The years after retirement are often referred to as the golden years. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), retirement should be full of healthy recreation, travel, good food, time with family and friends, and the pursuit of your passions. But there are a number of missteps that can wreck all that future if you're not careful.
Ignore Your Health
If you eat a diet high in fatty foods, salt, and excessive calories and don't get regular checkups, you'll find you don't have enough energy to do any of the things you'd like to do in retirement.
Get Fat
Obesity will hinder your ability to partake in enjoyable retirement activities. A University of Michigan study found that not only did obese people over the age of 70 have more health problems, but they also were less affluent than their thinner peers.
Don't Save
According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, you will be in dire straits if you don't save while you're still working. Taking loans from your savings accounts and retirement funds, cashing in retirement savings during tough times, and ignoring inflation will leave you with no discretionary funds, let alone enough to continue with your current lifestyle after you retire.
Drink Too Much
You risk losing your money, health, and family by drinking too much. A University of Michigan study found that men who drank more than five alcoholic drinks per day were four times more likely to develop a disability by the time they were 70.
Stress Out About Your Body
There are a number of physical aspects that come naturally with aging. Reduced hearing, poor joint function, and sagging skin are common occurrences. The Surgeon General reports that stressing out about common aging issues can increase your chances of becoming depressed and developing additional illnesses.
Rely on Your Hobbies
While you may have been looking forward to woodworking or gardening, you'll find very quickly that your hobbies can't fulfill enough hours to keep you physically and mentally challenged.
Anger Your Friends
You need friends and support more than ever after retirement just to deal with all the many changes in your life. You can wreck your retirement by shutting out all your friends and making them so angry they won't have anything to do with you.
Stop Reading
The brain needs workouts as much as muscles do to continue working properly. Memory and recognition can be kept sharp and intact if you keep reading and performing tasks that require you to think, such as crossword puzzles and games.
Don't Get Involved
After years of being busy, many retired people develop physical and mental illnesses simply because they develop a sedentary lifestyle, according to retired psychologist Jay-Harris Lucas. Staying active through volunteer work and socializing with peers will keep your body and mind healthy.
Find Fault
Finding fault with everyone and everything around you will produce a negative attitude that will surely ruin your health, your relationships, and your remaining years.
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