you should also not discount the benefits of simply talking openly about how you are feeling with others.